SCHULICH LEADER SCHOLARSHIPS
Parry Sound High School student awarded largest Canadian STEM scholarship - For this year, number of scholarships doubles to 100

Natalie Loewen has been selected to receive a $100,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship to study Engineering at Western University.
 

A graduate of Parry Sound High School in Parry Sound, Natalie will be entering the Engineering Program this Fall. She was selected by the school's selection committee for her outstanding academic achievements and contributions to the school and broader community. Natalie is the first Nominee to win a Schulich Leader Scholarship at Parry Sound High School.

Given the unparalleled current disruption, there is a much greater need for students to get financial support in order to pursue their university education. This year, The Schulich Foundation has decided to award an additional 50 scholarships, for a total of 100.

"Schulich Leader Scholarships are the premiere STEM scholarship program in Canada and the world. With 100 outstanding students selected in Canada this year, it is all but guaranteed that this group will represent the best and brightest Canada has to offer. These future leaders will make great contributions to society, both on a national and global scale. With their university expenses covered, they can focus their time on their studies, research projects, extracurriculars, and entrepreneurial ventures. They are the next generation of technology innovators," says Mr. Schulich.

When asked, "How did it feel to receive the notice of offer for the scholarship?" Natalie shared this story: "I was checking my email at the end of the day like I usually do. I had received an email confirming a spot in residence congratulating me on being a Schulich Leader winner. I was stunned for a moment because I hadn't received anything from the Admissions Office. I searched my e-mails and couldn't find it anywhere, so I reached out to the school first thing the next morning. As it turns out, my confirmation had been sent to a different e-mail address. That's when I got very excited! My whole family was happy for me, and my mom even baked me a congratulations cake on the spot!"

She then shared how the scholarship will help her reach her goals. "This is obviously a large monetary award and it will cover essentially all the costs of my undergraduate degree. The other aspect of this award that I am really appreciative of is the opportunity for networking. I am hopeful that this will lead to a summer research position that can ultimately lead to an internship. I had an online meeting with the dean of the university last week and he suggested that there may even be the possibility for opportunities usually provided only to upper year students. Those are the sorts of opportunities the Schulich provides that I am really looking forward to."

Dave Weichel, from the Student Services Department at Parry Sound High School, was asked, "How does Natalie receiving this award benefit your student body/school, and what distinguishes her from others to receive such a prestigious honour?"

"This is a well-deserved pat on the back for Natalie and it is also a recognition of the great learning opportunities provided by some fantastic teachers that are occurring in the classrooms at Parry Sound High School every day. Hopefully, knowing that hard-working students that come from smaller schools like ours can earn awards like these will give more of our students the inspiration to succeed. As for why Natalie was our consensus choice for the award, it is simply the fact that she works hard all the time. She has a genuine appetite for knowledge and isn't content to just get the right answer, she wants to understand the reasoning behind the answer. Western University is lucky to have her, and she will be sorely missed!"