Welcoming a new cohort of community-driven student leaders

Six recipients of the Loran Scholars Foundation have travelled across Canada to pursue their academic careers at the University of Waterloo.  

The Loran Scholars Foundation looks beyond marks when selecting their candidates — Loran Scholars are students who demonstrate integrity, courage, curiosity and a commitment to service. 

Loran Scholars will receive awards worth up to $100,000 over four years to support their studies, as they continue to embrace the challenge of making the world a better place for all.  

Each year, 36 promising young Canadians are selected as Loran Scholars out of more than 5,000 applicants. As one of Loran’s five founding university partners, Waterloo has invested in Loran Scholars since 1989. These award winners join a thriving community of students who mobilize knowledge and solutions out into the world — into their workplaces, to the businesses and ventures they create, and to the communities they live in.  

The following students have chosen to join the Waterloo community this fall as part of the faculties of Engineering, Mathematics and Science. 

Katie Yu is a first-year chemical engineering student.

Hailing from Iqaluit, Nunavut, Katie Yu was responsible for reviving her school’s environmental club and served as a member of a Nunavut-wide youth advisory committee on climate change. She has competed in national public speaking competitions and previously worked as an intern at World Wildlife Fund Canada. 

Receiving the Loran scholarship led Yu to reflect on her journey, while challenging her to continue giving back to her community. She was drawn to Waterloo by the co-op program and the possibility to make connections. 

“I am keen on gaining tangible experience and building networks within my field,” Yu says. “I am also looking forward to taking advantage of the high-quality facilities and extracurricular activities on campus and learning in an environment that values collaboration and problem-solving.” 

Chloe Nguyen is a first-year systems design engineering student.

Chloe Nguyen was a leader in her school and community in British Columbia. As a founding member of Climate Education Reform BC, she not only organized community workshops and learning resources, but also campaigned for the provincial government to implement adequate climate change education into school curriculums. Beyond climate activism, she facilitated after-school community programs at local elementary schools in low-income neighbourhoods. 

Joining Waterloo Engineering will enable Nguyen to continue pursuing her passion for technology, with the Loran scholarship opening new opportunities for learning and professional experience. She was particularly attracted by the university’s focus on entrepreneurship. 

“I'm excited to join the supportive start-up culture, engineering design teams, Velocity incubator and so many other wonderful opportunities that the school has to offer,” Nguyen says. 

Mark Seemann is a first-year mechanical engineering student.

While studying at his high school in Prince Edward Island, Mark Seemann founded Orthec, a startup that uses 3D printing to create orthopedic braces for athletes. His interest in engineering also led to a funded project that creates smart buoys for water-quality monitoring. Alongside this important work, Seemann found time to earn a blackbelt in karate and coach young athletes. 

Seemann describes the Loran Award as “an honour” which he hopes will lead to lifelong friendships and personal growth. He identified Waterloo as the best place to fulfill his ambitions as an engineer.  

“Waterloo’s push for innovation and entrepreneurship makes it the premier choice for my pursuit in engineering and medical technologies.” Seemann says. “I look forward to learning from top professors and collaborating with students to build the future.” 

Tristan Hall is a first-year mechatronics engineering student.

As a high-school student at Mount Elizabeth Middle-Secondary in British Columbia, Tristan Hall introduced LEGO robotics programs and founded two 15-member FIRST Tech Challenge teams. He also served his community by coaching marksmanship and biathlon teams, and as the leader of his local Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps.  

Hall is excited by the ways in which the Loran scholarship will allow him to grow as a leader and make contributions that will help the people around him. Waterloo offers him the chance to collaborate with other creative and likeminded individuals. 

“I find inspiration by surrounding myself with diverse yet like-minded people,” Hall says. “I believe that Waterloo offers the best resources and environment to do so. I’m excited to collaborate with other innovative thinkers as I branch out in my studies.” 

Shreya Jain is a first-year student in the Faculty of Mathematics.

Shreya Jain co-founded and led the debate team at Maple Ridge Secondary School in her hometown of Barrie, Ontario. In addition to working at her local library and volunteering in a community initiative to connect youth with seniors, she has helped develop and launch advertising campaigns for a non-profit. She also developed a comprehensive research project that aims to address flexible electricity demand.  

Jain chose Waterloo because of the university’s opportunities for experiential learning.  

“I’m excited to delve into the theory behind mathematical and computational modeling techniques,” Jain says. “And leverage them to tackle real-world sustainability challenges.”  

For Jain, the Loran scholarship is a recognition of her passion for working with others in her community to improve the world around her.  

“Being a Loran Scholar means the opportunity to embrace challenges, drive forward meaningful change and build community, while being backed by a network of unique, driven individuals,” Jain says.  

Julien Côté is a first-year mathematical physics student.

For Julien Côté, being an active member of his community of Cold Lake, Alberta, happened naturally. He was the president of his student council at École Voyageur, is chair of the Cold Lake Youth Council and co-founded a non-profit organization, Snaque Attaque.  

He also has an array of interests including playing piano in a music ensemble, acting as a house leader in the Parlement jeunesse de l’Alberta (PJA), and is a strong advocate for La Francophonie and cultural diversity. 

Being a Loran Scholar means he will have the ability to get involved in his new community when he joins the Physics program at Waterloo this fall.  

“Being a Loran Scholar gives me the opportunity to develop my leadership skills and continue serving my community throughout my studies,” Côté says. “This award opens doors and encourages me to aim for excellence.” 

He is also excited about starting at Waterloo this fall because of the stellar STEM reputation and the opportunity to explore his interests through co-op.  

“I decided to go to Waterloo because it offers the best program for me — a combination of physics and math, with a co-op program,” he says. “I’m very excited to study at a university known for its STEM programs.”