The 2011 CAPE Scholar is Cordelle Ellison of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Raised by a single mother in Halifax’s Uniacke Square, a public housing project, Cordelle has a long history of giving back to his community, particularly supporting at-risk youth.

Cordelle was selected out of field of very deserving applicants from coast-to-coast, spanning many professional disciplines, including medicine, dentistry, management, law, education, and engineering, among others. He will receive a $5,000 renewable scholarship.

A Black Nova Scotian, Cordelle devoted many years to the George Dixon Community Centre, where he worked in summer camps and after-school programs. As an undergraduate, he participated in the PALS Program, a mentorship initiative that provides at-risk youth with positive role models, tutoring, recreational activities, and life skills training.

Throughout his studies, Cordelle has juggled his academic and extra-curricular commitments with work as a server and bartender in order to support himself and his family.

“We were very inspired by all that Cordelle has accomplished, despite facing major financial and social barriers. His unwavering dedication to his studies, his family, and his community in the face of tough odds makes him an ideal role model,” said Michael Marin, President of the CAPE Scholarship.

After completing an undergraduate degree in criminology at Saint Mary’s University, Cordelle chose to study law in order to address the injustices that plague his community. During his first year at Dalhousie’s Schulich School of Law, he was an active member of the Black Law Students’ Association, where he helped organize a community outreach project focused on helping low-income high school students interested in pursuing a legal career. He was also a delegate at the 20th Black Law Students’ Association of Canada Conference in Toronto.

In addition, Cordelle was an active participant in the Dalhousie OUTLaw Association, which is a student-run support, social, and advocacy program for the LGBT community. He also worked with the Dalhousie Community Outreach Committee, helping to raise money for various charities, including the Scotia Bank AIDS Walk, Ronald McDonald House, and Hope Cottage.

This year, as a CAPE Scholar, Cordelle plans to work with the Dalhousie Pro Bono Program, through which he will provide legal support to organizations serving the low-income community. Cordelle also plans to work at the Dalhousie Legal Aid Service in his third year, when he is eligible to do so. In the future, he hopes to pursue a career in criminal and family law.

In addition to Cordelle’s award, the CAPE Scholarship renewed that of Zeinab Yousif, the 2010 CAPE Scholar. She will also receive $5,000 for the 2011-12 academic year.

Founded in 2008 and run entirely by volunteers, the CAPE Scholarship exists to address the underrepresentation of people from disadvantaged backgrounds in Canada’s professional post-secondary programs and the shortage of professional services in Canada’s low-income communities. It provides generous needs-based scholarships in exchange for professionally-relevant community service.