Andre De Grasse Future Champions Scholarship Program Applications Open June 1

The Andre De Grasse Future Champions Scholarship Program is back for 2023-24, with applications opening Thursday, June 1.

The Andre De Grasse Family Foundation and Athletics Canada are pleased to team up again this year to provide financial support and guidance to high school student-athletes – who are not yet a member of a registered track and field club – to  support their pursuit of academic, athletic and personal success.

"It’s amazing to see how many talented student athletes we’ve supported through this program since launching in 2018,” said six-time Olympic medallist Andre De Grasse. “It’s all about unlocking potential in young people and I’m proud to be working with Athletics Canada and my first coach and mentor Tony Sharpe to help fund and deliver this program."

The program is supported by the Andre De Grasse Family Foundation (ADGFF), a public charitable foundation committed to empowering and inspiring youth through sport and education, and to provide them with similar opportunities that made Andre a champion in sport and in life. The Foundation’s vision reflects Andre’s mantra, to Speak It Into Existence. 

Four boys and three girls were accepted into the program in its inaugural year in 2018. Five of these program alumni earned NCAA scholarships: Brynley McDermott at the University of Iowa, Alley Verbancic at Kent State University, Mahalia Mitchell at Louisiana State University, Bryce Thurton at Academy of Art University, and Destiny Emuze at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Last year, 16 student-athletes were accepted into the 2022-23 Andre De Grasse Future Champions Scholarship Program, based on previous results, potential and relative financial need.

Athletics Canada has received funding from the Canadian Olympic Committee’s NSO Return to Sport Program, to partner with Andre De Grasse in developing and providing support and services for student-athletes from marginalized and remote communities to pursue their athletic development.

“It is exciting to see the Andre De Grasse Future Champions Scholarship Program continue for another year,” said Mathieu Gentès, Athletics Canada Chief Executive Officer. “The program provides student-athletes sporting opportunities, removes barriers to participation and most importantly provides a pathway for on and off-track success through the power of post-secondary education. I am thankful for Andre’s continued involvement and contributions to the program, reading and hearing about the program’s success stories is inspiring, reinforcing the power of sport.”

Interested high school student-athletes can apply online between June 1 and July 31, and can expect to be notified about their application in early September.

Registration: https://athletics.ca/annual-awards/andre-de-grasse-future-champions-scholarship-program/

About the Andre De Grasse Future Champions Scholarship Program
The Andre De Grasse Future Champions Scholarship Program is a joint initiative of Athletics Canada and the Andre De Grasse Family Foundation. In addition to his achievements on the track, Andre is a university graduate of the University of Southern California (USC) and has a deep appreciation of how mentors, training and education helped his success. The scholarship program aims to empower youth to use competitive sport as a platform to further their academic potential and become healthy and productive citizens in their community. The program will use the same blueprint that propelled Andre into a champion, and provide the support and services required for high school athletes to maximize their athletic ability in pursuit of academic success and the opportunity to realize their potential.

The Andre De Grasse Future Champions Scholarship provides the following resources to qualifying Canadian high school student-athletes not yet training with a track and field club:

• Annual Athletics Canada Branch Membership & Club Membership
• Annual grant to help cover cost of meet entries, travel, and accommodation
• In Person Coaching and/or Coach Mentorship support to personal coaches of identified student-athletes with two-time Athletics Canada Development Coach of the Year, Tony Sharpe.
• Nutrition support from Athletics Canada Sport Dietician, Jennifer Sygo.
• Academic support from student-athlete consultant, Barb Boyes.
• And more!