A new gift of $500,000 from CIBC to McMaster’s Faculty of Engineering is being used to create scholarships that will foster inclusive excellence in the field of financial technology.

The inaugural CIBC Technology Leaders Scholarships, valued at $10,000 each, have been awarded to eight engineering co-op students who identify as equity-deserving, demonstrate enormous leadership potential in financial technology, and who are interested in working to build a more secure, equitable and sustainable future.

“The CIBC Foundation serves our commitment to creating a world where everyone has access to opportunities to achieve their career ambitions,” said Ronan Ryan, Executive Director of the CIBC Foundation. “We’re proud to partner with McMaster University to offer the CIBC Technology Leaders Scholarships and help build a more inclusive economy.”

“We are so grateful to CIBC for this gift, and for sharing our vision of inclusive excellence,” said Engineering Dean Heather Sheardown.

“It’s critical that our students see themselves reflected in the industry. By empowering every promising student with access to the same opportunities, we are transforming the way we support our future leaders.”

Financial technology is an area that is growing quickly and encompasses everything from mobile banking to big data, blockchain technology, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

About McMaster Engineering 

The Faculty of Engineering plays a key role in helping McMaster University earn its reputation as one of Canada’s most innovative and research-intensive universities. McMaster Engineering has a reputation for groundbreaking programs and research, leading faculty and aspiring students. The Faculty of Engineering is home to approximately 240 full-time staff members, 190 faculty members, and 7,000 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students who are enrolled across 18 academic departments, schools and programs. It attracts around $44 million in annual research funding in more than 20 research centres, institutes and networks whose interdisciplinary pursuits cross departmental and Faculty boundaries. Outside the university, the Faculty of Engineering collaborates with partners in universities, government and more than 130 companies in Canada and abroad.