Accepting Applications for 2026 Pathfinder Student Award

February 26, 2026

2026 Pathfinder Student Award  

The Pathfinder Student Award was established for graduating Newcomer Youth who plan on continuing their education at the post-secondary level and have demonstrated a commitment to community and strong leadership skills. The award fund was established by Titus Ngouepo, who immigrated to Canada from Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya at the age 11, attended Lakefield College School, and is currently studying at the University of Virginia. For more information on Titus’ story or to donate to the Pathfinder Student Award Fund, please visit the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough’s donation page. 

Newcomer Youth students who are graduating this year with plans to enter post-secondary in the 2026/2027 academic year are welcome to apply.  

General Award Information & Eligibility 

Application Period: March 1 – May 1, 2026 

Selection: Winners will be selected in May and be invited to attend NCC’s Annual General Meeting on May 28th, 2026 to accept their award. 

Award Value: Two (2) awards valued at $500 each are available 

Eligibility 

To be eligible for an award, the applicants must: 

  • Be clients of New Canadians Centre 
  • Live in the City or County of Peterborough 
  • Be graduating from a high school located in the City or County of Peterborough 
  • Demonstrate service to their community through volunteering and other extracurricular activities 
  • Show leadership potential 
  • Provide proof of acceptance or enrollment at a Canadian post-secondary institution 

How to Apply 

The award application is available here: The Pathfinder Student Award  – Fill out form 

Applicants must include the following information to be considered: 

  • Basic personal information, including high school name, information on community involvement activities, and post-secondary plans 
  • A 4-5 minute VIDEO ESSAY answering the following questions:  
  1. Briefly introduce yourself and how the Pathfinder Student Award will help you achieve your goals?  
  2. How have you demonstrated your leadership and community involvement during high school?  
  3. NCC values the integration of newcomers into the Peterborough community. Can you share experience about being a newcomer in Peterborough and the types of challenges you faced. How have you overcome these challenges?   
  4. How do you see yourself giving back to your community after you’ve completed your post-secondary education? 

(MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, and MPEG video file formats are preferred) 

  • One (1) reference letter (maximum 2 pages) from a community member, teacher, or volunteer supervisor who can speak on your community involvement and leadership. (PDF file is preferred and electronic signatures will be accepted) 
  • Letter of acceptance from a Canadian post-secondary institution or apprenticeship program on letterhead. *Please note: students are welcome to apply even if they have not yet received a letter of acceptance; however, award funds will not be dispensed until this document is received. 

*All application materials, including video files, are confidential and will be reviewed only by the Selection Committee. Files can be uploaded on the Microsoft Forms application page using a secure DropBox file sharing link.  

Selection Criteria 

All applications submitted will be reviewed and assessed by the Pathfinder Student Award Selection Committee in a fair and equitable manner. 

Applicants who best demonstrate their community leadership, resilience, and ambition for future success will be selected as recipients. Specifically, the selection committee will consider the following: 

  1. Personal Story & Post-Secondary Plans – Compelling personal journey and clear articulation of post-secondary ambitions 
  2. Community Involvement – Strong demonstration of leadership and community involvement in Peterborough during high school  
  3. Newcomer Resilience – Clear illustration of the experiences and challenges unique to Newcomer Youth students and details on overcoming those barriers 
  4. Future Community Impact – Clear and coherent vision on giving back to the community after post-secondary 
  5. Strength of Reference Letter – Community member, teacher, or volunteer supervisor clearly outlines and articulates why the applicant is deserving of the award and how they have shown exceptional leadership 

Contact 

If you have any questions about the Pathfinder Student Award and/or the application process, please send an email to [email protected].  

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