Eight more awesome students are joining the #2019SLSquad!

The Laval squad is comprised of science student Maxime Langevin and engineering student Samuel Lefrançois. Maxime was nominated by Ecole secondaire catholique de Plantagenet in Plantagenet, ON, where he has won numeruos awards including the Grand Méritas for the highest academic average, Athlete of the Year, an award for being the student who was most involved overall and first place at a regional competition. Bathurst, NB, Ecole Secondaire Nepisiguit grad Samuel also has many noteworthy accomplishments. He was the recipient of the Bronze Medal at the Regina National Science Fair in 2017 for his research project in collaboration with researchers from Kouchibouguac National Park, Université Sainte-Anne, and McGill University on the effects climate change on the park’s birdlife. He was also the youngest cyclist who completed Prince Edward Island’s “GranFondo” in 2018 with a 150km course in one day.

Aakankshya Kharel is UAlberta’s science recipient. A graduate of Archbishop MacDonald High School in Edmonton, AB, she is the second winner from her high school. Anna Minarik won in 2018 at Dalhousie. In 2018, Aakankshya was selected as a Youth Ambassador of Canada to the United States and learned about effective civic engagement from leaders in Ottawa and Washington. Joining her at UAlberta is engineering student Anna Mueller from Saint John High School in Saint John, NB. Anna is also the second scholarship recipient from her high school – Nadia Kashetsky won in 2013 at UNB. Anna was on the first New Brunswick female water polo team that traveled to compete in Ontario. Although they didn’t win any games, playing against stronger teams in a very competitive setting helped them learn new skills while improving their teamwork and communication.

UBC awarded four Schulich Leader scholarships this year, as they were amongst the top five partner universities in terms of scholarship applications received. Lauren Moody from Okanagan Mission Secondary in Kelowna, BC, is one of two science winners. Lauren founded Mission Roots, an award-winning not-for-profit sustainable café characterized by its innovative “choose-your-charity” system. As founder, she designed the business-charity model and is responsible for overseeing all café operations. Mission Roots has generated over $10000, won provincial and national-level awards, and has become a cornerstone of the school community. Fellow science student Helen Zhang from Sentinel Secondary School in Kelowna, BC has done some high-level scientific research during her high school career. Her team proposal to examine the effect of UV B radiation on house plants has won them sponsorship from the Canadian Light Source Project. The designed experiment is conducted with the beamline techniques at the University of Saskatchewan where they will complete the project and publish their results. UBC also has noteworthy engineering recipients. Aidan Mundle from Albert College in Belleville, ON, created an innovation that reduced CO2 in small engine exhaust by 40%. He moved onto the Canada Wide Science Fair where he was able to meet with the Minister of the Environment to discuss how his idea might be implemented and was awarded a Bronze medal for the project. Nika Martinussen from J.H. Bruns Collegiate in Winnipeg, MB, is also pursuing engineering. Nika has maintained a GPA of 98% throughout her high school career. As well, on 15 occasions, she has been been awarded the highest final grade in a course.

We welcome these eight new Schulich Leaers to the #2019SLSquad with open arms!