Five UBC Science students receive Canada’s largest STEM scholarship

First-year UBC Science students Susan Chung, Aidan Eglin, Rita Jin, Romina Mahinpei and Niki McIntosh have been named 2020 Schulich Leader Scholars. They were among 1,400 nominees across Canada competing for 100 of the $80,000 scholarships.

“Schulich Leader Scholarships are the premiere STEM scholarship program in Canada and the world,” says Seymour Schulich, founder of the program. “With 100 outstanding students selected in Canada this year, it’s 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.”

Chung, a graduate of Burnaby South Secondary, was selected for her outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements, including winning first place in the Junior Physics and Engineering Competition, creating an app to combat phone usage and addiction for the Technovation Challenge, and participating in the SHAD STEAM and entrepreneurship program for students at Lakehead University.

Eglin, from Pleasant Valley Secondary School in Armstrong, BC, was selected for his outstanding 98% academic average and his extracurricular achievements, such as winning Gold at the Skills Canada National Competition for Website Design and Server Development. Eglin has also developed a scheduling app for his school district, allowing students to add assignments, events, and other items while meeting accessibility requirements for users with print impairment.

A graduate of Richmond Secondary School in Richmond, BC, Jin was selected for her outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements, such as receiving the Glider Pilot Scholarship, a selective aviation scholarship course, winning the ReaDY Summit Speech award, and receiving the Special Merit Award winner in the British Columbia Chemistry Olympiad hosted by the Chemistry Institute of Canada.

Mahinpei, a graduate of Carson Graham Secondary in North Vancouver, BC, was the first grade 10 student to enrol in her school’s Grade 12 Math Cohort, where she attained 100% in both required courses. She also participated in the Technovation Coding Challenge in 2018, where her team won 1st place in the regional competitions.

A graduate of WJ Mouat Secondary in Abbotsford, BC, McIntosh received several awards for a project on thermoelectric generators. McIntosh was accepted into the Verna J Kirkness Science and Engineering Education Program for Indigenous students and had the opportunity to assist a chemistry professor and learn about current laboratory projects. She also performed music professionally at a local Abbotsford dining establishment.

Recognizing the increasing importance and impact that STEM disciplines will have on the prosperity of future generations, businessman and philanthropist Seymour Schulich established this $100+ million scholarship fund in 2012 to encourage our best and brightest students to become Schulich Leader Scholars: the next generation of entrepreneurial-minded, technology innovators.

Through the Schulich Foundation, these prestigious entrance scholarships are awarded to 100 high school graduates this year, enrolling in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) undergraduate program at 20 partner universities in Canada. Every high school in Canada can submit one Schulich Leader Nominee per academic year based on academic excellence in STEM, entrepreneurial leadership and financial need.