News Release

MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Delivery
SHAD is producing some of the finest Schulich Leaders
- 7 of 1,250 student Nominees awarded Canada’s largest STEM scholarship participated in SHAD Seven of the top high school students awarded Schulich Leader Scholarships for the 2015 academic session
have participated in the prestigious SHAD program which is Canada’s network for transforming exceptional
youth to create global impact.
The young students have many attributes in common: a passion for innovation, social activism and an
unwavering drive for success and to make a difference.
Manpreet Deol of Vancouver, who participated in SHAD in 2013 at Memorial University of Newfoundland, was
selected by the University of Calgary and armed with an $80,000 engineering Schulich Leader Scholarship.
“SHAD was the catalyst for everything. It was my first experience in a university setting and I was exposed to
so many great ideas,” says Deol.
During her time at SHAD, Deol, alongside several peers, came up with an idea for a healthcare start-up, touting
a wrist-worn device that measures heart rates for the elderly. In her essay applying for the Schulich Leaders
scholarship, Deol writes that she hopes to improve the lives of others through her knowledge of STEM “I’ve
always had this passion for improving the welfare of others, which likely began because my brother is autistic,”
she explains. “I’ve seen first-hand how technology is able to assist him on a daily basis and help coordinate his
motor skills, enabling him to better express his ideas.”
“To date, some 25 Schulich Leaders are amongst SHAD’s alumni network. As always, we remain committed to
supporting STEM education across Canada” says Seymour Schulich who established the scholarship in 2012.
Seven 2015 Schulich Leader Scholarships recipients who previously participated in SHAD:
1. Manpreet Deol (Vancouver, BC) at University of Calgary
2. Rika Sugimoto Dimitrova (Surrey, BC) at University of British Columbia
3. Madeline Shred (Ladysmith, BC) at University of Waterloo
4. Ella Rasmussen (Oakville, ON) at University of Waterloo
5. Melissa Cusak Striepe (Newmarket, ON) at McMaster University
6. Mary Kathleen Hickox (Charlottetown, PE) at Queen’s University
7. Min Ji Kim (Saint John, NB) at University of New Brunswick
The SHAD 2016 application deadline is November 30, 2015 at www.shad.ca
Schulich Leader Scholarships 2016 application deadline is February 2, 2016 at www.schulichleaders.com
About Schulich Leader Scholarships: Schulich Leader Scholarships are prestigious entrance scholarships
awarded to high school graduates enrolling in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM)
program at twenty Canadian partner universities. 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 be the
next pioneers of global scientific research and innovation.
About SHAD: SHAD is a Canadian charitable non-profit organization that helps exceptional high school
students recognize their own capabilities and envision their full potential as tomorrow’s leaders and change
makers. Each July, the SHAD program provides the opportunity for more than 600 students from across
Canada and internationally to attend a transformational month-long summer program at one of 13 Canadian
host universities focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Founded in 1980, there are
currently more than 14,000 SHAD alumni including several Rhodes Scholars, Top 40 under 40, Top 20 under
20 award recipients, and many other leaders in their fields.
- 30 For media inquiries contact:
David Goodman
VP, The Schulich Foundation
dgoodman@schulichfoundation.org
647-289-1950
And
Teddy Katz
Vice President, Media Relations SHAD
teddy@shad.ca
647-505-8095