The Faculty of Science is pleased to welcome Schulich Leader Scholar Melind Bhroat to the University of Waterloo. The Schulich Leader Scholarship is one of Canada’s most prestigious undergraduate awards, given annually to only 100 high school students nationwide. It recognizes entrepreneurial-minded graduates pursuing science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) programs at select Canadian Universities.
Bhroat’s entrepreneurial spirit shone bright at an early age. His passion for science and technology began during the pandemic, when he taught himself how to code to develop web-based games for his classmates who were also in isolation at home.
Throughout high school, he continued to hone his leadership skills, founding Cookies for Cancer to raise funds for CancerCare Manitoba. He also became involved in coding clubs, hackathons and leadership opportunities that applied his passion for STEM to helping his community, notably winning the Code for Climate hackathon after developing a water filtration system designed to combat invasive algae in local watersheds.
His entrepreneurial instincts continued in Junior Achievement of Manitoba, launching a gardening equipment business and founding a company that designs ergonomic keyboards to prevent repetitive strain injuries.
“I am consistently driven by the belief that business and technology, when applied with commitment, can make a meaningful impact,” says Bhroat. “Throughout my leadership experiences, I have found that persistence and a willingness to put in effort are what it takes to make a positive change.”
As he begins his first term in the Science and Business program this fall, he already has his sights set on the future. Bhroat hopes to combine his passions for science, technology, and business to start his own hydroponic farming company focused on developing sustainable food production systems for challenging environments.
The Faculty of Science is excited to see what Bhroat will achieve during his undergraduate studies and beyond.
Learn more about the 2026 cohort of Schulich Leaders on Waterloo News.