The annual and highly anticipated Scholarship Contest of the Caisse Desjardins de Vaudreuil-Soulanges is officially launched. Post-secondary students who are Desjardins members have until November 29 to register for a chance to win one of 50 scholarships, with amounts up to $5,000.

Over the years, this contest, always launched during Cooperation Week, has become a local tradition, demonstrating Desjardins’ commitment to supporting students by reducing their financial burden.

"At Caisse Desjardins de Vaudreuil-Soulanges, we are very proud to continue this timeless and relevant contest. We are also pleased to be involved in youth projects, and what's great is that we cover all stages. We support perinatal organizations like the Prenatal and Young Families Center and the Maison de la famille. Then, when children start school, there’s the school savings program. For high school students, we have the ‘Jeunes au travail’ and ‘Mes finances mes choix’ programs, which are very successful every year. The Scholarship Contest for post-secondary students is the natural continuation of our involvement," explains Richard Dubois, Director of Communications and Associative Life at Desjardins Vaudreuil-Soulanges.

With this contest, Desjardins Vaudreuil-Soulanges once again proves its importance in supporting academic perseverance. "Since we don't have a CEGEP or university in our region, young people who want to pursue higher education have to leave the area, which generates additional costs. Through the Scholarship Contest, we maintain a connection with our student members from the region. It’s also important to note that the contest was born here, in the region. It’s truly a local and identity-defining initiative for Vaudreuil-Soulanges," adds Dubois.

An initiative by and for the members

The origins of this major contest trace back to the Caisse Desjardins des Seigneurie de Soulanges and its former general manager, Mr. Belisle, who launched the initiative for the youth of Soulanges.

In 2009, following the merger of the Vaudreuil and Soulanges Caisses, the contest expanded to include all post-secondary students in the region.

Richard Dubois reminds us that the contest, like other educational support initiatives, is made possible thanks to the 60,000 members of the Caisse, who agree to allocate part of their individual dividends to the collective Fund for Community Development (FCD), dedicated to the Vaudreuil-Soulanges community.

"In 2024, $670,000 has been invested in the FADM. These funds will be redistributed to structuring projects for the citizens of Vaudreuil-Soulanges through organizations and our various programs," Dubois emphasizes.

How to participate

Until November 29, post-secondary students who are members of the Caisse Desjardins de Vaudreuil-Soulanges can enter by completing the form available on the Caisse’s website.

Following the registration period, a random draw will take place in December to select the 50 winners of scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000, for a total of $60,000.

The contest is open to full members of the Caisse Desjardins de Vaudreuil-Soulanges as of October 1, 2024, who are also full-time post-secondary students (vocational, college, or university) in fall 2024 or winter 2025, at institutions recognized by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

For full details and to register, visit: www.caissevaudreuilsoulanges.com