Simona Bene Watts has been named one of two of McGill University’s 2014 Schulich Leaders, each receiving a Schulich Leader Scholarship for students entering undergraduate studies in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM).
Bene Watts, of Lee Creek, is the recipient of the award valued at $60,000.
A graduate of Salmon Arm Secondary, she entered the Faculty of Science’s Biological, Biomedical & Life Sciences program this fall. Watts was selected for her outstanding academic and community-service achievements, core requirements for the award.
Her accomplishments include helping to organize a humanitarian trip to Ghana to build a primary-school classroom, and serving as the driving force behind a fundraising fashion show for the African famine.
Created by Canadian business leader and philanthropist Seymour Schulich three years ago, the annual awards program encourages high school graduates to embrace STEM disciplines in their future careers. This year, there were 1,147 Schulich Leader Nominees.
Two scholarship recipients – “Schulich Leaders” – are selected at each participating university.
One undergraduate scholarship valued at $80,000 is designated for a student pursuing a degree in an engineering program.
The second undergraduate scholarship, valued at $60,000, is awarded to a student pursuing a degree in a science, technology or mathematics program (non-engineering based).
“Fostering leadership in STEM fields is vital to Canada’s economic prosperity,” said Schulich.
“A scholarship of this size will motivate high school students from across the country to pursue their dream and, in the process, help to ensure our country’s competitive position. This scholarship, now in its third year, has positively impacted 120 students from across the country in 10 provinces distributing more than $7.6 million to Canadian Schulich Leaders since 2012.”
Open to every high school, secondary school and CEGEP across Canada, Schulich Leader Scholarships recognizes Canadian students who plan to study one of the STEM disciplines during their undergraduate years at university.
These students demonstrate two of the following attributes: academic excellence, outstanding community, business or entrepreneurial leadership or financial need.