A North Delta teen is one of 50 students from across Canada chosen to receive a $120,000 scholarship to pursue a post-secondary degree in engineering.
Sands Secondary senior Alexander Charnetski has been selected to receive a Schulich Leader Scholarship to study engineering science in the Faculty of Applied Sciences at Simon Fraser University.
Charnetski was nominated for the scholarship by Julie Sansregret, career and post-secondary advisor at Sands, for his outstanding academic and extra-curricular achievements, which include making more than 600 mask straps and distributing them to front-line workers at Lower Mainland hospitals and dental clinics during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Charnetski has competed in various local and regional science fairs over the years and was chosen as a finalist to participate at the Canada Wide Science Fair at Carleton University in 2018. That year he was the youngest competitor in the Fraser region, and his project looked at how ultrasonic sound waves reflected off materials with different degrees of porosity.
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“I am deeply honoured to be selected to receive the Schulich Leader Scholarship, as it allows me to fully focus on my studies at Simon Fraser University without worrying about financial burdens,” Charnetski said in a press release. “I am excited to join the network of current and former Schulich Leaders across Canada as well as industry professionals that will further enrich my learning.”
Charnetski said he looks forward to a career in the field of applied sciences and working to create innovative solutions to complex problems that will better society.
“I am thankful to the Delta School District for giving me a solid foundation of learning and support to reach where I am today, ready to transition into my exciting future,” he said.
Created by businessman and philanthropist Seymour Schulich in 2012, the Schulich Leader Scholarship is awarded to 100 students enrolling in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) undergraduate program at one of 20 partner universities in Canada.
Schulich created the scholarship to “encourage our best and brightest students to become (…) the next generation of entrepreneurial-minded, technology innovators,” according to a press release from Schulich Leader Scholarships Canada.
Every high school in Canada can nominate one student for the scholarship per academic year based on academic excellence in STEM, entrepreneurial leadership and financial need.
This year, the value of the Schulich scholarship has been increased to address the increased cost of living across Canada. Through the Schulich Foundation, 50 engineering scholarships valued at $120,000 each are being awarded, along with 50 science, technology or math scholarships valued at $100,000 each.
“We are proud to celebrate the continued success of Schulich Leader Scholarships, the premiere STEM scholarship program in Canada. This group of outstanding students will represent the best and brightest Canada has to offer and will make great contributions to society, both on a national and global scale,” Schulich said in a press release.
“With their university expenses covered, they can focus their time on their studies, research projects, extracurriculars and entrepreneurial ventures. They are the next generation of entrepreneurial-minded, technology innovators.”
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