Yoshi Esanullah, Rita Jin, Adam Gurbin, Aidan Eglin, Romina Mahinpei, Niki McIntosh, Ethan Lodermeier, James Ropotar, Kailey Beckie, and Susan Chung have been named the University of British Columbia’s recipients of the prestigious Schulich Leader Scholarship.

Out of a pool of 350,000 potential candidates across Canada, 1,400 students were nominated. This year, 100 students received this celebrated award, up from 50 in prior years.

Yoshi Esanullah is a recipient of the $100,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship. A graduate of Jasper Place High School in Edmonton, AB, Yoshi will be entering the Faculty of Applied Science this fall at UBC Okanagan. Esanullah was selected for her outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements, such as being the first-ever recipient of “The Spirit of Dr. Armour Award” from the WISEST Summer Research Program at the University of Alberta. Yoshi represented Edmonton Schools in the Norwegian-Canadian NORCAN research project. She also led her school-wide “Helping Hampers” initiative to help combat poverty in her community.

Rita Jin is a recipient of the $80,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship. A graduate of Richmond Secondary School in Richmond, BC, Rita will be entering the Faculty of Science this fall at UBC Vancouver. Rita 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.

Adam Gurbin is a recipient of the $100,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship. A graduate of St. Mary Catholic Secondary in Pickering, ON, Adam will be entering the Faculty of Applied Science at UBC Vancouver. Adam was selected for his outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements, such as founding Canada’s first high school-based e-NABLE Chapter allowing students to become part of a global network using 3D printing technology to create prosthetics for children and adults in need. Adam was involved in the design, development and testing of a repeatable reference probe for focused ultrasound technology for drug delivery, tissue heating/ablation, and managing neurodegenerative diseases. He was also the recipient of the MusicFest Canada Honour Award at the Instrumental Band Nationals for extraordinary leadership, team building, musical excellence and friendship. Adam has been supporting COVID-19 efforts by creating 250+ 3D-printed face shield frames for frontline medical workers.

Aidan Eglin is a recipient of the $80,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship. A graduate of Pleasant Valley Secondary School in Armstrong, BC, Aidan will be entering the Faculty of Science at UBC Vancouver. Aidan 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. Aidan 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.

Romina Mahinpei is a recipient of the $80,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship. A graduate of Carson Graham Secondary in North Vancouver, BC, Romina will be entering the Faculty of Science at UBC Vancouver. Romina was selected for her outstanding academic achievement as being the first grade 10 student to enrol in her school’s Grade 12 Math Cohort, where she attained 100% in both required courses. Romina also participated in the Technovation Coding Challenge in 2018, where her team won 1st place in the regional competitions. As well, Romina won the prize for Best Overall Submission in the 2019 Scholarly Writing Challenge for her essay on differing methodologies for evaluating the statistical Gini Index.

Niki McIntosh is a recipient of the $80,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship. A graduate of W.J. Mouat Secondary in Abbotsford, BC, Niki will be entering the Faculty of Science at UBC Vancouver. Niki was selected for her outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements. She received several awards for her project on Thermoelectric generators. Niki 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. Niki has also performed her music professionally at a local Abbotsford dining establishment.

Ethan Lodermeier is a recipient of the $100,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship. A graduate of Summerland Secondary School in Summerland, BC, Ethan will be entering the Faculty of Applied Science at UBC Vancouver. Ethan was selected for an outstanding academic project in his school’s Science Honours Program, which involved programming an artificial intelligence algorithm for a Turing Test comparing machine-written music with human-written music. An entrepreneurial project of Ethan’s is designing, prototyping, and testing a line of electric motorized longboards using CAD software, 3D printers, wireless remote systems, and high-energy battery power. Ethan is also an electrical technician at a local tech startup, developing control systems for energy-efficient HVAC solutions.

James Ropotar is a recipient of the $100,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship. A graduate of Okanagan Mission Secondary in Kelowna, BC, James will be entering the Faculty of Applied Science at UBC Okanagan. James was selected for his outstanding academic accomplishment of graduating from high school with more than double the credits required. Some of his extracurricular achievements include developing a GPS-based Speed Limiting Device; placing in the top ten of the local Innovation Generation Challenge; and being co-President of District’s Student Council where he spearheaded efforts to repeal the B.C. Ministry of Education’s proposed Recommendation 9, which would change educational funding models for school courses, resulting in fewer options for students completing their education.

Kailey Beckie is a recipient of the $100,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship. A graduate of St. Martin de Porres School in Red Deer, AB, Kailey will be entering the Faculty of Applied Science at UBC Okanagan. Kailey was selected for her outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements, including being part of the Heritage Youth Summer Research Program (HYRS). As part of the program, she was a researcher through the Stephenson Cardiac Imaging Centre, also publishing two scientific abstracts and presenting a poster at the HYRS open house. Hailey was accepted into the prestigious SCMR 23rd Annual Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Florida, and has obtained an upcoming summer of 2020 SEED program studentship. With 4H Alberta, she has roles as District Vice President, Club President, Public Speaking MC, and Camp Counsellor. Hailey has also worked at Rocky Mountain Aircraft. She fabricated a cockpit door skin, assembled pilot seats, dismantled a turbo engine, and performed electronics testing on Twin Otters.

Susan Chung is a recipient of the $80,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship. A graduate of Burnaby South Secondary in Burnaby, BC, Susan will be entering the Faculty of Science at UBC Vancouver. Susan 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.

“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 entrepreneurial-minded technology innovators,” says Mr. Schulich.

About Schulich Leader Scholarships Canada

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.