Company Program Awards

Overview & FAQ

Individual Awards

Group Awards

Advisor Awards

Awards process Overview

Every year, JA Central Ontario recognizes outstanding Company Program students through individual and group awards.

Advisor Awards Due: Sunday, April 12 2026

Group Awards Due: Sunday, April 12, 2026

Individual Awards Due: Sunday, April 12, 2026

Please review the steps below for how to apply for awards.

STep 1: NOMINATION

Individual Awards

Advisors must nominate students and let them know they have been nominated for all individual awards with the exception of the Attendance Award. One nomination per category per team is allowed.

Individual award nominations are due by advisors to JA by Friday, March 27, 2026. The nomination form will be emailed directly to the advising team. JA will email students to notify them of their nomination, however, advisors are encouraged to share the news directly with your students!

GROUP AWARDS

Students do not require a nomination for the group awards but must include the name of an advisor to endorse their group award application.

Step 2: ONLINE SUBMISSION & ADVISOR ENDORSEMENT

Online Submission

All award applications must be submitted through the online application portal through Judgify. Students will be asked to create an account and will be able to save their applications as they go. No email applications will be accepted.

There are specific questions in the Judgify application form for each award. To view these questions, log into Judgify and select the application form that you wish to view.

Advisor Endorsement

Students will be asked to include the name and email of an advisor to endorse their application after submission.

The advisor will be sent a copy of the submission automatically by email and a request for endorsement.

Advisors are not required to provide any additional references beyond the endorsement. Students are encouraged to check with their advising team to determine which advisor to include in their application to provide the endorsement.

Submission Links through Judgify will be available by March.

Jane Eisbrenner Award for Exceptional Leadership

Step 3: preliminary judging & Interview Night

After the applications are received, they will be reviewed by external preliminary judges. Short-listed candidates will be determined to move on to Student Interview Night.

JA Audit: There will be a JA audit for all group awards. In addition to meeting the awards eligibility criteria, the JA team will audit each team's application for accuracy and adherence to JA policies and guidelines throughout the year. Failure to pass the audit will disqualify you from awards consideration. JA will reach out to your team if there are any concerns with your application moving forward.

Interview Night Finalists Include:

Top 8 individual finalists
Top 6 group finalists (Company of the Year, Best Brand, Gary & Joanne Reamey)

Finalists for the following awards are not required to attend Interview Night: JA Journey Award, Changemakers, Attendance Award, Team Challenge.

Student Interview Night

Short-listed candidates will be interviewed by a panel of judges selected by JA Central Ontario.

Interview Night will be held on the evening of Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Specific instructions and invites will be sent to all finalists.

To be eligible for an award, students MUST attend Interview Night.

Step 4: Winner Announcement at ventureon

JA Central Ontario is committed to ensuring that the awards review and judging process is unbiased and transparent throughout.

Judging for written responses, videos and interviews will be completed by external judges.

JA will complete an audit of student companies to determine their eligibility to participate in the group awards process.

Award winners will be selected based on their combined written responses and interview scores with group awards requiring an additional JA audit score.

Individual Awards: 50% Written | 50% Interview

Group Awards: 20% JA Audit | 40% Written | 40% Interview

All award winners will be announced at ventureON in May 14, 2026. This is a virtual event that celebrates the Company Program year for all participants, and where we announce the award winners.

Application tips

Make sure you start writing your application in advance of the deadline to account for editing, reviewing, and any unforeseen circumstances. Try not to submit your answers last minute!
You can save your application online and return to it. It does not have to be completed all at once.
If you plan on working offline, take note of the word limits to ensure that you don't run into any issues when copy and pasting your answers.
Check in with your advisors to determine who you should include in your application for the endorsement.
Read the Frequently Asked Questions below for more tips.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to be nominated for individual awards?

Can you be nominated for more than one individual award?

Yes, you can be nominated for more than one individual award.
Exception: If you are nominated for the Extra Mile Award, you cannot be nominated for another leadership/department award (i.e. President of the Year, Leadership in Marketing, Sales, Production, Tech, HR, Finance). If you're nominated for the Extra Mile Award, you would be eligible to be nominated for the following additional awards: Changemaker and JA Journey.
Advisors: We would not recommend nominating students for more than two awards.

Do you have to be nominated for the group awards?

Can you apply to multiple group awards?

Are advisors required to write a reference for individual and/or group awards?

Advisors are not required to write a reference for individual and/or group awards with the exception of the Changemaker Award which is the only award where we will ask advisors to write a short paragraph on the student they are nominating.
Advisors are, however, required to endorse individual and group awards online once the students have submitted their applications. Students must include the name and email of the advisor and the advisor will automatically be sent a copy of the application to review and endorse.
Endorsement requires the advisor to read the application online and check off that the information provided is accurate.

Who is responsible for submitting the application? Students or advisors?

How are the finalists selected to move forward to Interview Night?

The written applications are reviewed and scored independently by a group of external volunteer judges. These judges do not have any prior involvement in this year's Company Program.
Preliminary judges will provide JA with their scores and ranking which determine the short-listed finalists who will move onto the interview night stage.
JA will contact the finalists and schedule them for Student Interview Night where they will be required to present in front of a panel of judges. Interview Night judges will represent JA partners and stakeholders and will be from various companies and organizations. More details will be shared.
Awards Not Required at Interview Night - The following awards are not required to present at interview night: Attendance Award, Changemaker Award, JA Journey Award, Team Challenge Award.

How can I create a strong written awards application?

Review the application criteria and requirements carefully and plan ahead. Do not leave the application to the last minute.
Spend time to draft out your responses and discuss with your advisor(s) to receive feedback.
Focus on key points and be specific in how you meet the award criteria and provide specific examples.
Keep your responses clear, concise, and confident.
Have a peer, a teacher or a mentor read over your application and provide feedback before submitting.
Review your application for any typos, grammatical errors, punctuation, etc. before submitting. Make sure that your writing is professional and easy to follow.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

Carefully review all eligibility criteria and required submissions for each award. The questions included in the award applications are designed to collect information about your Company Program experience and learnings. Your answers to these questions will be used in connection with your application for these awards and will be divulged only to qualified persons who must see them in the course of their duties.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

ADVISOR Awards

Advisor Awards (Students nominate their advisors)
Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Submission Link

GROUP Awards

Group Awards
Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Submission Links through Judgify will be available by March.

Submission Link

INDIVIDUAL Awards

Individual Awards
Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Submission Links through Judgify will be available by March.

Submission Link

Changemaker Scholarship

Changemaker Scholarship
Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Submission Links through Judgify will be available by March.

Submission Link

Individual Awards

Submission Link

PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR

View Award Details

Award Description

Awarded to an outstanding Company Program President who has demonstrated leadership, professionalism, commitment to the company, and who has gone above and beyond in their role as President.

Minimum Criteria to Apply

Has been nominated by their advising team. The advising team for each company can nominate one member of their team for this award.
Minimum 80% attendance.

How to Apply

Carefully read the awards process steps at the top of this page.
Complete the application form (which include written questions) by Sunday, April 12th at 11:59 p.m.
The four application questions can be found on the Judgify site.

Prize

$1000 Post-Secondary Scholarship provided by JA Central Ontario*
Certificate of Excellence

*Scholarship winners will be required to provide high school graduation in order to receive the scholarship funds. If the student is not in their graduating year, JA Central Ontario will hold the funds in trust until the student is able to provide proof of graduation.

Application Questions

Tip: Make sure that your response includes clear examples and demonstrate how your individual contributions as a leader went above and beyond what was expected.

How did you empower your team members from different departments to take ownership of their roles while aligning with the company’s vision? (max. 250 words)

Describe how you fostered effective communication and built consensus within your team. (max. 250 words)

Describe a time when you had to be adaptable and innovative to resolve a conflict or challenge in the program. What leadership approach did you use, and what was the outcome? (max. 250 words)

What is one valuable skill or lesson you learned in the program? How has it shaped your approach as a leader? (max. 250 words)

LEADERSHIP IN FINANCE

View Award Details

Award Description

Awarded to an outstanding Company Program Finance member (executive or non-executive) who has demonstrated leadership, professionalism, commitment to the company, and who has gone above and beyond in their role in Finance.

Minimum Criteria to Apply

Has been nominated by their advising team. The advising team for each company can nominate one member of their team for this award.
Minimum 80% attendance.

How to Apply

Carefully read the awards process steps at the top of this page.
Complete the application form (which include written questions) by Sunday, April 12th at 11:59 p.m.
The four application questions can be found on the Judgify site.

Prize

$1000 Post-Secondary Scholarship provided by JA Central Ontario*
Certificate of Excellence

Application Questions

Tip: Make sure that your response includes clear examples and demonstrates how your individual contributions as a leader went above and beyond what was expected.

Describe the financial tools and processes you implemented to improve efficiency and ensure that sound financial literacy practices were followed by your team. (max. 250 words)

How did you lead collaboration and communication between finance and other departments? (max. 250 words)

Describe a financial risk or challenge your team identified and how you mitigated it. What would have happened if it went unaddressed? What was the outcome? (max. 250 words)

What is one valuable skill or lesson you learned in the program? How has it shaped your approach as a leader? (max. 250 words)

LEADERSHIP IN HUMAN RESOURCES

View Award Details

Award Description

Awarded to an outstanding Company Program Human Resources member (executive or non-executive) who has demonstrated leadership, professionalism, commitment to the company, and who has gone above and beyond in their role in Human Resources.

Minimum Criteria to Apply

Has been nominated by their advising team. The advising team for each company can nominate one member of their team for this award.
Minimum 80% attendance.

How to Apply

Carefully read the awards process steps at the top of this page.
Complete the application form (which include written questions) by Sunday, April 12th at 11:59 p.m.
The four application questions can be found on the Judgify site.

Prize

$1000 Post-Secondary Scholarship provided by JA Central Ontario*
Certificate of Excellence

Application Questions

Tip: Make sure that your response includes clear examples and demonstrates how your individual contributions as a leader went above and beyond what was expected.

How did you identify and address gaps in team morale or productivity, and what did you do to increase engagement? (max. 250 words)

How did you foster a positive and inclusive team culture and ensure collaboration and communication across all team members? (max. 250 words)

Describe an HR challenge your team identified and how you addressed it. What was the outcome? (max. 250 words)

What is one valuable skill or lesson you learned in the program? How has it shaped your approach as a leader? (max. 250 words)

LEADERSHIP IN MARKETING

View Award Details

Award Description

Awarded to an outstanding Company Program Marketing member (executive or non-executive) who has demonstrated leadership, professionalism, commitment to the company, and gone above and beyond in their role in Marketing.

Minimum Criteria to Apply

Has been nominated by their advising team. The advising team for each company can nominate one member of their team for this award.
Minimum 80% attendance.

How to Apply

Carefully read the awards process steps at the top of this page.
Complete the application form (which include written questions) by Sunday, April 12th at 11:59 p.m.
The four application questions can be found on the Judgify site.

Prize

$1000 Post-Secondary Scholarship provided by JA Central Ontario*
Certificate of Excellence

Application Questions

Tip: Make sure that your response includes clear examples and demonstrates how your individual contributions as a leader went above and beyond what was expected.

What creative marketing strategies did you lead that were the most effective in differentiating your product, targeting your customer and growing your business? What made it successful? (max. 250 words)

How did you lead collaboration and communication between marketing and other departments? (max. 250 words)

Describe a marketing challenge your team identified and how you addressed it. What was the outcome? (max. 250 words)

What is one valuable skill or lesson you learned in the program? How has it shaped your approach as a leader? (max. 250 words)

LEADERSHIP IN SALES

View Award Details

Award Description

Awarded to an outstanding Company Program Sales Person (executive or non-executive) who has demonstrated leadership, professionalism, commitment to the company, and who has gone above and beyond in their role as a salesperson.

Minimum Criteria to Apply

Has been nominated by their advising team. The advising team for each company can nominate one member of their team for this award.
Minimum 80% attendance.

How to Apply

Carefully read the awards process steps at the top of this page.
Complete the application form (which include written questions) by Sunday, April 12th at 11:59 p.m.
The four application questions can be found on the Judgify site.

Prize

$1000 Post-Secondary Scholarship provided by JA Central Ontario*
Certificate of Excellence

Application Questions

Tip: Make sure that your response includes clear examples and demonstrates how your individual contributions as a leader went above and beyond what was expected.

What sales strategies did you lead that were the most effective? What made it successful? (max. 250 words)

How did you lead collaboration and communication between sales and other departments to ensure you met your sales goals? (max. 250 words)

Describe a sales challenge your team identified and how you addressed it. What was the outcome? (max. 250 words)

What is one valuable skill or lesson you learned in the program? How has it shaped your approach as a leader? (max. 250 words)

LEADERSHIP IN PRODUCTION

View Award Details

Award Description

Awarded to an outstanding Company Program Production member (executive or non-executive) who has demonstrated leadership, professionalism, commitment to the company, and who has gone above and beyond in their role in Production.

Minimum Criteria to Apply

Has been nominated by their advising team. The advising team for each company can nominate one member of their team for this award.
Minimum 80% attendance.

How to Apply

Carefully read the awards process steps at the top of this page.
Complete the application form (which include written questions) by Sunday, April 12th at 11:59 p.m.
The four application questions can be found on the Judgify site.

Prize

$1000 Post-Secondary Scholarship provided by JA Central Ontario*
Certificate of Excellence

Application Questions

Tip: Make sure that your response includes clear examples and demonstrates how your individual contributions as a leader went above and beyond what was expected.

How did you lead the production team to ensure quality control and efficiency in your production process? (max. 250 words)

How did you ensure effective collaboration and communication between production and other departments? (max. 250 words)

Describe a production challenge your team identified and how you addressed it. What was the outcome? (max. 250 words)

What is one valuable skill or lesson you learned in the program? How has it shaped your approach as a leader? (max. 250 words)

LEADERSHIP IN TECHNOLOGY

View Award Details

Award Description

Awarded to an outstanding Company Program Technology member (executive or non-executive) who has demonstrated leadership, professionalism, commitment to the company, and who has gone above and beyond in their role in Technology.

Minimum Criteria to Apply

Has been nominated by their advising team. The advising team for each company can nominate one member of their team for this award.
Minimum 80% attendance.

How to Apply

Carefully read the awards process steps at the top of this page.
Complete the application form (which include written questions) by Sunday, April 12th at 11:59 p.m.
The four application questions can be found on the Judgify site.

Prize

$1000 Post-Secondary Scholarship provided by JA Central Ontario*
Certificate of Excellence

Application Questions

Tip: Make sure that your response includes clear examples and demonstrates how your individual contributions as a leader went above and beyond what was expected.

What technological tools did you implement to support your business operations that were the most effective? What made it successful? (max. 250 words)

How did you ensure the full team knew how to use the technological tools being utilized by the company? How did you get team members to adopt the use of these tools efficiently and consistently? (max. 250 words)

Describe a time when you used technology to solve a business challenge. What was the outcome? (max. 250 words)

What is one valuable skill or lesson you learned in the program? How has it shaped your approach as a leader? (max. 250 words)

EXTRA MILE AWARD

View Award Details

Award Description

Awarded to an outstanding Company Program member (executive or non-executive) who has demonstrated leadership, professionalism, commitment to the company, and who has displayed significant contributions to the company.

Minimum Criteria to Apply

Has been nominated by their advising team. The advising team for each company can nominate one member of their team for this award.
Minimum 80% attendance.
Must not be nominated for another leadership/department award (i.e. President of the Year, Leadership in Marketing, Sales, Production, Tech, HR, Finance)

How to Apply

Carefully read the awards process steps at the top of this page.
Complete the application form (which include written questions) by Sunday, April 12th at 11:59 p.m.
The four application questions can be found on the Judgify site.

Prize

$1000 Post-Secondary Scholarship provided by JA Central Ontario*
Certificate of Excellence

Application Questions

Tip: Make sure that your response includes clear examples and demonstrates how your individual contributions as a leader went above and beyond what was expected.

How did you contribute and go above and beyond as a member of your team? (max. 250 words)

How did you foster communication and collaboration with your team members and how did that contribute to the overall success of your company?(max. 250 words)

What is the biggest challenge you faced in your role this year and how did you manage it? What was the outcome? (max. 250 words)

What is one valuable skill or lesson you learned in the program? How has it shaped your approach as a leader? (max. 250 words)

JA JOURNEY AWARD

View Award Details

Award Description

Awarded to an outstanding Company Program member (executive or non-executive) who has demonstrated exceptional personal growth as a result of their participation in the program. This student has shown dedication to the program and company, respect for team members, and continuing enthusiasm for their position. This award is an opportunity for students to tell their story so we can celebrate their personal journey and achievements. Submissions can include how the student has faced adversity and persevered to overcome an individual challenge and make a meaningful impact on their Company Program team.

Minimum Criteria to Apply

Has been nominated by their advising team. The advising team for each company can nominate one member of their team for this award.
Minimum 80% attendance.

How to Apply

Carefully read the awards process steps at the top of this page.
Record a video (maximum 2 minutes) which explains how taking part in the Company Program has had a positive impact on your life (see below for “Video Tips”).
You will not be required to complete any additional application questions other than the video.
Complete the application form with your video by Sunday, April 12 at 11:59 p.m.

Selection Process

Nominees are not required to attend Student Interview Night and the winner will be selected solely on the basis of their video submission. Applications will be review by external judges and the winner will be announced at ventureON.

Prize

$1000 Post-Secondary Scholarship provided by JA Central Ontario*
Certificate of Excellence

Video Tips & What to include in your video

Video Tips

Your video should be no longer than 2 minutes in length and be in mp4 format.
We are not looking for a professionally shot video – however, it is very important that the audio be heard clearly for judges to understand your message.
A video can be filmed on any device – smart phone, laptop, webcam, etc.
Do not include footage of anyone who hasn’t given consent to appear in the film or use copyrighted music/images. Unless you tell us otherwise, we have a right to use this video on our digital channels and in our digital marketing campaigns.

What should you include in the video?

We want to know about the impact Company Program has had on you and the skills you have developed as a result of taking part.

Tell us a bit about yourself – your first name, age, where you’re from and your company
What has your experience in JA Company Program been like and how has the program benefitted you
What skills have you gained?
What obstacles/challenges have you overcome?
Why do you think you should win the JA Journey Award?
We want to see YOU in the video speaking so please make sure that you're on camera in the video (not just an animation or graphic).
You may wish to include graphics and/or other footage to support the application (such as footage of your company in action).

CHANGEMAKER AWARD

View Award Details

Award Description

Awarded to outstanding Company Program students who have made a positive contribution to the company morale. This award can be described as the “heart award” and recognizes students that put in extra effort to make the Company Program experience a positive one for all team members.

What is a changemaker?

A Changemaker is someone who:

leads by example and inspires others with their positive outlook
demonstrates a deep-rooted sense of empathy and caring for others
is mindful of their actions and words and how it can affect others
is present fully in discussions and conversations and encourages others to share and engage
is curious and willing to listen, learn, explore and understand
is a team player and helps to motivate and encourage teammates
is always willing to recognize and celebrate the success and achievements of their peers
demonstrates appreciation and gratitude for their fellow peers and advisors
is always willing to step up, identifying opportunities to improve the Company Program experience for themselves and for others
is inclusive and welcoming of all individuals in the program

Criteria to Apply

The Changemaker Award only requires a submission from an advisor and does not require an additional application from the student.
The Advising Team from each company will submit one Changemaker to be recognized.
There is no judging process for this award. Each nominated Changemaker from each of the Company Program teams will be automatically recognized. The changemakers will have an opportunity to apply for a changemaker scholarship.

Prize

Certificate of Excellence
Opportunity to apply for a changemaker scholarship

Changemaker Scholarship Application

Changemaker Scholarships Overview

All nominated changemakers are invited to apply to the Changemaker Scholarships. There will be up to six $1,000 scholarships available.

How to Apply

Record a video (maximum 2 minutes) which explains how you made a positive contribution to the company morale and made the Company Program experience enjoyable for all team members (see below for Video Tips).
No email applications will be accepted.
Complete the application form by Sunday, April 12 at 11:59 p.m.

Video Tips

Your video should be no longer than 2 minutes in length and be in mp4 format.
We are not looking for a professionally shot video – however, it is very important that the audio be heard clearly for judges to understand your message.
A video can be filmed on any device – smart phone, laptop, webcam, etc.
Do not include footage of anyone who hasn’t given consent to appear in the film or use copyrighted music/images. Unless you tell us otherwise, we have a right to use this video on our digital channels and in our digital marketing campaigns.

What should you include in the video?

We want to know about how you made a positive contribution to the company morale and made the Company Program experience enjoyable for all team members.

Here is what you need to include in your video:

Tell us a bit about yourself – your first name, age, where you’re from and your company
How you fit the role of the changemaker?
Why do you think you should win the Changemakers Scholarship?
We want to see YOU in the video speaking so please make sure that you're on camera in the video (not just an animation or graphic).
You may wish to include graphics and/or other footage to support the application (such as footage of your company in action).

Evaluation

You will be evaluated on the categories below. You can look at the suggested topic questions below to help you frame your video.

Team engagement - how you motivated and encouraged your team members to participate and go above and beyond
Recognition - how you recognized and celebrated success, and showed appreciation for your peers and advisors
Inclusivity - how you fostered an inclusive and welcoming environment
Reflection - how you have made a positive contribution within your team

Suggested Topic Questions

You don't have to answer all of the suggested topic questions - these are to provide you with some guidance on how to frame your video

How did you lead by example and inspire others with your positive outlook?
How did you demonstrate a deep-rooted sense of empathy and caring for others?
How were you mindful of your actions and words and how it can affect others?
How were you present fully in discussions and conversations and encouraged others to share and engage?
How were you curious and willing to listen, learn, explore and understand?
How were you a team player and helped to motivate and encourage teammates?
How did you recognize and celebrate the success and achievements of your peers?
How did you demonstrate appreciation and gratitude for your fellow peers and advisors?
How did you step up, identifying opportunities to improve the Company Program experience for yourself and for others?
How were you inclusive and welcoming of all individuals in the program?

Selection Process

Changemakers are not required to attend Student Interview Night and all changemakers will be recognized at ventureON. The winners will be selected solely on the basis of their video submission. Applications will be review by external judges and the winners will be announced at ventureON and via social media and email by July.

Prize

Up to six $1,000 scholarships

ATTENDANCE AWARD

View Award Details

Award Description

Awarded to any Company Program students who have attended 100% of their weekly team meetings.

Criteria to Apply

Any Company Program student that has 100% attendance.

How to Apply

Students submit their attendance in the application form by Sunday, April 12 at 11:59 p.m.
An advisor is required to endorse the application to verify the student's attendance.

Prize

Certificate of Excellence

Group Awards

Submission Link

BEST BRAND AWARD

View Award Details

Award Description

Awarded to an outstanding company that showed brand consistency across all company functions including website, sales approach, marketing, product and packaging. The team must demonstrate how they created a unique brand that clearly represented the company standards and product.

IMPORTANT

Each team will go through a JA audit process before they are approved to the preliminary judging round. If a team fails the JA audit, they will disqualified for consideration. JA will reach out to your team if there are any concerns with your application moving forward.
The JA audit determines your eligibility for award consideration and will also affect your overall team scores. The scoring will be based on: 20% JA Audit, 40% Written Application and 40% Interview.
The JA audit will review the following: Award application is complete and submitted on time, financials are complete and accurate, deadlines were met majority of the time throughout the year and the team performed ethically and followed the policies and guidelines set out by JA (i.e. logo guidelines, sponsorship guidelines, etc.) throughout the year and awards process.

Minimum Criteria to Apply

The company's business plan must have been previously submitted
The company's final shareholders' report must be submitted by the deadline
Fixed Costs and JA Taxes (if applicable) must be paid
Companies will have their financials audited and any discrepancies may affect team standings
Teams do not require a nomination from an advisor to apply but the application will require an advisor to endorse the submission for accuracy

How to Apply

Carefully read the awards process steps at the top of this page.
Create a Brand Presentation (see details below)
Complete the application form (which include written questions) by Sunday, April 12th at 11:59 p.m.

Prize

Certificate of Excellence

Application Requirements

Company Overview (max 500 words)

Please include: product/service description, the vision/mission and how it plays a role in the operations of your business, how your product/service solves a problem/need, additional information you wish to share.

Questions

What makes your branding unique and sets it apart from other companies and your competition? How does your branding reflect your company’s mission/vision and personality? (max 250 words)

Describe how your team ensured brand consistency across all company departments (marketing, sales, HR, Production & IT and Finance). (max 250 words)

Brand Presentation (max. 10 slides/pages)

Include a creative visual representation of your company's brand that showcases your company's logo and snapshots of your company's marketing (website, social media, etc.) and packaging (if applicable)
This can be structured as a PowerPoint, brand guideline, infographic or combination - it's your preference!
Brand Presentation is to be completed as a separate PDF document and uploaded to the application site
Document must be clear, concise and easy to read

Preliminary Judging Rubric
Your written application will be reviewed based on the following:

Brand Presentation

A variety of company functions and channels are represented (logo, website, social media, print and packaging) and branding is consistent throughout and visually appealing and overall branding is well communicated. (10 pts)

Brand Strategy

Target customer is defined, and team shows an understanding of their audience’s needs. Company’s brand strategy is able to reflect this understanding by using different channels and methods as well as branding choices. (10 pts)
Company’s mission and vision is clear. Company is able to demonstrate and provide examples as to how their branding is unique and reflects not only customer values but also their own. Company’s personality is evident through its branding. (10 pts)
Brand consistency is reflected across all company departments (marketing, sales, IT, HR, CSR, production and finance). Company demonstrates strong teamwork skills in ensuring that all company members in each department work collaboratively to reinforce brand’s messaging. Company shows pride in their brand. (10 pts)

GARY & JOANNE REAMEY FAMILY AWARD (CSR)

View Award Details

Award Description

Unlike other awards, this award is not focused on the direct results achieved by the company in terms of sales or specific department accomplishments, but rather recognizes positive impact and growth on team members and the community.

IMPORTANT

Each team will go through a JA audit process before they are approved to the preliminary judging round. If a team fails the JA audit, they will disqualified for consideration. JA will reach out to your team if there are any concerns with your application moving forward.
The JA audit determines your eligibility for award consideration and will also affect your overall team scores. The scoring will be based on: 20% JA Audit, 40% Written Application and 40% Interview.
The JA audit will review the following: Award application is complete and submitted on time, financials are complete and accurate, deadlines were met majority of the time throughout the year and the team performed ethically and followed the policies and guidelines set out by JA (i.e. logo guidelines, sponsorship guidelines, etc.) throughout the year and awards process.

Minimum Criteria to Apply

The company's business plan must have been previously submitted
The company's final shareholders' report must be submitted by the deadline
Fixed Costs and JA Taxes (if applicable) must be paid
Companies will have their financials audited and any discrepancies may affect team standings
Teams do not require a nomination from an advisor to apply but the application will require an advisor to endorse the submission for accuracy

How to Apply

Carefully read the awards process steps at the top of this page.
Complete the application form (which include written questions) by Sunday, April 12th at 11:59 p.m.

Prize

Certificate of Excellence

Application Requirements

Company Overview (max 500 words)

Questions

Identify and discuss how your team was able to work collaboratively to overcome any interpersonal obstacles/challenges and grow individually and as a team this year. (max 250 words)

How did your company display extraordinary corporate social responsibility and enthusiasm to benefit the community? Include how your corporate social responsibility strategy is sustainable and would remain impactful over time if the business continued. (max 250 words)

What makes your team’s CSR strategy stand out and how does it align with your company’s values and contribute to its overall success? (max 250 words)

Preliminary Judging Rubric

Your written application will be reviewed based on the following:

Company Overview

Vision/Mission plays a role in the operation of the business. (10 pts)

Question Responses

Team identifies obstacles/challenges they faced and how they worked collaboratively to overcome these obstacles/challenges. Team reflects on these obstacles/challenges and articulates how they have grown individually and as a team. (10 pts)
The impact of the team’s CSR strategy is clearly defined and benefits the community. The team is able to reflect and articulate how their CSR strategy can remain impactful over time if the business continued beyond Company Program. (10 pts)
The team is able to clearly align their CSR strategy to their company values and how it benefits their overall success as a business. (10 pts)

COMPANY OF THE YEAR

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Award Description

To recognize the company that achieves the best overall performance in all areas of operations.

*New for 2026* This year, there are no individual category requirements as in previous years. However, there will still be 3 Company of the Year winners recognized.

IMPORTANT

ALL Company Program teams will be considered for Company of the Year based on their Shareholders' Report submission.
Each team will go through a JA audit process before they are approved to the preliminary judging round. If a team fails the JA audit, they will disqualified for consideration. JA will reach out to your team if there are any concerns with your application moving forward.
The JA audit determines your eligibility for award consideration and will also affect your overall team scores. The scoring will be based on: 20% JA Audit, 40% Written Application and 40% Interview.
The JA audit will review the following: Award application is complete and submitted on time, financials are complete and accurate, deadlines were met majority of the time throughout the year and the team performed ethically and followed the policies and guidelines set out by JA (i.e. logo guidelines, sponsorship guidelines, etc.) throughout the year and awards process.

Minimum Criteria to Apply

The company's business plan must have been previously submitted
The company's final shareholders' report must be submitted by the deadline
Fixed Costs and JA Taxes (if applicable) must be paid
Minimum 1% ROI (company made a profit)
Companies short-listed as finalists will have their financials audited and any discrepancies may affect team standings
Teams do not require a nomination from an advisor to apply but the application/shareholders' report will require an advisor to endorse the submission for accuracy

How to Apply

Carefully read the awards process steps at the top of this page.
Complete the application form (including submitting your shareholder's report) by Sunday, April 12th at 11:59 p.m.

Prize

Certificate of Excellence
The three Company of the Year winners will advance to the National Company of the Year competition (at the discretion of JA Central Ontario). This is a virtual event that takes place during the summer.

Application Requirements and Rubric

Shareholders Report Outline

Preliminary Judging Rubric

TEAM CHALLENGE AWARD

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Award Description

The team with the highest point score at the conclusion of the program will be awarded the Team Challenge Award. Throughout the Company Program year teams can earn points for the following:

Submitting requirements on time including product approval, attendance business plan, shareholders report, fixed costs, student names for events
Participating in various Company Program social media campaigns
Participating in additional challenges including sales, attendance

Minimum Criteria to Apply

All teams are eligible.

How to Apply

JA has been tracking team challenge points throughout the year and no additional application or interview is required.

Prize

Certificate of Excellence

Advisor Awards

Advisor Awards

Calling all Company Program students! You have the opportunity to nominate your outstanding advisors who consistently go above and beyond the normal duties of the advisor role.

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Award Description

To recognize outstanding individual advisors who consistently go above and beyond the normal duties of the advisor role and who demonstrate exceptional leadership, mentorship and support, not only to the achievers, but to their entire advising team and the JA Company Program.

Eligibility

All company program volunteers who have participated as a Volunteer Advisor in the 2025/2026 Company Program year are eligible to be nominated by their students.
Nominations can be submitted for any advisor (not just leads) up to a maximum of three advisors per team.
All nominations must be made by Company Program student participants (not by the advisors).
Nomination your advisors is a great way to show your appreciation for the hard work they have contributed to your Company Program experience.

How to Apply

Complete the application form (which include written questions) by Sunday, March 22 at 11:59 p.m.

Recognition

Up to five new advisors and five returning advisors will be recognized.
One advisor will also selected to be inducted into our JA Central Ontario Advisor Hall of Fame.
The advisor award winners will be announced at our virtual ventureON celebration.

ADVISOR HALL OF FAME

Each year, we induct outstanding Company Program advisors into our prestigious Hall of Fame. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the program, and honours advisors who go above and beyond to support students throughout the experience.

Advisor Hall of Fame

2024-2025
Obot Egbo-Egbo

2023-2024
Denholm Kendall
Kareem Perez
Pafoua Vang
Roosevelt Fernandes

2022-2023
Christine Davis
Marianne Grimaldi

2021-2022
Gerald Mak

2020-2021
Hiren Kapadia
Dave Steeves

2019-2020
Alexander Carbone
Joanna Williams

This year's Advisor Hall of Fame inductee(s) will be announced at the virtual ventureON celebration on May 14, 2026.