In September McMaster will welcome four students who have been named Schulich Leaders. These students have already demonstrated academic excellence and community leadership in high school and will be starting their first year at McMaster with special support and recognition.

The Schulich Foundation has designated four 2018 Schulich Leader Scholarships for McMaster: two in Engineering and two in Science, providing each of them with financial support that allows them to concentrate on their studies and develop their potential as future leaders.

The students, Julia Azzi,Shannon Buck, Emelyn Kupinski, Nikola Petrevski, are among 50 Schulich Leaders starting their studies at leading universities across Canada.

Launch in 2012, the $100-million scholarship fund supports 50 undergraduate scholarships each year in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). A similar program is conducted in Israel, where an additional 50 scholarships are awarded annually.

Twenty-five scholarships, valued at $100,000 each, are designated for students pursuing an Engineering degree. Twenty-five scholarships, valued at $80,000 each, are designed for students studying Science, technology or math.

Here’s a look at McMaster’s 2018 Schulich Leaders and their approaches to the next stage of their lives, in their own words.

Julia Azzi

Age: 18

High school: Sir Robert Borden, Nepean

McMaster program: Chemical and Physical Sciences 1

About me:

Busyness is something on which I thrive. As a result, I’m involved in school clubs, the community, and extracurriculars, all while pursuing my academic interests.

I have always loved math, and the logic behind it, but I developed a passion for science in grade ten. Having had my curiosity piqued by my high school science teachers, I decided that pursuing science would be the ideal way for me to couple my scholastic and philanthropic dreams.

In my spare time, I like to tap dance, teach ballet to preschoolers, play music, sing, skate, and spend time with my family and friends.

The way I learn:

I am not someone who just memorizes material. For me to integrate information, I must connect it to scenarios that are familiar to me. I focus more on the application of knowledge, rather than the accumulation of facts. My learning isn’t limited to the classroom; I work to connect my day-to-day life to what I learn about in school.

What it means to be named a Schulich Leader: 

In my opinion, a Schulich Leader is someone who is passionate and able to inspire others to pursue their interests. A Schulich Leader is someone who earns their sense of fulfillment by making a difference. They improve the quality of life not only for themselves, but also for those around them. For me, this scholarship represents a series of open doors to kickstart my STEM career. The initial shock still hasn’t subsided; it is an unbelievable honour to be named a Schulich Leader!

What drew you to McMaster? 

McMaster has a very well established Faculty of Science. Knowing the quality of education, and the proximity of the campus to my extended family, McMaster seemed like an obvious choice. The gateway science programs were appealing to me because I could take courses from an array of subjects, then specialize when I further narrowed my focus. After attending the fall preview day, I immediately felt a sense of belonging in the Chemical and Physical Sciences program.

Shannon Buck

Age: 18

High School: Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School, Hamilton

McMaster program: Honours Integrated Science

About me

At my school I have taken Advanced Placement courses and am involved in the math club. Outside of school I play the violin and volunteer in a junior orchestra. I am also on a dragon boat team that paddles out of the Hamilton Harbour. My greatest passions are hiking and canoeing (both flat and whitewater!). I love to go on extended wilderness adventures, relying solely on myself and my companions for everything from the little everyday tasks to the most difficult of endeavors. As a trip guide at a summer camp, I love to help young people find their own passions and strengths and grow into leadership roles for themselves.

The way I learn: 

I am a very curious person who loves to learn, whether it is about the world around me, the sciences, or the humanities. I learn in a variety of ways, including kinetic, visual, and auditory learning. In my life I place a lot of importance on both academic and experiential learning. I firmly believe that many things must be learned with the world as one’s classroom!

What it means to be named a Schulich Leader: 

When I learned that I had been named a Schulich Leader I felt that my hard work and development as a leader had been validated. The Schulich Leader scholarship also provides financial relief to me and my family and opens up new opportunities. I am looking forward to networking with other extraordinary Schulich Leaders and continuing to contribute to society with the backing of the Schulich team.

What drew you to McMaster? 

McMaster’s unique Integrated Science Program drew me to the university. The iSci Program is definitely one of a kind. I love all of the sciences and math, so learning how to use them all together in one program sounded perfect for what I want to learn and do. I am also very excited to get involved in some of the many clubs McMaster offers, especially the Outdoor Club.

Emelyn Kupinski

Age: 18

High school: Medway High School, London

McMaster program: Engineering 1 Co-op

About me:

From a young age, I have enjoyed a wide range of subjects in school from physical education and visual arts to the STEM disciplines. I first realized that I wanted to pursue Engineering when I led and participated in a high school bridge building design project. This experience inspired me to pursue a co-operative education placement in an Engineering research laboratory at a nearby University. Outside of academia, I was a competitive synchronized swimmer for several years and captained my high school swim team where I competed at the OFSAA level. I also enjoy participating in outdoor activities including charity runs in my community, and I have a passion for watching Blue Jays baseball with my family.

The way I learn:

I value learning through experience both inside and outside of school. I learn best when I am able to apply theory to real-world situations and when I have the opportunity to practice what I am learning in a hands-on environment. Additionally, I learn proficiently when I am faced with a challenge that encourages non-traditional and creative thinking in order to solve the problem.

What it means to be named a Schulich Leader: 

Being named a Schulich Leader is a testament to my academic and community achievements. It is a great honour that further encourages me to achieve my educational goals and act as a contributing member of society. The scholarship not only provides financial support but also the unique opportunity to network with other like-minded students and professionals across the nation. I look forward my time as a Schulich Leader at McMaster University where I know that I will have the necessary resources to work for the betterment of society.

What drew you to McMaster?

I was drawn to McMaster primarily because of the innovative programming and state-of-the-art Engineering facilities which I believe will prepare me well for a career as a professional Engineer. I also value the opportunity to enhance my studies through McMaster’s flexible co-operative education program for Engineers. In addition, the small campus community and the opportunity to get involved in a variety of clubs and teams ranging from the McMaster Women in Engineering Society to Synchronized Swimming is what ultimately cemented my decision to become a Marauder.

Nikola Petrevski

Age: 17

High school: J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate, Ajax

McMaster program: Engineering 1 Co-op

About me: 

I’m a student currently attending J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate and will be coming to McMaster this fall to study electrical engineering. For fun I like to swim competitively, practice martial arts, play the saxophone, and take part in events around my community. I want to use the fantastic opportunity offered by the Schulich Scholarship to focus on my studies and one day start a business with my brothers who are both entering a very similar field as me. I’m very excited for my future at McMaster and the opportunities it will surely hold.

The way I learn:

I typically look at practical examples of a particular concept and try to understand its fundamentals in detail. Memorizing solutions to sample problems is far more strenuous and usually guarantees I’ll forget how to do them after an exam. I try to manage to grasp the idea of a topic at its core so that I can more easily derive solutions on the fly and use them long after the test date.

What it means to be named a Schulich Leader: 

Being named a Schulich leader, to me, means being placed in a group with extraordinary individuals who have made a difference. It’s a testament to the idea that going the extra mile will pay off in the future if you manage to just stick to it and never give up. In terms of academics, it means that I can pursue my studies without having a massive financial burden looming over me the entire time, which I think will definitely help to further my success.

What drew you to McMaster?

McMaster, for me, has always been the goal from day one of high school. It is a fantastic establishment with an extraordinary history of success, especially considering their research opportunities. Having a sibling that is currently attending McMaster, I have heard nothing but great things about the fantastic student community that makes you feel welcome. It’s all of these things that draw me to McMaster and secure it in my mind as the place I want to continue my studies.