Lovdeep Singh remembers leaving Biology class with a huge grin on his face.
“When the email notification popped up, and after reading the first few words, everything sort of went into a blur,” Singh said.
By checking one email, the Grade 12 Enver Creek Secondary School student from Surrey, B.C., discovered he was named a Schulich Leader Scholar and the recipient of an $80,000 scholarship to attend Western Engineering in the fall. Cue the smile.
Lovdeep Singh, 2016 Schulich Leaders Scholarship winner.
“It was a magical feeling realizing one of the finest universities in the country values all of your work and is awarding you an incredible scholarship to pursue your dream,” he said. “I left the classroom with a very special smile on my face.”
Twenty partner universities in Canada are eligible to provide two Schulich Leader Scholarships annually. One designated for a nominee planning to enroll in an engineering program, valued at $80,000, and one planning to enroll in a science, technology or mathematics program, valued at $60,000.
The five universities that attracted the most nominee applications by the annual application deadline were granted an additional two Schulich Leader Scholarships in each area This year, Western was able to offer four scholarships.
Singh is one of 50 recipients from the more than 1,500 nominations submitted this year. Created by Canadian business leader and philanthropist Seymour Schulich in 2011, this scholarship program encourages high school graduates to embrace STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines in their future careers.
For Singh, Engineering is a “doorway of endless possibilities,” one he discovered when he was 13.
“When I took apart an old computer, I immediately became fascinated about how and why things work,” he said. “Engineering allows me to be expressive and pursue creative endeavours. When I tinker with objects, and wonder about the world, I learn about the strange power of creating new things. My dream is to become an engineer and innovate solutions to many of the problems we face today.”
Enver Secondary School guidance counsellor and nominator Mark Orso said Singh carries a high academic load and is one of the highest achievers in the school.
“What is unique for Lovdeep is his interest and contribution to programs within our school,” said Orso, noting Singh’s involvement with the Robotics Club, president of Green Team and member of student council.
“I was very drawn to the student experience and the Faculty of Engineering’s approach to real-world learning at Western,” Singh said. “When I read about the dual degree HBA program at the Ivey Business School, I knew this was what I wanted out of an undergraduate experience. I really feel Western will allow me to develop extraordinarily as a person and provide me with numerous opportunities to explore my interests. It is truly an education that cannot be found elsewhere.”
While it will be a few months before his university life begins, Singh is already anticipating immersing himself into everything Western.
“I am very excited to be immersed in the student experience at Western, which I hope to join during Orientation Week. The collaborative learning environment alongside the incredible professors will really allow me to get the most out of my Engineering education,” he said. “I haven’t yet decided which area of Engineering I’d like to major in but, wonderfully, Western gives you a year to explore and decide on one of its nine Engineering majors.”
