Are you a Canadian high school student who is taking French? Then you should consider entering the National Essay Contest!
What is the National Essay Contest?
Students write an essay based on the topic chosen that year for a chance to win a scholarship ranging from $1,000 to $12,000 at one of these post-secondary institutions:
uOttawa, Université Sainte Anne, Université de Montréal, Université de Moncton, Université de Saint-Boniface, Glendon – York U, University of Alberta – Campus Saint-Jean, Université Simon Fraser, University of Lethbridge, Collège Boréal, University of Regina, Collège de l’Île, or the University of British Columbia.
Eligibility
The National Essay Contest is open to all legal residents of Canada enrolled in a Canadian high school at one of these levels:
- Grade 10
- Grade 11
- or Grade 12
- Secondaire IV (Quebec)
- Secondaire V (Quebec)
- Cégep 1 (Quebec)
Additionally, if you are a student who has taken a gap year after high school graduation and never registered for post-secondary, you may be eligible to participate! For more details, contact French for the Future.
However, employees or agents of Le français pour l’avenir / French for the Future Inc, uOttawa, Université Sainte Anne, Université de Montréal, Université de Moncton, Université de Saint-Boniface, York University, University of Alberta, Université Simon Fraser, University of Lethbridge, Collège Boréal, University of Regina, Collège de l’Île, or the University of British Columbia as well as their advertising and promotion agencies, and contest judges are not eligible to enter.
How To Enter
To enter, simply go to www.french-future.org and click the contest link. Then fill out the entry form, which requires:
- Your name
- Address
- Telephone number
- Email address
- Grade level
- High school you attend
- School board
- French program of study
Fill out the online form between October and December. If an entry form is not filled out fully, or not submitted during the Contest period, it will be rejected. When applying, you must rank your top three choices of post-secondary institutions with your number one choice in spot 1.
Essay Requirements
Next, you are required to submit a 750-word original essay based on this year’s theme. For example, the 2019-2020 theme was:
“On June 17th, 2019, Canada has declared a climate emergency. If you were put in charge of leading the government, how would you respond to this emergency?”
This essay must be written in French. Also, the essay must not be exhibited publicly, published previously, or selected as a winner in any other contest.
Moreover, only amateur authors are eligible. (Amateur authors are defined as a person who has never earned more than $1,000 in any year as a result of having written short stories, articles, or essays). Also, a submitted essay becomes the property of the Sponsor, which means the Sponsor has the right to display, publish, modify, reproduce, edit, or otherwise use the submitted essay in whole or in part when advertising or promoting the National Essay Contest.
If an entry does not comply with these rules, it will be disqualified.
Furthermore, you must indicate which category you fall under. Your essay will be judged against other essays that are in the same category.
Category 1: French Second Language (FSL)
Is French your second language? Are you enrolled in Basic French, Core French, Extended Core French, French Immersion, or another FSL program? If the answer is yes, then this category is for you. As long as you do not match any of the French First Language criteria.
Category 2: French First Language (FFL)
Is French your first language? Do you speak, comprehend, and write French with native fluency? Do you regularly speak French with one or both parents? Also, do you attend (or have attended) a FFL school for more than 3 years? If the answer is yes to any of the above (in this category), then this is the category for you!
Please keep in mind that the Sponsor can verify that you have been categorized in the correct category. If you are in the incorrect category, you will be disqualified.
Additional Information
Lastly, an electronic confirmation of receipt will indicate that your essay has been successfully submitted. For more information, please read the National Essay Contest Scholarship: Overview.