English Scholarships + Awards

Mike Doyle Bridging into Education Endowed Award | Bob Lowe Canadian Literature Endowed Scholarship | Dorothy Cyr Award | Georgia Milligan ScholarshipLibrary Employees Endowed Award for English | Dr. Sue Ann Cairns Memorial Award | Intersectional Social Justice English Essay Prizes

Click here to learn the recipients of this year's scholarships.

Mike Doyle Bridging into Education Endowed Award

The Mike Doyle Bridging into Education Endowed Award has been established by faculty in the KPU Department of English to support and encourage former youth in care to pursue post-secondary education that includes courses in English to prepare them for success in their academic studies and careers. The award is named for the father of a faculty member in KPU's Department of English who believed that higher education could change lives and should be available to everyone, regardless of their economic circumstances.

The successful application will meet the following criteria:

  • Be a former youth in care who is registered in any program at KPU with a satisfactory academic standing (CGPA of 2.00 or greater).
  • Have successfully completed at least one English course at KPU and have an intent to register in at least one more English course at KPU (this must be referenced in the student's application).

Award Amount: $1,000

Application Deadline: Online application January 15th to March 31st, 2024.

Students can apply for the award through Student Awards and Financial Assistance (SAFA).


Bob Lowe Canadian Literature Endowed Scholarship

The Bob Lowe Canadian Literature Endowed Scholarship honours Bob Lowe, KPU Vice President Emeritus, and his contributions to the university. The annual scholarship is awarded to a student studying Canadian literature who has demonstrated academic excellence and has completed an English course that features a text by a Canadian author.

The successful application will meet the following criteria:

  • Demonstrated academic excellence
  • Completion of a course that features a text by a Canadian author

Award Amount: $650, subject to variation

Application Deadline: Online application January 15th to March 31st, 2024.

For more information on these and other awards, please visit the Student Awards and Financial Assistance page (SAFA).


Dorothy Cyr English Award

This award is made available to support a student enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts with English Major or Minor with a CGPA of 3.33 or greater. Preference will be given to a student who takes part in English Department activities that raise the profile of the department (for example, English Department Society, Outreach, or publications).

The successful application will meet the following criteria:

  • Be a declared English major or minor at KPU with a CGPA of 3.33 or greater.
  • Contain a letter of reference (required) that speaks to the applicant's contributions to the department
  • Demonstrate financial need.

Award Amount: $1,000

Application Deadline: Online application January 15th to March 31st, 2024.

For more information on these and other awards, please visit the Student Awards and Financial Assistance page (SAFA).


Georgia Milligan Scholarship for Excellence in English

Georgia Milligan was a beloved member of the KPU English Department from 2003 until 2006. With this award, Georgia's friends and colleagues honour her memory by supporting a student who has shown outstanding promise in the Bachelor of Arts - English Major degree program.

The successful applicant will meet the following criteria:

  • Be a declared English major at KPU with the intent of completing his or her degree at KPU.
  • Score the highest GPA in 21 credits of English courses, including up to nine credits of 2000-level courses, and at least 12 credits of 3000- or 4000-level courses.

Award Amount: $1,000

No formal application is required.

For more information on this award, contact Jennifer Williams: Jennifer.Williams@kpu.ca


Library Employees Endowed Award for English

The Library employees at Kwantlen Polytechnic University are proud to offer an award for a student studying English. This award has been funded through the collective donations of Library employees at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and is a testament to their commitment to the students at Kwantlen. 

The successful applicant will meet the following criteria:

  • Be a declared English Major at Kwantlen Polytechnic University
  • Have a minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Demonstrate financial need 

Award Amount: $1,000

Application Deadline: Online application January 15th to March 31st, 2024.

For more information on this and other awards, please visit the Student Awards and Financial Assistance page (SAFA).


Dr. Sue Ann Cairns Memorial Award

The Dr. Sue Ann Cairns Memorial Award honouring a much admired instructor who taught in KPU's English Department for 26 years and retired in 2016, goes to a second-year declared English major who has overcome significant challenges.

The successful applicant will meet the following criteria:

  • Be a second-year declared English major
  • Have overcome significant challenges

Award Amount: Approximately $1000+, subject to variation 

Application Deadline: Online application January 15th to March 31st, 2024.

Students can apply for the award through the Student Awards and Financial Assistance page (SAFA).


Intersectional Social Justice English Essay Prizes

The Intersectional Social Justice English Essay Prizes are awarded to students whose essays explore how working toward social justice involves identifying the intersection of various identities and forms of oppression embedded in many narratives and discourses. Three prizes will be awarded annually to the best first-year, second/third-year, and fourth-year essays written as part of English classes that fit with the theme of the contest. The awards committee will in some cases endeavor to find publication opportunities for the essays, such as on the university’s website and within the library’s collection, thereby aiming to promote reflection and discussion of intersectionality in the community at large.

Essays must meet the following criteria:

  • Essays should offer a well-written treatment of a topic that addresses intersectional social justice, broadly interpreted, in a meaningful way.

  • Essays or projects critiquing and analyzing literary and visual texts from an intersectional social justice perspective as well as persuasive research papers, including research-informed personal narratives, will be accepted.

  • Submissions should be at least 1000 words in length (or at least 500 words if accompanied by a creative project).

  • Essays written as part of English classes during the Summer 2023, Fall 2023, and Spring 2024 semesters may be self-nominated by students in 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year classes, or nominated by instructors. Instructor nominated essays must be submitted with a permission form completed by the student and nominating instructor.

Nomination Deadline: For the Summer 2023-Spring 2024 contest, instructors or 2nd/3rd/4th year self-nominating students should submit nominated essays by May 3, 2024 to isjawards@kpu.ca.