MEDIA RELEASE

November 5, 2026

For immediate release

Indigenous students across Alberta are encouraged to apply for the Alberta Blue Cross Indigenous scholarship program, which awards 12 scholarships to post-secondary students each year.

“We saw an incredible response to this program last year, receiving nearly 240 applications from across the province—which is double from the previous year,” says Brian Geislinger, senior vice-president of Corporate Relations and Community Engagement with Alberta Blue Cross. “We’re pleased to continue this program into 2027 to support Indigenous students to reach their educational goals and impact their communities.”

Indigenous residents of Alberta who are enrolled full-time in an accredited post-secondary program of at least 2 years in duration are eligible to apply. Each award is worth $1,500. The deadline to apply is January 26, 2027.

Awards are based on the applicants’ personal goals, financial need and community involvement. Scholarship recipients are selected by an external committee with expertise in academia and Indigenous education.

Successful applicants will be contacted in early March.

The 2026 Indigenous scholarship program recipients included the following individuals:

Carmen Poitras plans to use her distance education doctorate to teach at a university level at an Indigenous institution or through distance programs.
Glennda McGee relocated from Inuvik to Calgary in pursuit of her social work diploma and plans to continue her education in a bachelor of social work program.
Hailey Blood is studying native studies at the University of Alberta and plans to go to law school to work in Indigenous law.
Harmony McDonald is pursuing a bachelor in nursing and is dedicated to helping people with addictions by opening a detox and treatment centre in her home reserve.
Keenan Wells, a native studies and bachelor of education student at the University of Alberta, is aspiring to become a social studies teacher to continue learning about his Indigenous culture.
Mikyla May Tuohy, a gender and sexuality student at the University of Calgary, is aspiring to continue her education with a master’s in social work.
Nina Brzezicki is a mother and university studies student at Northern Lakes College from a remote Indigenous community in Northern Alberta.
Raquel Healy is a bachelor of social work student pursuing a career that breaks cycles and empowers young girls to reclaim their voices.
Tennile Ermineskin relocated from Ponoka to Edmonton in pursuit of her juris doctor faculty of law degree with the goal of advocating for Indigenous rights while working closely with Aboriginal Law.

Teyah Braithwaite is a kinesiology student at the University of Calgary working toward medical school and becoming a doctor to help eliminate barriers Indigenous peoples face in accessing health care.
Zaira Courson is a massage therapy student at Mount Royal University.

Alberta Blue Cross has run the Indigenous scholarship program for more than 25 years with more than 100 scholarships awarded to Indigenous students. As part of Alberta Blue Cross’s commitment to wellness, the Indigenous scholarship program works to support overall community wellness and advance equitable access to post-secondary education for Indigenous students. Funding for the program comes from Alberta Blue Cross’s community foundation.

More information about the scholarship program, including the application form, can be found at

community.ab.bluecross.ca/programs/indigenous-scholarships.php.

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About Alberta Blue Cross

Alberta Blue Cross is a lifelong partner in health and wellbeing, helping people and organizations navigate life’s meaningful moments with clarity, care and confidence. For more than 75 years, we’ve supported individuals, employers, communities and governments through coverage and guidance to help people live well. Rooted in Alberta, we invest locally in initiatives that strengthen the communities we serve.

For more information, please contact Katelyn Pretzlaff, senior communications officer, Alberta Blue Cross at kpretzla@ab.bluecross.ca.