SASKATCHEWAN — Some of the province's most driven young leaders are getting a major opportunity to turn their community impact into real support for their future.
Conexus Credit Union has officially opened applications for the 2026 Conexus Youth Leadership Awards, offering 12 scholarships worth $5,000 each to graduating high school students across the province.
The program, which spans Conexus along with Synergy and Cornerstone credit unions, is designed to recognize leadership, community involvement, and ambition while helping ease the rising cost of post-secondary education.
“It’s inspiring to see young people across our province building their leadership skills and giving back to their schools and communities,” explained CEO of Conexus Credit Union Celina Philpot. “We want to celebrate their efforts and make it easier for them to handle the costs of higher education.”
The awards are open to students entering university, college or the skilled trades, reflecting what Philpot described as a broader effort to support Saskatchewan’s future workforce.
“This is really Conexus’ way of saying we want to invest in our future leaders,” Philpot expressed. “Being able to provide some financial support as these young people go through post-secondary education is our way of saying we would like to support you with your future goals.”
Applications are open until May 15, with eligibility extending to students, or those with a parent or guardian, who are members of participating credit unions. That reach spans more than 200,000 members across 57 branches, meaning thousands of graduating students could qualify.
Beyond recognition, the awards aim to remove financial barriers that can stand in the way of higher education.
“We understand that this can become a barrier for some people, that financial strain of having to pay for university, post-secondary, or a technical school,” Philpot stated. “So we wanted to eliminate that barrier so that people can pursue further education.”
The program also reflects a broader goal of keeping talent in Saskatchewan, especially in high-demand areas like the skilled trades.
“We’re opening it up to post-secondary and technical colleges as well,” she added. “We want to encourage students to invest in themselves and hopefully stay, work, and live in the province that has supported them.”
