Ontario Public Student Trustee Leadership Scholarship

About the Scholarship

The Ontario Public Student Trustee Leadership Scholarship is an award jointly provided by the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) and the Public Board Council of OSTA-AECO. The intent is to recognize outstanding achievement in a leadership role and provide financial support to a graduating public board student trustee to assist with their post-secondary education plans (University, College, or Apprenticeship).

Student trustees represent the voice of students in decisions on education, and keep students informed of the changes in education that affect them. They play an important role in the education governance process and are actively working at the local board and provincial levels on a number of initiatives.

This scholarship is based on an outstanding initiative accomplished during the student trustee’s term and how the initiative positively impacted the students in their board. Two scholarships, in the amount of $500 each, will be awarded.

Selection Criteria 

The successful recipient must:

• Be a student trustee who completed a one or two-year term at a public school board and will be continuing their education in a post-secondary/apprenticeship setting in Fall 2026
• Submit a completed scholarship application that highlights a student trustee’s successful leadership initiative that made progress in ensuring the education system better reflects student needs and priorities

All submissions will be reviewed by a committee composed of OSTA-AECO’s Public Board Council executive members and trustees on the OPSBA-OSTA Liaison Committee.

Note: Student Trustees from the same board cannot submit an application based on the same leadership initiative.

Application Process:

Applicants are asked to explain in a maximum of 350 words their suitability for the Ontario Public Student Trustee Leadership Scholarship.

All applications must be accompanied by two letters of reference, one of which must be from a senior executive or member of the local school board. These two letters must be from individuals in two differing roles (i.e. not two trustees). Letters of reference must be on official letterhead and include electronic or manual signatures. Reference letters should be at least one page, and no longer than two pages, with a font size of 11 or 12.

Please Note:

The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) and the Public Board Council of OSTA-AECO are committed to equity and inclusion in the selection of the successful applicant and encourage submissions from student trustees who represent the various dimensions of diversity. Both Associations are also committed to providing a barrier-free and accessible application process. Should you require accommodation, please contact OSTA-AECO’s Vice-President Public Dev Bassi at dev.bassi@osta-aeco.org.

Key Dates 2025-2026

November 25, 2025 – Initial applications sent to all English public school board student trustees

February 13, 2026 – Application reminder sent to all English public school board student trustees

May 15, 2026 – Application deadline

May 23, 2026 – Selection deadline by the OPSBA-OSTA Liaison Committee

May 25, 2026 – Announcement of successful recipient