Rising Stars Athlete Scholarship

• Sports: Any Sport
• Grades: 65 - 100%
• Citizenship: Canadian
• Age (Not Required): 16 - 19

Additional Notes

Purpose of the Rising Stars Athlete Scholarship

The Rising Stars Athlete Scholarship exists to support emerging Canadian student-athletes who are committed to continuing their athletic and academic journeys at the post-secondary level. As a company built to empower athletes through technology, we recognize the challenges that come with pursuing sports beyond high school - whether it's financial strain, limited visibility, or underrepresentation in certain sports or communities.

This scholarship is designed for students graduating Grade 12 in 2025 who have demonstrated dedication to their sport and are planning to enrol in a Canadian university or college this fall, as well as Grade 11 students entering Grade 12 in Fall 2025 who are preparing for their post-secondary athletic journey. We're especially interested in supporting driven, goal-oriented athletes - whether they come from powerhouse programs or underrepresented sports like rugby, field hockey, or lacrosse - who are ready to take the next step in their collegiate journey.

This scholarship, funded by Co-Elite Inc., leverages our free Co-Elite app to help athletes build their profiles at no cost. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to use the Co-Elite app to share their journey and showcase their talents. Ultimately, we want to recognize not just talent, but determination, character, and the effort it takes to put yourself out there.

Scholarship Details

Number of Awards: 5 scholarships. Amount: $500 each (one-time award).

Who should apply:

Applicants must meet all of the following mandatory requirements:

Athletic Participation

Applicants must have actively participated in a competitive sport during the 2024-2025 school year (e.g., high school varsity, club, or travel teams), or currently be involved in summer leagues, camps, or athletic training at the time of application.

Intent to Pursue University or College Sports

Applicants must demonstrate a clear intent to play a sport at a Canadian university or college in Fall 2025 (for Grade 12 graduates) or Fall 2026 (for Grade 11 students), shown through:

• A personal letter (500 words or less) outlining their athletic goals and interest in university or college sports.

Athletic Portfolio Method (Choose One)

Option A (Co-Elite App): Create a complete Athlete profile on the Co-Elite app by the scholarship deadline, including:

• Uploaded videos (e.g., highlight reels or game footage), and
• At least two or more of the following profile sections completed:
  • Personal Statement
  • Career Aspirations
  • Community Involvement
  • Accomplishments
  • Education

Option B (Online Submission): Submit a comprehensive athletic portfolio including:

• Link to video highlights (YouTube, Vimeo, or similar platform)
• PDF of athletic and academic resume OR PDF of Letter of Recommendation from a coach or mentor supporting your university/college sports commitment.

The purpose of either option is to help us get a comprehensive view of your athletic journey and potential.

Academic Standing

Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 (or equivalent, e.g., 65%) in their current year of secondary school (2024-2025). Proof (e.g., a transcript) may be required for verification if selected as a finalist.

Grade Level

Applicants must be either:

• Grade 12 students who have successfully completed Grade 12 (or equivalent) in the 2024-2025 school year and are planning to attend a Canadian university or college starting in Fall 2025, OR
• Grade 11 students who have successfully completed Grade 11 in the 2024-2025 school year and are entering Grade 12 in Fall 2025.

Canadian Citizenship

Applicants must be Canadian citizens.

Optional Enhancements (Bonus Criteria)

These criteria are not required but may improve your application:

• Recruitment Exposure:
  • Participation in university/college recruitment events, ID camps, or showcases.
  • Attendance at sports development camps (e.g., provincial/regional training programs).
• Recognition & Leadership: 
  • Athletic awards (e.g., MVP, All-Star selections, team honours).
  • Leadership roles (e.g., team captain, mentorship initiatives, volunteer coaching).

We understand every applicant has different opportunities and challenges. We encourage you to apply even if you don't have access to private clubs, showcases, or expensive training.

How Applications Are Evaluated

Applications will be evaluated based on:

• Athletic talent, achievements, and potential - 30%
• Academic performance - 20%
• Personal Letter - 50%

Important: Using the Co-Elite app provides no advantage in judging. Applications via either method are evaluated equally using objective, documented criteria. Winners will be selected based on merit evaluation using the criteria above.

Important Note for Grade 11 Recipients

Recipients of the award who are entering their Grade 12 year in Fall 2025 will be required to maintain the minimum GPA of 2.5 (or equivalent) throughout their Grade 12 year, as well as continue their athletic participation and demonstrate ongoing intent to pursue university or college sports in their first year of post-secondary education.

Disbursement

For Grade 12 graduates: Scholarship funds will be sent directly to the recipient's Canadian post-secondary institution upon proof of enrollment in Fall 2025. If a recipient does not enrol by November 30, 2025, the award may be forfeited.

For Grade 11 students: Scholarship funds will be held and sent directly to the recipient's Canadian post-secondary institution upon proof of enrollment in Fall 2026, provided they have met the ongoing requirements outlined above. If a recipient does not meet the ongoing requirements or does not enrol by November 30, 2026, the award may be forfeited.

Timeline: Applications will be reviewed immediately after the deadline and could take up to 3 weeks to complete depending on volume of applications. Once results are confirmed and announced, disbursement will be actioned within 7 days of the decision.

🚀 Don't have a Co-Elite profile yet? Create your free account to get started.

The Co-Elite app is a free platform designed to help student-athletes showcase their talents and connect with post-secondary opportunities. While not required for this scholarship, it can be a valuable tool for your athletic journey beyond this application.

For all detailed legal disclosures regarding the Rising Stars Athlete Scholarship, please review our Terms of Use policy here.

About Co-Elite

Co-Elite Inc. is a Canadian-built platform created to empower student-athletes by helping them showcase their talent and explore post-secondary opportunities across the country. We believe that every athlete - regardless of their location, school size, or sport - deserves a fair shot at being recruited and making informed decisions about their future.

With Co-Elite, athletes can build dynamic multimedia profiles to highlight their skills and achievements while connecting with coaches at the university and college level. But we go beyond just recruitment - our platform also offers powerful research tools that help students discover academic programs, compare schools, and learn more about life on campus, all in one place.

Founded by athletes for athletes, Co-Elite is more than just a platform - it’s a growing community that champions opportunity, visibility, and access to higher education for student-athletes across Canada.

🌐 Learn more at www.co-elite.com

🚀 Find Co-Elite on the AppStore or get early access to the Google Play store.