DCLA Updates

ABout Cisco

The Cisco Networking Academy stands as one of the longest-standing IT skills-to-jobs programs in the world, training over 5.3 million global learners through its digital skills and certification-aligned courses.

In Canada

In Canada, the Cisco Networking Academy and their instructors guide more than 69,400 students across 242 academies located in high schools, colleges, and non-profit organizations.

5.3+M

global learners

69,400

students in Canada

242

academies

What This Means for DCLA Recipients

This partnership bridges the gap between high school achievements and career-ready skills.

Award winners will unlock

Skill Expansion: Opportunities to continue their journey in AI, cybersecurity, and digital literacy.

*image source netacad.com

What’s new for 2025–2026

Colorful cartoon owl with large eyes and one raised wing.

Expanded eligibility for all
high school & CÉGEP students

*grades 9–12 or equivalent

The updated award now welcomes nominations from all high school grade levels, not just graduating students. This expanded eligibility allows youth in Grades 9 through 12 (or provincial equivalents) to be recognized for meaningful digital leadership throughout their secondary school journey.

It also encourages early engagement, continuous growth, and the celebration of long-term impact in their schools and communities.

New award registration streams

New ways for students, peers, and educators to submit nominations that highlight impactful digital leadership

Registration Streams

Inclusive nomination options for students, peers, and teachers to recognize outstanding digital leadership

Self-Nomination

Students can nominate themselves by submitting the necessary information for their digital leadership achievements. Two references, such as a teacher, coach, mentor, or community leader, are required to support the nomination.

Student-to-student nomination

Students may nominate a peer who demonstrates positive digital citizenship and leadership. This nomination must include one additional reference from a teacher or community member to validate the nominee’s contributions.

Community Member-to-student nomination

Teachers, education workers, and community members can directly nominate students who exemplify digital leadership, innovation, or community impact. This stream is designed to recognize students who may not self-advocate but whose contributions deserve to be celebrated.

Annual Theme

A flexible, extracurricular Self-Paced Pathway focused on capacity building, and an intensive, in-person Instructor-Led (AP) Pathway designed to provide a structured classroom experience aligned with advanced academic programs such as AP Seminar.

This year, we invite high school and CÉGEP students to use artificial intelligence as a tool to strengthen critical thinking and responsible decision-making

Self-Paced Pathway

A flexiblIdeal for independent learners who want flexibility while receiving online support.

Participants will:

Explore a STEM topic they are passionate about and craft a scholarly viewpoint essay.
Improve their writing through interactive workshops, self-paced e-modules, and mentor support.
Receive peer and expert feedback to refine and elevate their work.
Compete for publication in the STEM Fellowship Journal, strengthening their academic portfolio.
Join a national network of students, mentors, and educators dedicated to STEM communication.

This pathway provides an accessible introduction to scholarly writing and scientific argumentation while allowing students to work at their own pace.

Instructor-Led (AP) Pathway

Designed specifically for students preparing for highly selective university admissions and AP Seminar, AP Capstone.

Participants will:

Direct PhD Mentorship
One-on-one guidance from a senior researcher.
Two Weeks of Intensive Instruction
Monday to Thursday in-person classes (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) and Friday online sessions.
AI-Enhanced Workflow
Training in professional AI tools to map the frontiers of science and accelerate research.
Scholarly Writing
Progress from AI-assisted ideation to literature review and drafting a publication-ready viewpoint manuscript.
University Preparation
Publication in a scholarly journal and development of a portfolio aligned with AP Seminar expectations and competitive admissions criteria.

Students in this pathway gain hands-on experience with the core components of AP Seminar:
‍
Collaborative Inquiry: Working with peers to investigate real-world or academic issues, evaluate multiple perspectives, and propose evidence-based solutions presented through multimedia.
Independent Research: Developing a research question from stimulus materials, analyzing and synthesizing evidence, constructing an argument, and defending conclusions in a formal presentation.

By the end of the program, students will have produced a polished scholarly manuscript, strengthened their academic communication skills, and built a portfolio that demonstrates readiness for AP Seminar, AP Research, and undergraduate-level scholarship.

AI for Better Thinking

Through their actions, students should demonstrate ethical use and independent judgment by showing how AI supported, rather than replaced, human creativity and problem-solving.

Apply For Free

Nomination Guide Summary Pamphlet

The DCLA & Cisco Networking Academy Partnership

Awards

& Recognitions

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Questions? We've got answers!

info@stemfellowship.org

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