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Windsor Secondary student awarded largest Canadian STEM scholarship

July 07, 2022

NVSDacronym_colour_small.jpgSchulichLeaderScholarships_10year.jpg

For Immediate Release

July 7, 2022

Windsor Secondary student awarded largest Canadian STEM scholarship


iliana.hodgins_edited.jpgNORTH VANCOUVER --- Iliana Hodgins has been selected to receive a $100,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship to study Biomedical Engineering at the University of Calgary.

A graduate of Windsor Secondary in North Vancouver, Hodgins will be entering the Biomedical Engineering program this fall. Hodgins was selected by Windsor’s scholarship committee for her outstanding academic, leadership, athletic, citizenship and service achievements and contributions to the Windsor community. This is the first student to win a Schulich Leader Scholarship at Windsor Secondary.

“We are proud to celebrate more than 10 years of Schulich Leader Scholarships, the premiere STEM scholarship program in Canada and the world,” said Seymour Schulich, program founder. “This group of 100 outstanding students will represent the best and brightest Canada has to offer and 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.”

Quotes:

Iliana Hodgins, Schulich Leader Scholarship recipient - “My goal is to use my post-secondary education to positively impact society through innovation and entrepreneurship, and specifically in the area of AI neural interface technology. Receiving a Schulich Leader Scholarship is life changing. It will allow me to focus the next few years on my studies and research, while affording me an opportunity to build a strong network of equally ambitious and high-achieving peers.

Ever since my years at Sherwood Park Elementary, I have been very fortunate to be guided by many community members. I would like to thank my family, as well as each teacher, coach, and mentor for pushing me to my full potential. A special thank you goes to Mr. Eugene Minn, my volleyball coach and biology teacher, for constantly supporting me over the years and inspiring me to pursue a STEM-related degree.”

Eugene Minn, Nominator and Teacher, Windsor Secondary - “Iliana's greatest ability was how she helped everyone else around her perform to their fullest potential. Whether as the supportive and caring student in the classroom who always helped others in need, or as the volleyball team's starting setter, she always enthusiastically took on any leadership role where she could help a group realize its potential. She is one of our finest all-round students, a role model, and terrific student-athlete, volunteer, teammate, and friend.”

John McGowan, Principal, Windsor Secondary - “We are very pleased that Iliana’s hard work, service, and academic accomplishments have been recognized by such a prestigious scholarship initiative. Iliana represents not only the ideals of École Secondaire Windsor Secondary School, but also those of the North Vancouver School District.”

About Schulich Leader Scholarships Canada

Recognizing the increasing importance and impact STEM disciplines will have on the prosperity of future generations, businessman and philanthropist Seymour Schulich established a $100+ million scholarship fund in 2012 to encourage the 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 enrolling in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) undergraduate programs 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. For the third year in a row, Schulich Leader Scholarships Canada is awarding an additional 50 scholarships, for a total of 100. For more information visit: schulichleaders.com.

Contacts:

David Goodman
Schulich Leader Scholarships
dgoodman@schulichfoundation.org
647.289.1950

Lisa Dalla Vecchia
North Vancouver School District
ldallavecchia@sd44.ca
604.903.1254