Steven Ilijanich, a second-year Bachelor of Education student, was recently awarded a $4,000 scholarship from the Direct Sellers Association of Canada (DSA).

The DSA: Scholarship Program offers $16,000 in scholarships to full-time Canadian post-secondary students whose lives have been positively impacted by the direct selling industry.

“Our 2024 scholarship recipients have demonstrated dedication to their academic pursuits and embody the principles of entrepreneurship and community service taught through direct selling,” says DSA Canada president Peter Maddox.

Ilijanich was ecstatic to hear that he had received the scholarship.

“It’s a wonderful feeling” he shared, “I’m honoured to be recognized by an organization like DSA, who financially help individuals like me pursue their education and future careers.”

A branch manager and part-time sales representative for Vector Marketing, Ilijanich says the direct selling industry has impacted him in numerous ways, highlighting that he quickly realized the value of being rewarded based from effort he invested daily.

“I have little fear now when it comes to coming up with new ideas, asking questions, or taking a chance,” he says. “In sales, you are told no more often than you are yes, and it can be an emotional roller coaster. This experience has helped me regulate my emotions, improve my people skills, and believe in what I am presenting, and that is something I will bring with me into the classroom.”

Ilijanich intends to use part of the scholarship towards his tuition and part to invest in better learning resources for his grade school placements.

To learn more about his direct selling journey and educational pursuits, check out his video submission.