Jerkfest Offering 15 Scholarships To Celebrate 15th Year

TORONTO, ONT. (June 2016) – Greater Toronto Area residents planning to pursue post-secondary students have an opportunity to get some help with their tuition this year.

Coinciding with the celebration of JerkFest’s 15th year, the 15 for 15 Caribbean Promotions Arts & Culture (CPAC) Scholarship program is inviting GTA residents aged 18-25 with Caribbean or African backgrounds to apply for one of the festival’s 15th Anniversary commemorative scholarships.

“JerkFest is excited to be celebrating its 15th anniversary and we wanted find a way to commemorate this milestone while giving back to the community and inspiring the young generation of Caribbean and African residents,” says Anthony Plummer, Executive Director of the Festival. “The 15 for 15 CPAC Scholarship program will provide assistance to students looking to better their future through post-secondary education.”

Key eligibility requirements for the scholarship outline that applicants must:

· Be a Canadian Citizen or Landed Immigrant of Caribbean/African background;

· Be enrolled as a full time student at an Ontario College/University or other post-secondary institution;

· Be a Grade 12 student in the province of Ontario or looking to advance to either year two, three or four in an already enrolled Canadian post-secondary program;

· Demonstrate at least a 70% overall average in academic performance in the final year of high school or the last completed year in college or university;

· Demonstrate involvement and leadership in campus and/or community activities;

· Demonstrate a need for financial assistance; and

· Demonstrate strong oral and written communications skills.

Applicants will also be required to submit a two-page essay describing the applicant’s academic and career goals, aspirations, life goals, community involvement and why he or she should be selected.

A CPAC scholarship selection committee has been appointed and will choose recipients based on criteria, including the quality of response to the essay question, involvement and leadership in the community and at school, personal achievements awards and non-scholastic accomplishments, references, demonstrated scholastic ability and commitment to career goals.

Successful applicants will each need to sign a release, agreeing to be available to attend public relations events of future galas and volunteer at least one of the annual events hosted by Caribbean Promotions Arts & Culture Inc.

For a full list of application requirements and to apply for the scholarships, please visit http://www.jerkfestival.ca/community/cpac-scholarship.

The 2016 Grace Jerk Food Festival (JerkFest) is taking place August 6-7 at Centennial Park in Etobicoke. For more information on JerkFest, visit www.jerkfestival.ca, follow @JerkFestival on Twitter and JerkFest on Instagram, use the hashtags #jerkfest2016, #jerkfestTO and #GraceJerkFest, and like JerkFest on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jerkfestCanada.