Student Achievement Awards

Each year, the Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation presents the annual
Student Achievement Awards to First Nations students who are currently enrolled
in a STEM related program at an accredited college or university.

We've partnered with Indspire to increase the reach of our annual Student Achievement Awards.

Each year OFNTSC gives out 5 Student Achievement Awards, which includes three memorial awards. The memorial awards are named after close friends of the OFNTSC who have left an indelible mark in our communities:

The Derrick Kamanga Memorial Award is presented to a First Nations student studying engineering in the area of water and wastewater;
The Robert Olivier Memorial Award is presented to a student studying engineering in any specialization (civil, mechanical, chemical);
The Jay Benedict Memorial Award, which will be given to a student who is completing their studies in the area of architecture/housing.

In addition to the memorial awards, OFNTSC also gives out two general Student Achievement awards to First Nations students who are studying environmental sciences/technology, mathematics, or any other STEM-related technical career that will help build self-reliance in First Nations communities.

Each award consists of an honorarium worth $2,000.

Derrick Kamanga Memorial Award

This award will recognize a First Nation student that is working towards a career in the field of engineering. The award honours the memory of Derrick Kamanga, B.A.SC., M.Eng. whose dedication to the field of water and wastewater engineering has made significant impacts on First Nations delivering safe drinking water to their respective communities.

Derrick participated in many projects during his time with the OFNTSC including the Circuit Rider Training Program (CRTP), Water and Wastewater Treatment Process Guideline/Best Practices booklet, Risk Assessment Study of First Nation Water and Wastewater Systems, and more.

The Derrick Kamanga Memorial Award consists of a bursary of $2,000, a plaque commemorating the student’s achievement.

Robert Olivier Memorial Award

This award will recognize a First Nations student that is working towards a career in the field of engineering. This award honours the memory of Robert Maurice Olivier and his dedication to the field of water and wastewater engineering, which has made significant impacts on First Nations delivering safe drinking water to their communities.

The Robert Olivier Memorial Award consists of a bursary of $2,000, a plaque commemorating the student’s achievement, and an invitation to attend a special OFNTSC event (all expenses paid) to accept the award in person.

Jay Benedict Memorial Award

This award will recognize a First Nations student that is working towards a career in the area of architecture/housing. This award honours the memory of Jay Benedict, who was a board member with OFNTSC from 1995 – 2019. Jay was passionate about seeing First Nations achieve quality housing and infrastructure.

The Jay Benedict memorial award consists of a bursary of $2,000, a plaque commemorating the student’s achievement, and an invitation to attend a special OFNTSC event (all expenses paid) to accept the award in person.

How to Apply

Visit OFNTSC's landing page on Indspire's website
Click on the "Apply Now" button at the bottom of the page
On the next page under the "Building Brighter Futures: Bursaries, Scholarships, and Awards" heading, click on "Start Application."
Complete the application and submit