Applications for the 2023 Young Mining Professionals (YMP) Scholarship Fund are now open for students in mining-related programs at Canadian post-secondary institutions.
A total of 45 scholarships ranging in value from $2,000 to $15,000 will be awarded this year, up from 44 last year, courtesy of 23 sponsors. Reputed to be the largest mining scholarship program in the world, the YMP Scholarship Fund has grown from $12,000 in 2018, when it was co-founded by Stephen Stewart, chairman of the Ore Group, and Anthony Moreau, CEO of American Eagle Gold, to $200,000 this year. Since its inception, the fund has attracted sponsorships totalling $650,000.
In addition to the cash awards, many of the scholarships include opportunities for internships, offering students valuable experience in the mining industry. Many of these internships and relationships between scholarship winners and donors also lead to full time employment The deadline for applications is Aug. 31, 2023, with successful applicants to be announced on Oct. 1.
Ryan Sernoskie, winner of the $10,000 Young Mining Professionals’ Sprott Inc ESG Scholarship in 2022, left, with Anthony Moreau, CEO of American Eagle Gold and director of the scholarship program. Credit: Anthony Moreau
The Scholarship Fund’s mandate to support students pursuing post-secondary studies in a mining-related discipline also benefits sponsoring mining companies who use it as a means of identifying and recruiting “the best of the best to their organizations,” said Moreau, director of the scholarship program.
“If you’re a mining company looking for top talent, look no further than the YMP Scholarship Fund,” he said. “Last year, we received over 1,500 applications, so it’s an ideal way to recruit graduates of mining-related programs to your organization.”
Illustrating the importance of the fund to participating sponsors, Moreau cites the example of Barrick Gold CEO Mark Bristow, who personally called the winner of Barrick’s 2022 Peter Munk Scholarship to offer them employment.
“This individual had a job with a company in another industry but was persuaded to join Barrick and stay in the mining industry that he had spent four years studying to join,” said Moreau. “It’s not every day that a student receives a call from the CEO of a $40-billion company, and it shows how much our sponsors value the opportunity to recruit top talent by leveraging the Scholarship Fund.”
The fact that the fund is managed entirely by volunteers and that 100% of all money donated goes to students is also a factor in its success.
Many of the scholarships generally target students in mining programs, while others are available specifically to women, Indigenous students, new Canadians or residents of a region or province. Applicants are selected based on a combination of academic achievement, extracurricular activities, and essays or other submissions demonstrating innovative ideas and a commitment to the mining industry.
Applicants who are not successful scholarship recipients are automatically enrolled in a $5,000 Mining Lottery sponsored by YMP Toronto, Kinross and Sprott Inc. that will award a $500 prize to 10 students.
A complete list of YMP scholarships as well as eligibility and application requirements are on the YMP Scholarship website at ympscholarships.com/applications-2023.
Students may apply for as many scholarships as they qualify for.
YMP Scholarship Fund sponsors this year include Agnico Eagle Mines (TSX: AEM, NYSE: AEM), Alamos Gold (TSX: AGI, NYSE: AGI), Appian Capital Advisory, B2GOLD (TSX: BTO, NYSE-A: BTG), Barrick Gold (TSX: ABX, NYSE: GOLD), Equinox Gold (TSX: EQX, NYSE-A: EQX), Gold Royalty (NYSE: GROY), IAMGOLD (TSX: IMG, NYSE: IAG), Joan Margaret Stewart, Kinross Gold (TSX: K, NYSE: KGC), The Northern Miner, O3 Mining (TSXV: OlllF), Okane Consultants, ORE Group, Pan American Silver (TSX: PAAS, NYSE: PAAS), QC Copper & Gold (TSXV: QCCU), Sprott Inc., TD Bank (TSX: TD), and Triple Flag Precious Metals (NYSE: TFPM).
The YMP Scholarship Fund, a registered Canadian charity offering tax receipts to donors, is always open to new sponsors both for this year’s program and future years. Companies and individuals interested in sponsoring a scholarship are encouraged to email scholarships@youngminingprofessionals.com.
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