August 31, 2023
Ready for the next challenge
Two Loran Scholars start their studies at Waterloo backed by $100,000 scholarships
Two recipients of the prestigious national Loran Award have chosen the University of Waterloo for their academic careers.
Garvit Jain of electrical engineering and Steven Yang of software engineering will begin their undergraduate degrees this fall.
From a pool of nearly 5,000 applicants, only 36 first-year students at 25 partner universities receive Loran Awards worth up to $100,000 over four years. The rigorous selection process looks for people who demonstrate exceptional leadership potential and a desire to make the world a better place.
“We look for qualities that grades alone cannot show: a breadth of interests and deep commitment to service, the courage to make difficult decisions and the determination to work towards long-term goals,” the Loran Scholars Foundation said in a media release.
Garvit Jain is a first-year electrical engineering student.
Garvit is a computer enthusiast, an avid scuba diver and loves a good debate. He runs events for his local church in Edmonton, Alberta and led his school’s cybersecurity team as captain to compete at a national level. Garvit says he’s excited for Waterloo’s emphasis on experiential learning and looks forward to getting involved with hands-on projects.
“I'm eager to engage in various engineering projects and collaborate with my peers to tackle real engineering challenges,” says Garvit. “The chance to work on exciting projects in state-of-the-art labs is an opportunity I can't wait to explore.”
Steven Yang is a first-year software engineering student.
Yang is passionate about mathematics, the environment, music, art and software programming. Some of his accomplishments include creating a math club grounded in mentorship and inclusivity, building a city-integrated environmental initiative that disposes of cigarette litter sustainably in his hometown of Lethbridge, Alberta and having his paintings displayed in city galleries.
For Yang, being a Loran Scholar means that he can continue to pursue personal and academic growth.
“I chose Waterloo because of its culture of valuing innovation,” says Yang. “I'm looking forward to meeting like-minded people this fall.”
