In memory of the 26 workers killed in the Westray mine explosion in 1992, the United Steelworkers will be awarding one (1) $2,500.00 CAD scholarship to a high school student in the Stellarton (Pictou County), N.S., area who is completing high school and pursuing post-secondary education in fall 2024. Children and grandchildren of the Westray miners are eligible to apply. This scholarship was introduced in 2017 to honour the 25th anniversary of Westray.
To apply
1) Each applicant must complete the attached application form.
2) Applicants must also submit three additional documents:
- Proof of acceptance to an approved institution of higher education, such as college, university, technological institute, etc.
- A letter of recommendation from a teacher or principal.
- An essay or video uploaded to YouTube. Applicants may choose between two themes:
- Determination: How has our community shown determination following the Westray disaster?
- Lessons learned: What legacy has the Westray mine explosion left in your community?
Essays must be between 750-1000 words in French or English and typed.
Videos must be three-to-five-minutes in length and uploaded to YouTube.
APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2024 WESTRAY POST-SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIP WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED BY EMAIL
Essays or YouTube video links, along with the completed application form, letter of recommendation and proof of acceptance to an approved institution of higher education may be sent to westray_scholarship@usw.ca.
Submissions must be emailed no later than June 30, 2024. Please include “Westray Scholarship 2024” in your subject line. The winner will be notified by August 15, 2024. We reserve the right to publish the winning essay or video in United Steelworkers publications or websites. No materials submitted will be returned.
Choosing winning applications
1) All personal identification will be removed from essay submissions and then essays will be reviewed by a qualified judge. (Please note that any evidence of plagiarism will result in disqualification. Proper citation and accreditation is expected.)
2) The awarding of scholarships will be based on:
a. The quality of the recommendation by a teacher or principal;
b. Creativity, style, content, and the quality of the ideas discussed in the essay or video; and
c. Proof of acceptance to an institution of higher education.
3) The winning applicant will be asked to provide proof of enrolment before a scholarship cheque is issued.
Find the application form below.
Request this file in a different format
For any questions please email us at: westray_scholarship@usw.ca.