A University of Waterloo student is a finalist for the McCall MacBain Scholarships, Canada’s largest leadership-based scholarships for master’s and professional studies.
The scholarships are the result of a landmark $200 million gift in 2019 by John and Marcy McCall MacBain, then the largest single donation in Canadian history.
Designed to encourage purposeful leadership, the scholarships enable students to pursue a fully funded master’s or professional degree at McGill University while participating in mentorship, coaching, and a leadership development program.
Evan Girardin (BMath'24), from Stephenville, Newfoundland, is among 91 finalists from around the world. More than 700 Canadians applied for the scholarships, and of those, 159 participated in a first round of regional interviews in November and December.
He will travel to Montreal to attend final interviews in March, with travel expenses covered by the scholarship program. “It would be my first time living in such a large city, so I'm eager to get familiar with the area.”
Each finalist was chosen based on their character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength, and intellectual curiosity.
Evan is majoring in mathematics and computer science at the University of Waterloo. He edits the math student newspaper, led two math student groups, and volunteered as an orientation leader. Evan also co-led a team to create a fan-made sequel to the video game Portal 2. He spent his co-op terms working on campus as an instructional support assistant and research fellow, and he is applying for master's programs in mathematics and computer science.
There are a lot of incredible and passionate people at Waterloo. I've learned a lot from the friends I've made by getting involved in the leadership positions there, and those friends have helped me become more comfortable and confident in myself and the impact I want to create.
“It feels incredible to be a finalist,” Evan adds. “I felt really humbled by the strong drive and character I saw in everyone at the regional interviews, and to be invited as a finalist is something I'm grateful for. For a master's program, there really aren't many opportunities out there like the kind this scholarship provides. Having that community of strong, passionate, intrinsically-motivated people can provide a really great environment for growing, forming connections, and making concrete impact.”
“Integrity, kindness, curiosity, and courage are the characteristics we want to see in the next generation of leaders,” said Dr. Marcy McCall MacBain, Chair of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill. “By connecting emerging talent to an outstanding graduate education and a community of peers and mentors, we hope to encourage positive leadership for Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and the world.”
“More than 300 senior volunteer leaders were involved in selecting this year’s finalists,” said Natasha Sawh, Chief Executive Officer of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill. “Our team is very much looking forward to welcoming the finalists – who have already distinguished themselves as the top candidates globally – to Montreal in March. We extend our warmest thanks to the universities that nominated them for this opportunity.”
A cohort of up to 30 McCall MacBain Scholars will be selected after final interviews. Canadian finalists who are not selected for the cohort will be eligible to receive a $10,000 Finalist Award.
Another University of Waterloo student was among the top candidates in the McCall MacBain Scholarships selection process. Jonah Leinwand (BASc’24) earned a $5,000 McCall MacBain Regional Award, which may be applied to eligible studies at any public university in Canada.
A biomedical engineering student, Jonah helps set up events for the Jewish student community, helps sort donations to recent immigrants, and serves as an engineering student ambassador. He also hosts a podcast featuring industry and research experts. Jonah has been working to develop a new design for an artificial disc replacement, a type of spinal implant, and he hopes to further his research in orthopaedic biomechanics by pursuing a master's degree in mechanical engineering.
Applications will open in June 2024 for the 2025 cohort. In addition to the 30 fully funded McCall MacBain Scholarships each year, up to 100 additional awards, valued at $5,000 to $20,000, are offered to candidates. More information about the McCall MacBain Scholarships can be found at mccallmacbainscholars.org.