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- Competition Info
- Projects
- 2022
- Kokum's Helper Round Dance by team CCB Treaty 6
- Knowledge Translation Re-imagining: Healthcare in the DTES
- Memorializing the First Filipino in Canada: A documentary
- Mixed-Race Community Group: Exploring Self, Ancestries, and Lands
- Documenstory - Ashcroft Youth Media Club
- The Process of Political Activism
- Happy, Connected, Resilient Neighbours
- Crafting Circles
- Trans Connect-ing Youth in Sport
- Ocean Care through Data Embodying and Behaviour Changes
- Let’s Do Breakfast
- Empowering Muslim Youth
- Peer Connect: Accessibility Meet up/ Games Night
- The Reclamation of Women's Bundles
- 2021
- ACSSPA Sewing Mask Project
- Art for Comfort: Art for Connection
- BC Newcomer Camp
- Burnaby Mountain Festival
- Generation BXY
- Glow Within Foundation
- Haida Nerds
- Hastings Folk Garden Sound Map
- Indigenous Tutoring and Mentoring Program (ITMP)
- Math Walks
- NaloxHome SFU
- OMG I have ADHD
- OneTime
- Public Health Speaks
- ReRooting Relationships
- Singing Our Truths: Telling Our Stories
- Voices 4 Reconciliation
- Young Minds Exploring Science
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2022
- News & stories
- Fourteen student-led teams win funding to realize community impact!
- Leaders & Learners
- These 18 teams are springing into action with community
- Develop your capacity as a changemaker – and have fun!
- Embracing the complexity: pivoting as a practice.
- You know what’s not scary? $3,000 to fund your awesome project.
- SFU student creates youth-led overdose education and naloxone training during B.C.’s overdose crisis
- SFU student-community partnership creates local impact in Surrey
- SFU Students Exemplify the Spirit of Innovation and Community Engagement at the Annual President’s Gala
- Co-creation is difficult. And it's worth it.
- Hands-on for impact
- Congratulations to this year’s winners!
- On power and engagement – an interview with Aslam Bulbulia (excerpted)
- Herbert’s story: how one shopping cart made a difference.
- Don't wait for perfection – jump in
- Congratulations to our 2017-18 finalists and winners
- Discover what’s possible when university students and communities work together
- About
- Contact us
Awards and judging
Up to $30,000* in awards is available
Typically, 3-4 Grand Awards of $3,000 are available each year, along with several more Engagement Awards of $2,000. Judges have the right not award up to the full amount if there are not enough projects that meet the evaluation criteria.
All award funds must exclusively be used to directly implement your project.
Because community engagement happens everywhere, there are no longer any location requirements for most awards in the competition. Your project should best exemplify the values, principles and approach to community engagement illustrated in SFU's Strategic Community Engagement Plan.
*Award amounts subject to change.
Special Awards for 2022-23
1. Burnaby Festival of Learning Award ($2,000)
One $2,000 Engagement Award will be specifically awarded to a project designed to implement a learning event during the 2023 Burnaby Festival of Learning. Teams hoping to compete for this award should clearly detail how they will host such an event. Please see “Evaluation Criteria”, below, for more details.
Progressive evaluation process
There are three stages of evaluation in the SFU Student-Community Engagement Competition. The first step is getting your team together and submitting an idea (learn more about how it works). Then the evaluation process unfolds like this:
- Invitation to submit a detailed proposal. After November 25, the idea submissions deemed to be the most promising will be invited to submit a detailed proposal (due January 20, 2023) for evaluation.
- Selection of finalists. A shortlist of teams with the most promising, creative, and feasible detailed proposals will be designated as finalists and invited to present their ideas before a panel of judges.
- Selection of winners. Winners will notified by email, generally by mid-March. (Cheques typically become available by the end of March.)
- Winner orientation. Winning teams will be required to attend an orientation meeting to sign the Declaration and Release (detailed in the Rules), to meet each other, to learn how the Office of Community Engagement can support you in your work, and of course, to ask questions.
Evaluation criteria
The selection of finalists and winners of the SFU Student-Community Engagement Competition is guided by a common set of evaluation criteria which reflect the principles and values of community engagement as they are presented in SFU's Strategic Community Engagement Plan. In particular, this competition is designed to encourage co-creative and collaborative work with community partners to inspire community engagement and bring about meaningful impact.
Strong proposals will feature evidence of deep collaboration and co-creation with involved community partners.
When considering ideas, it is important that proposals have high potential for making meaningful, positive change within their targeted communities.
Detailed proposals should contain elements of social entrepreneurship, innovation and community-building while including avenues to recognize, celebrate and champion equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as community collaboration and partnership. They should also be realistic, feasible and achievable, including clear indicators and measurements of impact and/or success. It is critical that proposals be unique and authentically connected to genuine team interest, and that there is a genuine commitment to working collaboratively with a community partner.
Take a look at past finalists and award winners to get a sense of the variety of projects that have met these criteria.
Judges look for the following from all submissions:
- Ideas that are compelling, unique and creative
- Plans that will clearly make a positive difference when implemented
- Detailed proposals that are focused, realistic, feasible and achievable
- Plans that contain opportunities for community groups and businesses to be involved and participate
- Genuine enthusiasm for the idea and a commitment to making it a reality
- Clearly communicated, well-written and well-presented ideas
- Detailed proposals that include a definitive timeline, an accurate cost structure, and a propensity for success
- Detailed proposals with clear evidence of work to build a respectful, collaborative relationship with a community partner
Special Award Additional criteria:
1. Burnaby Festival of Learning Engagement Award ($2,000):
- Projects must have an event component that can take place during the 2023 Burnaby Festival of Learning (May 5–9, 2023);
- The project event must take place in Burnaby;
- The project event must be designed for the community, inclusive, accessible, and safe for the public to enjoy;
- Projects must benefit the community and encourage community participation and engagement.
Choosing the winning projects
The decision of the selection committee is final. In choosing the award winners of the SFU Student-Community Engagement Competition, all judges read the detailed proposals of all finalist teams in the competition they will be adjudicating.
If, in the opinion of the selection committee, there are no nominees considered suitable for an award, no awards shall be given.
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What would you do with $3,000?
Up to $30,000* is available to fund SFU students who want to work with community partners to create meaningful impact.
Maybe you’re working on an existing idea for a class you’re taking, through a student club or another organization, or maybe you just have an amazing idea that keeps you up at night.... Whatever it is, we want to hear from you!
Start the process now by registering today – all you need is your passion and an idea.