The Y.H. Li Scholarship Award
The Y.H. Li Scholarship
The Y.H. Li Scholarship was established in honor of Yonghui Li, a Chinese entrepreneur and philanthropist who believes — because he lived it — that education can rewrite the course of a life.
Raised in a rural farming village in China, Yonghui Li credits his high school teachers with elevating him from that village to one of China's top STEM universities. That education laid the foundation for his successful career in business and finance, and for his enduring conviction that ambition should never be limited by circumstance.
In that spirit, the Y.H. Li Scholarship supports students in Canada who aspire to attend the best universities in the world and who demonstrate financial need. At Bricks to Stone, our mission is to develop individuals who are as thoughtful as they are resilient — and no student with the ability and the drive should be turned away by cost.
Award Benefits
The Y.H. Li Scholarship is a full award for the cost of our program. Recipients receive:
Full program coverage: our complete 1-on-1 mentorship program — strategic planning, application development, and interview preparation — at no cost to the family.
Application fee funding: the cost of applying to universities in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Summer program travel: travel expenses for recipients admitted to selective summer programs.
Note: A small number of Y.H. Li Scholarships are awarded each year. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis, and placements are strictly limited.
Elligibility
Student currently entering or enrolled in Grades 10 through 11.
Cumulative high school GPA greater than 3.9/4.0 or IB score greater than 40/42.
Evidence of academic engagement beyond the classroom (e.g., independent projects, academic competitions, or specialized summer programs).
Evidence of meaningful involvement in extracurricular activities, athletics, or the arts that demonstrates a sustained commitment over time.
Demonstrated financial need: household income typically below $100,000 CAD, verified through family tax documents (such as CRA Notices of Assessment).
Student will apply for financial aid at the universities they apply to.
Student will apply to universities internationally — in the United States and the United Kingdom — in addition to Canadian universities.
What We Look For
Intellectual Agility: Students who don't just consume knowledge but seek to discover it through research and inquiry.
Community Impact: Individuals who have moved beyond personal achievement to create a meaningful "footprint" in their communities.
Growth Mindset: Those who view disruption and challenge not as setbacks, but as the raw material for their own development.
Commitment to Mentorship: A minimum commitment to a 12-month or multi-year partnership (depending on the student's current grade level).
Application Process
Step 1: Preliminary Submission
Please submit the student’s most recent academic transcript and a brief summary of extracurricular achievements to hello@brickstostone.com. Our team will conduct an initial evaluation to ensure alignment with our academic standards.
Step 2: Formal Application
Candidates who pass the initial review will be invited to complete the formal Y.H. Li Scholarship application. This includes family tax documents to verify financial need, and targeted essay prompts designed to reveal the student's unique voice, agency, and intellectual curiosity.
Step 3: The Interview
Select finalists will be invited to a 20-minute virtual interview. This is a conversational deep-dive into the student’s goals, allowing us to assess their readiness for our high-touch mentorship model.
Step 4: Final Adjudication
The Selection Committee will issue a formal decision within two weeks of the interview.