Graduation and Student Awards

Awarded annually to the Grade 12 student judged by the teachers to be an outstanding student of French. This award is intended to convey appreciation of Lucy Potts’ enormous contribution to the development of high academic standards at Canada’s National Ballet School.

The Patricia Goss Award for Art honours the most creative art student in Grade 12 who has demonstrated a deep commitment to the realization of visual and artistic skills. Established by Jane and Stephen Smith, this award pays tribute to the inspiration and joy with which Pat Goss taught her students for twenty-five years. 

The Mora Oxley Award for English was established to honour Mora Oxley, Academic Principal of Canada’s National Ballet School from April 1984 to her retirement in June 2000. The award is given annually to the Grade 12 student chosen by the academic teachers as an outstanding student of English. It is intended to keep alive Mora Oxley's enormous contribution to the development of high academic standards at Canada’s National Ballet School, and her passion for English studies. 

The study of music is an integral part of the training offered to students at Canada’s National Ballet School. The musicianship award has been designed to recognize a student who demonstrates the rare combination of knowledge, skill, creativity, talent and dedication.

The Governor General’s Academic Medal was first presented in 1873 by the Earl of Dufferin, and has since become one of the most prestigious awards that a student in a Canadian educational institution can receive. The Medal is awarded for academic excellence to the student who achieves the highest average upon graduation.

John Maitland was Academic Principal of Canada’s National Ballet School from 2000 until his retirement in 2010. A strong supporter of all areas of study, his love of math and science, subjects at which he excelled, made his a fitting name to attach to this award. It is presented to the student who best exemplifies all-round academic accomplishment while showing a particular aptitude and affection for mathematics and science. 

The Lawrence Haskett Scholarship is awarded to a Grade 12 male student who the ballet faculty consider especially committed to the art form and determined to fully explore his exceptional talent.

For outstanding achievement through discipline and commitment to ballet, academics, and personal development. The recipient may use the prize for the purposes of enhancing their ballet training and furthering their dance career in any way they choose.

Erik Bruhn loved the challenge of mentoring talented young dancers, especially those with the intelligence, passion, curiosity and sense of artistry essential to bringing classical and contemporary dance to life. The recipient of the Erik Bruhn Memorial Award is selected by the Artistic Director in conjunction with the ballet faculty, many of whom had the privilege of working directly with Erik as a teacher, coach and colleague. The staff look forward each year to selecting the Grade 12 student they believe Erik would have considered exceptional.

The prize to be awarded to one graduating student of exceptional talent and merit, selected by the Artistic Director. If there is no suitable candidate in a given year, the funds for that year's Award will be re-invested. The student may either be male or female, either Canadian or International, and will be attending NBS' Post-Secondary Program.

The Board of Directors of Canada’s National Ballet School recognizes that the education in the
Professional Ballet Academic Program empowers students to be creative and resilient with strong
independent voices that they channel into multidisciplinary activities. The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award was
established by the Board of Directors to provide a graduation award for the student or students whose
achievements show innovative thinking, creative problem-solving and a positive entrepreneurial spirit.

Awarded as a special recognition by the NBS Artistic Faculty to a particular grade 12 student, this award unites the ballet staff in their belief that this dancer’s outstanding artistic gifts and exceptional work ethic will continue to evolve, leading to profound contributions to this art form.