Celebrate Success
Hard Work Pays Off for a Schulich Leader
G
etting a degree these days are costly. A student attending CEGEP, trade school, college or university full-time today is expected to spend between $2,500 and $6,500 per year. Average fees in 1990-1991 were $1,464 then climbed to $6,348 in 2012-2013. Add to that amount the cost of books, fees and living expenses. In fact in 2014-2015, full –time students in Canada paid an average of $16,600 for post-secondary schooling. That’s $66,400 for a four-year program. Grants, bursaries and scholarships are some ways to alleviate the cost of post-secondary education. Grants and bursaries are awarded based on financial need and other factors that includes athletic ability, academic achievement, community involvement and other special abilities. Scholarships on the other hand are usually based on merit as opposed to financial need. These are usually awarded by schools, private organizations and the government. Schulich Leader Scholarship was founded in 2012 by businessman and philanthropist Seymour Schulich. This $100 million program funds 50 Canadian grade 12 high schools students planning to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs in Canadian universities. 25 of the scholarships are offered to engineering students valued at $80,000 each and the other 25 are offered to science, technology or math students valued at $60,000.
This year’s 50 Schulich Leaders were chosen from over 1,400 applicants. One of the recipients of this prestigious and highly competitive scholarship is Sandra Saboungi of Toronto Montessori School in Richmond Hill. Read how her hard working attitude opened a bright future for this young lady: 26 Kubo Magazine Summer 2016
By Claire Dela Gana
KM: How does the application process work?
This was titled “A global profile of glucosesensitive endothelial-expressed long noncoding RNAs”. I had the opportunity to work as a research scholar in the Division of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Toronto in this publishing process. Thirdly, I am grateful to be a recipient of the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award, which recognizes broad-based contributions of adolescents in the areas of volunteering, physical activity, specific skills and expedition.
SS: Each high school in Canada can nominate one student from their graduating class to be an applicant for the scholarship. This decision is usually made by the principal of the school or by another administrative staff member. After their nomination has been submit to the Schulich Foundation, the student must write about their three most important achievements and a 600-word essay on why they would make a great Schulich Leader. The review process ends in June and the Schulich Leaders are confirmed. Nominees are chosen KM: How did you found out you had won based on academic excellence, outstanding the Schulich Leaders scholarship? What extracurricular or volunteer work and/or was that experience like? financial needs. SS: I was emailed in late April by one of the KM: What were your three most faculty members at Western University saying I had won the scholarship. It was insane and important achievements? unbelievable for me because I remember SS: I am grateful to have been able to develop checking the scholarship website every day an independent charitable organization for for weeks prior to that day, and reading an underprivileged school in The Philippines the news about all of the winners being called Besong Saddle Primary School. selected at other universities. I was getting Throughout my high school career, I have worried because the number of offers left donated 500 textbooks for the students at this was becoming very narrow. At that point, I had already come to terms with the fact that school. I probably wouldn’t be selected. When I read The experience of visiting the school a few the email I was both thrilled and shocked. My times and organizing fundraisers to support parents were ecstatic. It was a great thing, them has been a huge eye-opener for me: we not because of the money, but because of the need to do more to make education accessible recognition that comes with the award and in developing worlds. Secondly, I am thankful the feeling of hard work paying off. for the opportunity to be a co-author on a scientific publication in the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology.