A seventh Ballenas Secondary School student has won the prestigious Schulich Leader Scholarship.
Mahir Singh will attend the University of Victoria to pursue an engineering degree, with the $120,000 scholarship that will allow him to fully focus on his studies.
Each year, 100 high school graduates enrolling in a science, technology, engineering or math program are awarded the scholarship. Every high school in Canada can nominate one graduating student per year.
Singh was chosen based on several factors including leadership in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), as well as academic excellence and a project he worked on in the Science Research Methods class.
“I’m looking at a water filter that’s addressing the water crisis for First Nations communities across our province,” Singh said. “And while in university I’m going to expand my knowledge and skill sets for that specific domain.”
Singh aims to one day set up a startup company dedicated to solving structural issues in smaller communities and reserves, such as a lack of access to clean drinking water.
He said he’s grateful to his family who have always striven to give him their best and given him great motivation. Singh also thanked several teachers from over the years, including Carl Savage, founder and instructor of the Science Research Methods class.
“Mr. Savage has played a big role in this achievement for me, the school, and the community,” said Singh. “His guidance, support, and Science Research Methods program has allowed me to take the best of this opportunity.”
READ MORE: Sixth Ballenas Secondary student wins prestigious $100,000 scholarship
Savage started the class to help students excel at the post-secondary level. It focuses on projects, rather than tests or quizzes, he said.
“These projects require students to build skill sets that they may not possess at the time,” Savage said. “Whatever field of science or technology they’re interested in, they choose the project and then they build the skill set.”
Ballenas Secondary has an excellent and well-educated staff who care a lot about their students, Singh said, and added the Science Research Methods class helps them prepare for the challenges of university.
“It allows students to do whatever they feel like and explore their options in the real world,” Singh said. “And lets them learn that engineering and sciences in school and theory is different than what it is in practice. So it’s a great source of exposure I feel.”
He wrote several essays as part of the application process, which explained why he is a good student leader, his top three achievements and his aspirations for the future.
Singh hopes to one day work with like-minded people under the guidance of an industry expert. And if possible, he’d like to be based out of Victoria.
“I’m really happy that the University of Victoria chose me and they’re very welcoming there as well,” he said.
Very few schools win more than one Schulich Scholarship, Savage mentioned, let alone seven.
Singh received offers from both the University of Calgary and UVic, and he decided on UVic to stay closer to home.
“My family has played a huge role in helping me get this big achievement for us and our community,” he said.
In addition to his family and Mr. Savage, Singh thanked several teachers from over the years: Mr. Provencher, Mr. Spray, Mr. Britz, Mr. Lukianchuk, Mr. Kellas, Mme Tanner, Mme Preston, guidance counsellor Ms. Confortin and principal Ms. Cathrine.
The Schulich Scholarship is funded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Seymour Schulich, who has donated in excess of $350 million over the years, largely focused on education and health care centres across Canada.
