From the Editor: Why you should consider applying for awards at KPU

Students often face many stresses throughout their post-secondary education. Whether it’s managing their course loads or staying on top of other responsibilities, one pestering stress always stays in the back of many students’ minds — finances. 

For 79 per cent of students, the financial realities of post-secondary are overwhelming and it can be difficult to balance school with work, a survey by Embark found. Paying tuition and other educational fees is just one part of the financial burden students face. There’s also paying for rent, food, transportation, and household bills, among other costs.

When students have to choose between spending a few hours studying or picking up a shift to help cover these expenses, it’s easy to start pushing school work to the side. 

While there are external resources available to students to help shoulder these costs, such as taking out a student loan, Kwantlen Polytechnic University has more than 600 general awards students can apply for each year.

Instead of spending time applying for individual general awards, KPU Student Awards and Financial Assistance (SAFA) makes the application process easy. Students only need to fill out a single application, which requires a 250-to-500-word personal writeup among other submissions. From there, the KPU scholarship and awards selection committee matches students with the awards they are eligible for. 

I had the opportunity to chat with KPU Vice-President External Affairs Randall Heidt, who says almost $50,000 in award money goes unawarded each year. 

During a time when many people are struggling to get by financially, KPU students have nothing to lose by applying for the general awards. The minimal amount of time you spend on your application could win you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars — money that could help pay for a semester of tuition. 

For some students, winning one of KPU’s general awards could be a life-changing moment, alleviating some of that financial stress. This can also allow them to focus on their studies, which is really the main point of pursuing a post-secondary education — passing courses and completing a credential, not worrying about money. 

At this part in my editorial, I’m sure those self-deprecating thoughts may be starting to trickle into your head. You may think you’re not good enough to win an award, not smart enough, or that your GPA isn’t strong enough. To throw some light on this clouded perspective, not all of KPU’s general awards are dependent on GPAs. Criteria can vary from adversity or challenges you’ve faced, community involvement, or financial need. 

“Just take a chance, don’t be discouraged, and apply,” Heidt says. “We would love to get this almost $50,000 in the hands of students. It would be wonderful.” 

KPU is accepting applications for the spring 2025 general awards, which are dispersed in the fall, until March 31. Students can apply through their Online Student Service (OSS) portal by clicking “Student Awards and Financial Assistance” within the “Student Main Menu.” 

To learn more about KPU awards and financial aid, including resources like StudentAid BC, visit www.kpu.ca/awards.