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. 

Dr. Barry Beckett, Elise Aylen and John Aylen, the selection committee of the McEuen Scholarship Foundation, met on April 27 to interview a short list of candidates for the 2017 scholarship.
 
This year’s winner is Malcolm Risk, who is completing his last year at Upper Canada College in Toronto. Malcolm has been accepted into the Master of Arts (Honours Mathematics – Philosophy) program at St. Andrews as of September 11 of this year. Malcolm impressed the selection committee with his discussion of how mathematics is relevant in the real world and its place in philosophical arguments, combined with his background knowledge of the McEuen family history and the aim of their scholarship.
 
On being told he’d won the scholarship, Malcolm was both shocked and honoured he’d been chosen as the recipient. “The opportunity to attend St Andrews is an incredible one and I know from my visit to the school that there is no place I'd rather be studying,” he said. “From debating, to studying math and philosophy, to getting closer to my Scottish heritage, there are so many things I'm excited to do next year. I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks to the foundation for their immense generosity and to the selection committee for the honour of my selection.”

Malcolm brings an impressive set of skills and accomplishment to St. Andrews including stellar marks in the International Baccalaureate Diploma. He’s a chess player, a debater, oboe player, lacrosse and squash player, widely recognized with awards for both his academic and athletic performance.