 A grade 12 student at Elmwood School (Ottawa) in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, Madighan is the co-founder and leader of SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Alliance), part of the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir, and a French and English Tutor at The Boys and Girls Club. Her hobbies include photography and trail running. During her time at Elmwood, Madighan lived for a month in Kowak, a small village in the north of Tanzania and worked on a potable water project. "In 2019, I witnessed first-hand the impacts of environmental degradation. I had the privilege of leading a project which served to rectify a desperate lack of potable water in Kowak, a small village in the north of Tanzania. They had seen mortality rates skyrocket as they were plagued with atypical environmental extremes including drought. I worked in Kowak for a period of time without charity or government organization or aid (in addition to which I raised $20 000 to finance the water tanks which I designed and that currently successfully collect rainwater during monsoon season for use during drought season). My experience there offered me insight as to how changemakers must act going forward in an increasingly globalized world. To advocate for change in the environmental world, I look forward to intensifying my knowledge on international issues interwoven with anthropological issues in the natural world. I wish to be a positive leader in learning to challenge my own biases by developing cultural awareness and a more international perspective." Madighan will be studying in the Faculty of Arts at the University of St Andrews for a Master of Arts (Honours) in International Relations and Sustainable Development. She is interested in participating in the University's extra-curriculars such as the Wildlife and Conservation Club, Photography Society and the A Cappella singing groups. Congratulations Madighan! After months of reviewing 2021 applications, Mathis Bourassa has been awarded this year's McEuen Scholarship. Mathis is a Bromont, Quebec, native and attended high school in Granby. For Cégep, Mathis wanted to push himself academically and went in search of better opportunities. This led to post-secondary studies in Montreal at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf. During his two years at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, Mathis held the treasurer position for the student association and started a major initiative. With COVID19 putting a pause on most extracurricular activities, it was Mathis' idea to turn the under utilized funds into the first student managed investment fund. Eighty-five percent of the funds are now used to provide students without the financial means with a scholarship to attend the school. The remaining 15 percent is to be reinvested to generate more capital to fund the following year’s scholarships. Impressive! Mathis will be attending St. Andrews in the fall where he will be entering the four-year honours program in financial economics. He said he knew early on that he wanted to study economics as the program is world-renowned and unique in itself. Mathis first heard about the McEuen Scholarship through a past recipient, Katherine LaCroix, who also graduated from Jean-de-Brébeuf. He told us he made it his goal to work hard for two years to merit the scholarship. “The scholarship gives me the opportunity to study abroad, which will challenge me to get even more involved in my community and make a difference,” Mathis said. Once he arrives at St. Andrews, Mathis is most excited about exploring the town, checking out the local golf courses, meeting new people and experiencing life in Scotland. Congratulations Mathis!  When Marika Schenkels left her home of Nova Scotia at 16 to begin her studies at Lester B. Pearson College on Vancouver Island, she never dreamt her next journey would take her even further from home, to attend the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Every year, it is a pleasure and honour for the McEuen Foundation to offer this unique opportunity to one of Canada's brightest students. The scholarship is the largest single undergraduate award in the country and includes full tuition and room and board for up to four years. Marika is completing her final International Baccalaureate exams at Pearson College and will leave in September to enrol in BSc Honours degree in Medicine. Upon completion, she hopes to continue medical training in Canada. Marika attended South Colchester Academy (SCA) in Brookfield, Nova Scotia, prior to completing the two-year program in Victoria. At SCA, Marika was involved with science fair (at both a regional and Canada-wide level), SCA TV, Skills Canada TV/Video Competition, her school’s volleyball program as a player and coach and Because I am A Girl human rights initiative. She also worked as a swim instructor and lifeguard. She was awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal in 2017. At Pearson, Marika was a co-leader of the school’s scuba program, was involved in the school’s gumboot dance program, acted as a bilingual interpreter for a national marine science project and co-led a Learn-to-Swim program for her peers. Marika’s combined interest in health and living close to the water continues this summer as she looks forward to job at her beloved Camp Sheldrake on the Miramichi River as the Health and Wellness co-ordinator and counsellor. “Through moving between these small yet wonderful communities, I have learned how much I value and depend on them. I can’t wait to become part of the community at St. Andrews,” she says. Marika feels honoured, excited and humbled to be the recipient of the McEuen Scholarship and hopes she can contribute a bit of Nova Scotian enthusiasm to the storied university in St. Andrews.  Katherine Lacroix, 18, will be attending St. Andrews as the 2018 McEuen Scholar. Currently studying in the rigorous SLA (Science, Letters and Arts) program at Collège Jean-de Brébeuf in Montreal, Ms. Lacroix was awarded the scholarship, based on her strong academic record and personal merit. Catching up with her the week after the announcement revealed an enthusiastic student already planning how to get the most from her upcoming experience. "All in all, I believe that St. Andrews is the perfect fit for the person I am now and the person I intend to become," Katherine said. “The university’s 600-year history in the humanities is in itself an overwhelming reason to go there.” Katherine will be enrolling in the International Affairs program and following in the footsteps of illustrious alumni that include Her Excellency Barbara Woodward, British Ambassador to China and Dame Anne Pringle, former British ambassador to the Czech Republic and to Russia. Katherine sees immense value in getting out of her geographic and cultural comfort zone and says she has lived within a two-kilometre radius most of her life. She does have ties to Scotland through her mother's family: great-great-grandfather George Ross Haig Sims, of clan Haig of Bemersyde. Between the university's arduous admissions process and the McEuen application requirements, Katherine did find time to read up on the McEuen's vision and history in Revive and Grow Strong, a history she is now part of. "This is an absolutely surreal experience that I still cannot quite fathom. I look forward to representing Canada and the McEuen Scholarship Award at the University of St Andrews.”  |
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About usThe McEuen Scholarship is awarded to qualified Canadian students aged 21 or younger for a full three-year undergraduate or a four-year honours degree at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
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