Impressive scholarship offers abound for 2019 graduates

Students at Upper Canada College spend their academic careers striving to be their very best selves while contributing to a vibrant school community. Every year, those efforts are rewarded with university admission acceptance letters and scholarship offers for UCC graduates.

This year was no different. Here’s a look at three top 2019 graduates who were honoured with standout scholarships.

Henry Gage

Worth between $80,000 and $100,000 over four years, Schulich Leader Scholarships are amongst the most coveted awards for Canadian undergraduate students in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Only 50 scholarships are awarded annually. This year, UCC’s Henry Gage received one of them. He’s the first UCC student to receive the scholarship, which he’ll use to study integrated sciences at McMaster University.

“I had read about the accomplishments of prior Schulich recipients and was impressed by the kind of work and innovative ideas that students my age were coming up with,” Gage says of his decision to apply for the Schulich Leaders Scholarship. “It inspires me to think of myself among an elite group of tomorrow's scientific leaders who will make groundbreaking changes in their fields.”

It’s easy to see why the 2019 graduate’s application stood out. While at UCC, Gage pursued an extensive and diverse array of extracurricular activities — including music, athletics, Model United Nations, house prefect duties and extensive volunteer work in the community — while maintaining a high academic average. He’s also a top distance runner and will be a member of McMaster’s varsity track team come the fall.

“I was particularly impressed by Henry’s diligent work ethic, academic excellence and constructive contributions in class,” UCC teacher Craig Parkinson says. “He is a disciplined student who possesses a strong interest in science and finding solutions to problems, such as climate change, that use technology to improve the human condition.”

Gage hopes the scholarship will help him access interesting research opportunities and network with professionals working at the forefront of environmental science, his passion. Though classes don’t start until September, Gage says the award has already been impactful.

“This opportunity has given me the freedom and ability to take an unpaid internship this summer doing scientific research, which was a possibility about which I was excited but would otherwise not have been able to pursue,” he says.

Bernard Ordiz

When Bernard Ordiz heads to the University of British Columbia at the end of the summer, it will be with the backing of UBC’s Centennial Scholars Entrance Award.

The award program, which supports high academic achievers who wouldn’t be able to join the UBC community without significant financial assistance, gives students access to a variety of one-time and renewable awards of up to $40,000 over four years.

Ordiz will use the award for his studies at UBC’s Sauder School of Business. Situated on the UBC Vancouver campus and renowned for its leading research and top faculty, Sauder is consistently ranked amongst the world’s leading business schools.

With his high marks and well-rounded UCC resume, Ordiz was a natural fit for both the university and the scholarship.

“Bernard’s academic accomplishment, contributions to his community and positive energy make him a most deserving recipient of the UBC Centennial Scholars Entrance Award,” says UCC teacher Michael Munshaw, adding that Ordiz consistently impresses with his drive to succeed. Munshaw also praises Ordiz for his compassion and empathy.

“Through his CAS project, Bernard was instrumental in building the College’s relationship with the Farastaki family from Syria, and his involvement in the Mock Trial, Conservative Political Action and Convergence Clubs underscore his passion for engaging in challenging discourse,” Munshaw says.

“His service work as a volunteer Toronto youth auditor, involvement in the 2018 provincial election as a canvasser and employment as an assistant community liaison with Toronto Right to Life further prove his passion for promoting community engagement extends beyond the walls of the College.”

Simon Guo

Simon Guo hasn’t yet decided where he’ll be pursuing higher education this September. That isn’t because of a lack of options but rather, a bounty of choice.

Guo, whose academic achievements make him a distinguished UCC graduate, received the following scholarship offers:

University of California Berkeley Regents' and Chancellor's Scholarship

UC Berkeley’s most distinguished award for entering undergraduates provides recipient students like Guo with a plethora of benefits, including priority enrolment for classes, research fellowships, faculty mentors, guaranteed on-campus housing and renewable financial awards.

University of Waterloo President’s Scholarship of Distinction

To be eligible for this scholarship, which comes with a one-time $2000 award in the first year of study and opportunities for additional rewards in subsequent years, students must have an impressive admission average of at least 95%.

University of Toronto Scholar Scholarship

The University of Toronto Scholars Program offers some 700 admission awards with a value of $7500 to outstanding incoming students like Guo.

University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering Admission Scholarship

Similar to U of T’s Scholars Program, the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering offers outstanding incoming students with financial awards of up to $7500.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rensselaer Medal

The Rensselaer Medal is one of the most prestigious awards offered by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a private research university in Troy, New York. Awarded to distinguished high school students with promise in the areas of science and math, the award is worth US$100,000 over four years.
Back
The word experience The UCC Difference