CBU Announces Scholarships for every High School Student in Cape Breton AND a Brand New President’s Emerging Leader Award

 

Cape Breton University (CBU) is introducing a new $1,000 award available to every direct from high school student from Cape Breton who chooses to study at CBU beginning in September 2026, provided they are not already in receipt of an institutional award of equal or greater value. This ensures that every Cape Breton student receives a minimum of $1000 in financial aid and reinforces the university’s dedication to the youth of Cape Breton.

Additionally, in September of 2027 CBU will introduce the President’s Emerging Leader Award. The new award is for five Cape Breton students valued at up to $20,000 each, distributed over the duration of a student’s program of study. These awards reflect a refreshed approach to recognizing leadership beyond traditional academic metrics.

“CBU has a responsibility to remove barriers to education for Cape Bretoners as well as for students across Canada and the world,” says President and Vice-Chancellor David C. Dingwall. “These enhancements represent a bold commitment to supporting our youth, recognizing leadership and ensuring that every student from Cape Breton who chooses to study at CBU feels valued and supported. By evolving our scholarship program now and reallocating funds for these awards, we are investing in a strong future for our communities.”

These enhancements to the Scholarship Program are the direct result of the work of a recently established Scholarship Task Force, created by President Dingwall, to review CBU’s scholarship portfolio and recommend changes that strengthen equity, impact and the overall student experience.

On the President’s Emerging Leader Award, President Dingwall says, “This award is designed to celebrate and support exceptional youth leaders across the region. Recipients will be identified through recommendations from school leadership and guidance counsellors, with CBU working collaboratively with school administrations to establish a nomination process. We know leadership happens at all levels, and our intention is to foster that leadership culture in Cape Breton’s youth.”

As part of the improvements, CBU has also introduced an integrated application process that automatically considers students for major renewable scholarships as soon as they are accepted to the university. This enhancement significantly streamlines the process, ensuring students receive timely information about scholarship eligibility without the need for a separate application. This is expected to greatly improve the student experience, particularly for first‑time applicants navigating the transition to post-secondary education.

Through the generous contributions of donors, more than $2.6 million in scholarships and bursaries are offered to CBU students each year. For more information about CBU’s scholarship program, please visit cbu.ca/scholarships.