Low number of applicants for BIPOC Excellence Scholarships points to a bigger problem 

While the King’s Student Union (KSU) works to provide fellow students with financial support, their resources are limited. 

The BIPOC Excellence Scholarships were introduced by the KSU in 2024, designed to improve equity and financial accessibility at the University of King’s College. 

 Only 16 students applied  this year across the five BIPOC Excellence Scholarships available, according to External VP Iman Mannathukkaren.

In total, 68 undergraduate King’s students self-identify as Black, Indigenous or other racialized groups according to the registrar’s office. This is roughly seven  per cent of the student body that was eligible for the BIPOC Excellence Scholarships. 

There are five BIPOC Excellence Scholarships available to qualifying students: The Hilary Ilkay Scholarship, Parisa Zahiremami Scholarship, Nicole Go Scholarship, International Student Scholarship and Diaspora Student Scholarship. Recipients receive $500 towards their tuition.

The money for the scholarships comes directly from the KSU budget, according to Mannathukkaren.

“We alone don’t have the resources to support everyone, so it’s always a difficult choice to make in terms of who we’re giving the awards to,” she said. 

The resignation of previous KSU president Gale VanAmburg left remaining staff with a larger workload and not a lot of time to advertise the scholarships. 

Rushed advertising led to three or four applicants, said Mannathukkaren. The deadline for the scholarships was originally Sept. 22, but was extended by a week to give students more time to apply. 

That extended deadline has passed by nearly a month at the time of publication, but there are still things students in financial need can do. 

“There’s a lot of different resources that [the KSU is] able to provide for students. And even if there’s something that maybe we’re not currently providing, if you have an idea, come let us know; there is a decent chance that we can make room in our budget,” Mannathukkaren said. 

While scholarships are limited, there are other opportunities for students to seek financial assistance. 

The King’s website posts student research related jobs and directions on how to apply. Refreshing the King’s student employment tab at least once a week will keep students up to date on what is available to them, but it is on students to look for these opportunities. 

Another opportunity is the Student Assistant Program (SAP), where professors can apply to have a student assist them in their research. Professors reach out to capable students first, meaning there is no official application process.

Daniel Brandes is one of the many professors at King’s who has taken advantage of this program. Given the scarcity of resources, it is important students know about all the opportunities available to them, including the SAP program, said Brandes. Brandes looks for students with “good work habits, someone who is organized and someone who is willing to ask questions if they don’t understand what you’ve asked them to do,” 

Brandes says that although professors reach out first, it is not a bad idea for students to make their interest known to their professors. This puts you on their radar and demonstrates those good work habits Brandes wants to see. 

“Most faculty members want very much to help the students who they see working as hard as you guys do,” said Brandes.