Michael Melancon-Koffend Student Awards

The Michael Melancon-Koffend Awards were established in 2020 through a generous donation from Marie Melancon-Ifram, who specified NWAC as a beneficiary of her estate. Named in honor of her late son, Michael Melancon-Koffend, these bursaries enable Indigenous women, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse post-secondary students to pursue their educational goals. The annual award provides $1,000 for selected Indigenous women, Two-Spirit, or gender-diverse students pursuing post-secondary studies in any field. The awards program is coordinated by NWAC's Business, Employment, and Social Development (BESD) Unit, with Indigenous youth managing the selection process. Priority is given to students committed to improving situations of Indigenous women and gender-diverse people in Canada politically, culturally, economically, or otherwise.