Wilson Leadership Scholar Award fosters leadership in government, education, and community

Kylie Hopkins, one of the current Wilson Leaders, almost didn’t apply for the prestigious Wilson Leadership Scholar Award. Though she was “immediately intrigued” by the award’s focus on leadership development, encouragement from mentors made a difference: “They empowered me to go for this amazing opportunity.”

The Wilson Leadership Scholar Award, valued at $50 000, is funded by the Wilson Foundation and hosted at McMaster University. More than the money, though, its true value lies in the mentorship, community, and opportunities associated with the award. 

The award also highlights responsibility: the responsibility of emerging leaders to their communities, and of current leaders to foster the next generation’s skills. Philanthropist Lynton “Red” Wilson reveals why he and Wilson Foundation President Pete Sharpe created the award: “For Canada to continue to succeed in increasingly challenging times, we need to redouble our efforts to foster effective leadership in our governments, our businesses, our educational establishments, and in our communities.”

Alyssia Jovellanos is excited by the growth she has seen in her leadership skills, even in a few short months. Like all of the Wilson Leaders, she is working towards a community project; hers supports students interested in tech jobs. She has already noticed “thinking more critically of how my work in technology can affect the industries around me.” Thanks to the leadership development that is part of the award, “I’ve developed my personal leadership mission, and every decision I’ve made since winning the WLSA is reflected through this core set of values I set for myself.” 

Wilson Leaders also meet visiting speakers and mentors, who share their insights into their career paths, areas of expertise, and thoughts on leadership. Their insights are immediately applicable, notes Andrew Richards: “I am driven to create change, and this award presented a platform to learn valuable life and leadership lessons.” The speakers represent a range of fields and of viewpoints, which in turn fosters critical thinking. Monish Ahluwalia adds, “It’s been incredible to see the difference in opinion and ideology between people who’ve held different positions.  Honestly, it’s about seeing different perspectives.”

That diversity extends to the Wilson Leaders themselves. Says Josh Young, “we are all different. Not one of the Wilson Leaders has taken the same path to get to where they are, and I do not expect any future Wilson Leaders will either. However, if I was to notice one similarity that we all have, it is the desire to push our own boundaries and continually learn from them.”

Pushing boundaries is what prompted some of the Wilson Leaders to apply in the first place. Yung Lee reveals that, at first, “I thought that I would have a very slim chance [of winning]. However, I thought that the application process itself would be a valuable experience, which it was. I am very thankful that I decided to step outside my comfort zone.” 

Application instructions are available at wilsonleader.ca. Students are also welcome to drop in with questions from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at two upcoming information sessions. They will be held on Monday, January 8 and Thursday, January 11 at 182 Sterling Street, the house associated with the Wilson Leadership Scholar Award. Outside of drop-in sessions, applicants can direct questions to Liz Koblyk, Associate Director of the Wilson Leadership Scholar Award, at wilsonleader@mcmaster.ca.