3M National Student Fellowship

• Study Year: 1st - 4th Year

The adjudication committee considers an applicant’s nomination as a unified whole, not simply an assemblage of compartments. Each section of the package should reinforce its overall unity. Narrative flow unfolds and reveals the nominee’s character and achievements, and each section adds substance and evidence, constructing a compelling nomination.

Because this is an educational leadership award, the package’s greatest challenge is defining and demonstrating educational leadership, which goes beyond transcripts, lists of committees chaired, and clubs and/or groups joined. The individual will have to be “brought to life” through concrete evidence, examples, quotes, compelling anecdotes, persuasive support letters, and the inspiring believability of the nominee’s own words. Applicants tell their stories as learners, thought-provokers, visionaries, and community members in action. Applicants use clear and authentic narrative style and need not rely extensively on disciplinary or academic jargon.

The adjudication committee is interested in applications reflecting the applicant’s creativity, distinctiveness and personality, and shedding light on an exceptional leadership profile. The nominator (see below) is encouraged to “make a case” for the applicant’s leadership profile by connecting the material within the package to show how the applicant is deserving of this Fellowship. See the additional material “What Adjudicators are Looking For: Tips for Students and Nominators” to see more about what adjudicators are looking for when they read each file.

The adjudication process will support equitable distribution of the awards across all post-secondary sectors.

For many years, 3M Canada has funded scholarships and awards for undergraduates in colleges and universities across Canada. In 2012, 3M added a student fellowship using the long-standing 3M National Teaching Fellowship Program for university professors as a model. The 3M National Student Fellowship Program arose out of consultations and collaboration with the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) Board of Directors and the Council of 3M National Teaching Fellows Executive.