McMaster welcomes young MacShads

This Sunday (July 3), McMaster University will welcome 52 of Canada's brightest young high school students from across Canada (and one from Hong Kong) for the award-winning Shad Valley Program, an elite summer camp for science, technology, mathematics and entrepreneurship.
Every year, out of thousands of applicants, approximately 500 senior high school students who have demonstrated excellence in academics, recreation, leadership, entrepreneurship and community involvement are chosen to attend one of 11 participating Shad university campuses across Canada – with Trent University being the new one this year.
At McMaster, the aspiring young minds of MacShads are exposed to the inner workings of university life, complete with guest lectures, projects, and workshops, all with a dynamic business twist. Shads will have the chance to immerse themselves in state-of-the-art research facilities and also discover the many academic opportunities available at McMaster.
One of the major projects during the Shad program involves teams of students creating a business plan and developing a product, which they will eventually market to a panel of business people, engineers, and specialized experts from the local Hamilton area. In October, the winning team from each campus will present their final products at the Royal Bank Shad Entrepreneurship Competition, where their creative inventions are set against the winners from the other Shad campuses. Last year, MacShad placed third overall.
The month-long program also consists of charitable events such as Shad-Do on July 6, which gives Shad participants the opportunity to venture into the local community and give of themselves. (Examples: giving seniors manicures and pedicures, doing arts and crafts with children at the hospital). Centres that will benefit from these energetic young minds include Parkview Nursing Home, Wentworth Lodge, McMaster Children's Hospital, and the Good Shepherd Centre.
Other Shad Valley events include Shad-City on July 9 when students will learn about being socially, environmentally, and economically prosperous through a field trip to Awenda Provincial Park where they build a model city from sand. Open Day Festivities, which will showcase students' work and highlights from the month, will take place Thursday, July 28 from 2 to 5 p.m. Everyone is welcome.