Cirne National Scholarships

Trinity College School offers full-tuition boarding scholarships for Canadian students

Imagine being able to offer your child a first-class secondary school education!

One of Canada’s oldest and most respected independent schools, Trinity College School (TCS), each year offers a full-tuition boarding scholarship to a deserving Canadian student. Now your child has the chance to live and learn in a supportive and diverse learning community offering small class sizes, an exceptional program and endless opportunities for growth!

The Cirne National Scholarships are merit-based and include full-tuition for the duration of the recipients’ studies in the boarding school program at Trinity College School. Each fall, the School welcomes applications for one scholarship for the next academic year. (Learn more about the TCS boarding experience.)

Scholarship Requirements

Cirne National Scholarship applicants must be new students to TCS who plan to enter the School’s boarding program in the Grade 9 level.

Scholarship criteria:

New students only
Canadian citizen, living in Canada
OLSAT test over 70th percentile

The scholarship recipient will be hand-selected by an awards committee based on the following criteria: academic distinction, co-curricular dedication, strong leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit and solid citizenship.

To apply for the 2023-2024 scholarship:

Complete the regular application process before the deadline (Tuesday, January 31st, 2023)
Write and submit an essay, demonstrating your leadership skills and potential. The specific requirements of the essay are found by clicking here.

Note: The application process includes the completion and submission of an application form, followed by an interview, tour of the School, an essay and test. All components of the application are to be completed by a specific day and time as indicated by the TCS admissions office.
A short list of 3-5 candidates will be selected for a second interview (based on the applicants’ applications and essays) with the TCS Awards Committee. An additional character reference will be required.

Note: This scholarship is given at the discretion of the TCS Awards Committee. The selection of a recipient is not based solely on academic achievement, but also focuses on the candidate’s perceived ability to contribute to the school community.

Submission deadline: Tuesday, January 31st, 2023

Expectations of the Recipient

Maintain a minimum 80% academic average
Be involved in all three terms of co-curricular activities
Engage in leadership opportunities throughout his/her career and act as a role model for peers
Embrace TCS values and live up to TCS standards

The scholarship recipient’s performance will be evaluated each year at the time of his/her second report card (February) and if all expectations are being met, the scholarship will be renewed for the following year.

About Lewis K. Cirne

The funds for the Cirne National Scholarships were provided by Trinity College School alumnus, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Lewis Cirne ’89. During his time at TCS, Mr. Cirne benefitted from the School’s bursary program and went on to excel in academics, music, athletics and student leadership. Having earned a A.B. in Computer Science from Dartmouth College, today, he is founder and CEO of technology company, New Relic.

Mr. Cirne’s donation was made in conjunction with the Beloved In Christ Foundation, an organization he founded with his wife, Kirsten Cirne. The majority of his donation is designated to the School’s financial assistance program with the balance providing the lead gift to the Learning Commons project (which resulted in the creation of Cirne Hall and Cirne Commons). To date, this gift represents the most generous donation in the history of Trinity College School, and is one of the largest gifts ever made to a Canadian independent school.