Xarissa Thompson

Venture capitalist and champion of higher education Seymour Schulich established the Schulich Leader Scholarships in 2011. Every year since, the University of Toronto has welcomed these talented science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students, who have also shown a commitment to their communities, to programs in the Faculty of Arts & Science and Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.

Xarissa Thompson spoke to this year's Schulich Leaders about what brought them to U of T.

Andres E. Lombo
Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, engineering science
(photo above)

What drew you to the University of Toronto?

The most important thing for me is the community. I was in an International Baccalaureate program with 37 other people. I really liked the sense of a close community, all working towards the same goal and graduating together.

What brought you to engineering?

My parents were both engineering professors in Colombia and they encouraged me in pursuing whatever crazy idea I had as a child. My parents’ philosophy is that you either lead society or society leads you. You have to take your curiosity and let it push you into exploring the world. And most times this will lead you into something that will really impact society.

You’re passionate about sharing science with kids. How have you helped to do that?

I founded Voyage Science with friends. There’s a stigma that STEM is for nerdy kids. Science should be open to everyone and I wanted to inspire that. Voyage Science did interactive presentations in the gym, not as a lecture, but by presenting awe-inspiring experiments. We’d come in with lab coats and goggles and they’d know something crazy was going to happen. It really created excitement and I also discovered that teaching is one of the best ways to learn.

And your future plans?

I am currently very open to a wide range of interests within engineering. I came to U of T because I really like the academic challenge, I want to dig into the nitty-gritty of every single topic that interests me.

Carl Pinter
Faculty of Arts & Science, studies in life sciences
U of T Scarborough

(photo by Dawnelle Brown)

Why did you choose the University of Toronto?

Toronto is diverse, exciting, and offers so many opportunities. I see the University of Toronto as a place to develop into a mature and learned adult.

What sparked your interest in science?

When I was seven, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. If it wasn't for science, I would be dead. Thirty years ago my disease was very difficult to treat, and 50 years ago it was a death sentence. While I cannot pay back the doctors and the medical staff who helped me, I can pay it forward by contributing to the realm of science.

What are some of your other interests?

One of my biggest passions is musical theatre and singing. I sang in my school’s choir and jazz group and have been involved the fall musical since grade nine. This past year I was cast as the lead in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Performing allowed me to connect with a lot of people and increased my confidence.

What are your plans for the future?

I see university as a time of exploration and discovery. I’m excited to start to experience what is out there. I don't want to plan too far ahead or close myself off to any particular area. I want to experiment.

Jack Stanley
Faculty of Arts & Science, studies in life sciences (microbiology and molecular genetics)
Trinity College

What drew you to the University of Toronto?

What U of T offers simply cannot be matched anywhere else in Canada. At the university, I can participate in cutting-edge research, or gain valuable work experience at a startup or larger company in Toronto’s technology sector. U of T offers nearly limitless possibilities to become involved in STEM in one capacity or another.

What drew you to STEM? Why do you want to pursue a career in the STEM field?

I have always been a naturally curious person, and I enjoy learning how the world around me actually works. I discovered that I love working in a hands-on environment when I volunteered at an anatomy laboratory at UVic. Nearly any STEM subject fulfills my insatiable desire to ask questions and find answers. It’s where I can have the most impact on the world.

And your future plans?

I plan to move on to grad school and further my study in microbiology. Microbiology is really interesting because you are affecting people. Tech is moving so fast, you can examine things on such a small level. I truly believe that the intersection of biology and technology will be incredibly important in the near future and I want to be a part of that.

Aidan Aird
Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, engineering science

Why did you choose U of T?

The Schulich Leaders Scholarship was definitely a big part of it, but also the prestige of the engineering program. It’s consistently one of the top ranked, not just in Canada, but globally.

What got you interested in engineering?

My parents really encouraged and supported me in exploring whatever I was interested in. As kids, my sister and I spent a lot of time at the zoo, the ROM and the Ontario Science Centre, which really sparked my interest in science and engineering. It led me to be interested in science fairs, and in grade seven I was fortunate to advance to my first of four national science fairs.

You’re very interested in encouraging others to explore STEM. How have you done that?

A couple of years ago my sister Keeley and I started STEM Kids Rock, a science outreach program for kids. We have an extensive collection of prehistoric fossils, exotic insects and unique minerals that we take to community centres, museums, libraries, schools, and community events. We have over 50 student volunteers that have helped inspire over 100,000 kids.

You have also worked a lot in philanthropy.

I’m very passionate about ending youth homelessness and have even slept on the streets a few times during the winter, in order to get a better idea what it may be like to be a homeless youth and to help raise funds and awareness. It was tough. It was really eye-opening to think that kids do this every single night and then still go to school. I struggled to do it one night a year.

What are your future plans?

I look up to people like Elon Musk or Bill Gates, who really give back through philanthropy, and I aspire to one day be like them.

#UofTGrad17: How a Schulich Leader Scholarship helped Joan Miguel Romero study pathobiology in university

geoff.vendeville — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 15:46:22 +0000

#UofTGrad17: How a Schulich Leader Scholarship helped Joan Miguel Romero study pathobiology in university

geoff.vendeville Thu, 06/15/2017 - 11:46

Cutline

Joan Romero was able to study at U of T by earning a Schulich Leader Scholarship, an academic award for promising students who want to study STEM in university at the undergraduate level (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

Xarissa Thompson

Author legacy

Xarissa Thompson

Topic

When he was 14 years old, Joan Miguel Romero lost his father to pancreatic cancer. That led him to want to study the pathobiology of disease and conduct cancer research.

Thanks to a Schulich Leader Scholarship, he was able to come to U of T to explore pathobiology in the fall of 2013.

The academic award program was established a year earlier by Canadian businessman Seymour Schulich and funds 50 undergraduate scholarships per year of between $80,000 and $100,000 each.

Read the full Q&A with Romero

Meet this year's Schulich Scholars

sgupta — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 08:27:12 +0000

Meet this year's Schulich Scholars sgupta Mon, 09/15/2014 - 04:27

Cutline

Lukas Weese and Quinton Lowe are this year's recipients of the Schulich Leaders Scholarship at the University of Toronto (photo by Jacklyn Atlas)

Xarissa Thompson

Author legacy

Xarissa Thompson

Faculty of Arts & Science

Lukas Weese and Quinton Lowe have just arrived at the University of Toronto to start their first year -– recipients of the Schulich Leaders Scholarship, a prestigious award started by businessman and philanthropist Seymour Schulich.

Supporting 40 students across Canada, the scholarship rewards students pursuing undergraduate degrees in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) courses, who have also demonstrated significant leadership qualities.

Lukas Weese, Faculty of Arts and Science, Trinity College, Class of 2019

What drew you to the University of Toronto – and why STEM?
I wanted a liberal arts education that deepens my knowledge of the world around me. U of T provides choice and the freedom to learn about ideas that will ultimately leave me better prepared for adult life. I was also drawn to Trinity College, with its strong sense of community, multitude of extracurricular activities and historic traditions.

Learning from both my parents and my teachers, I put value in curiosity and hard work. I have always been interested in a wide range of subjects, from chemistry and physics to history and philosophy. Many of my best memories from high school came from my involvement with drama, student government and public speaking. My passion for different subjects and a desire to be academically challenged brought me to U of T.

How important are co-curricular activities and volunteer work?
When I was in the fifth grade, I got sick. At first it appeared to be the flu, but then I lost feeling in my legs and experienced weakness in my joints. My parents took me to Sick Kids, where I was a patient for a month. The experience really shook my foundation and I gained a new perspective. I saw how fortunate I was not to be as sick as many of the children around me and it left me with a desire to help my community. Once I was well, I started fundraising for Sick Kids and working to promote awareness of paediatric disease.

This led me to other projects, but the one I am most proud of was with Safehaven: The Project For Community Living. Safehaven is a charity that supports care for severely disabled children. I became inspired by their work and passionate about integrating disabled children back into society. I approached Magna International and created a partnership which allowed them to support the charity at its annual Hoedown event, resulting in over $30,000 in funding for Safehaven.

Any plans for the future?
I want to wake up each morning doing something that I am passionate about. I may be a scientist, a diplomat, a businessman, maybe even an actor. Whatever I am, I will carry these memories and experiences into the future.

Quinton Lowe, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, Class of 2019

What drew you to the University of Toronto – and why STEM?
I applied to the University of Toronto because I want the challenge and excitement of studying at the best engineering school in Canada. Top employers recognize the value of a U of T degree and I’ve heard news stories about the inventions and discoveries being made at this university. I also love Toronto and liked the idea of downtown, where I could explore new things and have new experiences.

I have a passion for learning and have always maintained a high grade average. My interest in STEM courses really began in grade 11, when my courses started to focus on the specific sciences. I took a physics course that I really enjoyed and started to feel a pull towards a career in science.

How important are co-curricular activities and volunteer work?
I am proud to have earned a black belt in karate. It took many years of hard work and dedication. A black belt's duty is to help others learn and master the art, so I have assisted a weekly class where I led the warm-up and basics, and individually assisted students when they were struggling.

My passion for politics began when I was selected to serve a term of duty as a legislative page. I had an aunt who lived in Toronto and I spent a month of the school year at Queen’s Park. We would fetch glasses of water, make photocopies or run messages for the MPPs. I hadn’t known much about how politics worked previously and this gave me a first-hand view of the process.

At age 14, I decided to get involved with the local riding associations and volunteered hundreds of hours in preparation for both federal and provincial elections. I found it very rewarding serving the community through canvassing, helping disabled and elderly citizens, and acting as an election scrutineer. I have remained heavily involved in politics and am the youngest person ever to be elected to both the federal and provincial conservative riding associations' board of directors.

Any plans for the future?
An engineering degree is the best possible undergraduate degree for someone with my interests to obtain. Ultimately I would like to earn a graduate degree. I may end up working in the engineering field, but law and politics are also possibilities.

picpath

sites/default/files/2014-09-12-shulich-scholars.jpg

Xarissa Thompson

A passion for science connects U of T's new Schulich Leaders

Andres E. Lombo Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, engineering science (photo above)

Carl Pinter Faculty of Arts & Science, studies in life sciences U of T Scarborough

Jack Stanley Faculty of Arts & Science, studies in life sciences (microbiology and molecular genetics) Trinity College

Aidan Aird Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, engineering science

#UofTGrad17: How a Schulich Leader Scholarship helped Joan Miguel Romero study pathobiology in university

Read more about Schulich Leaders at U of T

Read the full Q&A with Romero

Meet this year's Schulich Scholars

Andres E. Lombo
Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, engineering science
(photo above)

Carl Pinter
Faculty of Arts & Science, studies in life sciences
U of T Scarborough

Jack Stanley
Faculty of Arts & Science, studies in life sciences (microbiology and molecular genetics)
Trinity College

Aidan Aird
Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, engineering science