Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre

DCCM Award

$10,000 to support education and social enterprise

Final pitch competition—Dec. 6, 2024

Person holds large award check indoors.

2024 Winner—Olivian Sanderson BComm

The DCCM Award, offering a grand prize of $10,000, celebrates student entrepreneurs addressing pressing social and environmental challenges through their businesses. Over 30 applications were submitted, from which seven finalists were chosen to present their ideas to a panel of judges. Last Friday, these finalists pitched innovative solutions to issues including anxiety and loneliness among university students, limited access to fresh, healthy food, improved care for dementia patients, and more. Among the contenders, Olivian Sanderson, co-founder of Sociable, a mental health app designed for students, emerged as the winner. Congratulations to Olivian and a thank you to all the finalists for delivering such inspiring pitches

About The Dream Chaser Change Maker (DCCM) Foundation:

Founded as a scholarship program in 2017, The Dream Chaser Change Maker (DCCM) Foundation is a federally registered non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing generations of social entrepreneurs. The DCCM aims to alleviate financial barriers to education, helping Dream Chasers (student social entrepreneurs) harness the power of academic knowledge and their creativity to drive positive social change in the world.  

They provide resources (funding and services) and mentorship to transform Dream Chasers into Change Makers one student entrepreneur at a time. Our ultimate goal is to see the Dream Chasers of today become the Change Makers of tomorrow and return to DCCM as mentors, creating a perpetual cycle of people helping the next generation of social entrepreneurs be successful. 

  

Award Details:

  • From the top applications, up to five students will be selected and required to compete in a pitch, showcasing their social venture to a panel of judges on December 6, 2024 
  • One applicant will be recognized with the DCCM Award and awarded $10,000 to support their education and social enterprise 
  • Up to 80% of the grant is directly invested into the social enterprise 
  • A minimum of 20% is allocated to paying the recipient’s education, with flexibility based on their unique needs 
  • The finalists will be paired with a DCCM Mentor to support their growth as a social entrepreneur 

Selection Criteria

DCCM Foundation will evaluate applicants based on their ability to drive social and/or environmental change and their ability to communicate how they will use the financial support to start up or scale their initiative.  

Eligibility

Students must be active undergraduate students at Saint Mary’s University and must have at least one semester of university remaining. 

Deadline

Applications close: November 15, 2024 

This program is powered by The Dream Chaser Change Maker (DCCM) Foundation

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