For the sixth year in a row, 10 McMaster students have received Schulich Leader scholarships, one of Canada's most coveted undergraduate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) awards.
Established by the Schulich Foundation in 2012, these prestigious entrance awards recognize students based on their academic excellence in STEM, entrepreneurial leadership and financial need.
"Over the past 13 years, the Schulich Foundation has played a pivotal role in supporting the academic and personal goals of some of McMaster's most exceptional students," says Maureen MacDonald, McMaster's provost and vice-president (Academic).
"We are deeply grateful for this continued partnership, and for the foundation's extraordinary commitment to building the next generation of STEM leaders and innovators."
The scholarships, valued at $100,000 for those pursuing a science, technology or math degree, and $120,000 for those pursuing an engineering degree, enable recipients to focus on their studies while making meaningful and positive contributions to society.
Each year, the Schulich Leaders program awards 100 scholarships across 20 partner institutions, from a pool of more than 1,400 nominees nationwide.
McMaster has once again received the maximum allocation, with 10 awards in total five in the Faculty of Engineering and five in the Faculty of Science.
The Schulich Foundation was established by Seymour Schulich, a self-made entrepreneur and philanthropist, to support access to post-secondary education through significant annual endowments.
He attributes much of his success to what he describes as a "life-changing" scholarship that enabled him to complete his MBA.
As part of his deep commitment to paying his success forward, Schulich recently shared his personal experiences and strategies for young people embarking on their careers, in his essay Get Even Smarter, an addendum to his 2006 book Get Smarter.
Learn more about McMaster's 2025 Schulich Leaders
Daniel Puglisi | Engineering | Co-op
Daniel Puglisi has demonstrated exceptional academic excellence, leadership and perseverance through multiple awards while also excelling in collaborative settings like jazz performance.
Looking ahead, they aspire to apply their curiosity and determination to STEM and innovation, with the goal of tackling complex global challenges and driving meaningful change.
Diya Kalia | Engineering | Co-op
An avid advocate for women in STEM, Diya Kalia has inspired thousands through speaking at the United Nations Commission, co-founding Sparkkit and mentoring over 120 teens in entrepreneurship and innovation.
Kalia is passionately pursuing a future in engineering with aspirations to address global accessibility challenges and improve lives through inclusive design and technology.
Manil Ferr | Engineering I Co-op
An avid cyclist and entrepreneur, Manil Ferr co-founded his school's robotics club and Hounka, a company specializing in website creation, marketing and social media management for small businesses.
Ferr is committed to innovating, leading and developing technologies that create meaningful change in society.
Michal Ilyayev | Computer Science | Co-op
Michal Ilyayev has combined academic excellence with creativity and innovation, earning top awards in technology, design and art while teaching themselves programming and web development to build websites, games and a learning platform called LOCK-IN.
With a strong foundation in both STEM and the arts, Ilyayev aspires to continue developing technologies that enhance education and to finding solutions to complex challenges through creative problem-solving.
Rishi Shah | Engineering I Co-op
Bronze medalist at the Canada-Wide Science Fair, Rishi Shah developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that tracks surgical instruments in real time with 95 per cent accuracy, addressing errors that can harm healthy tissue during robotic surgeries.
Combining hands-on AI innovation with leadership experience in DECA, and advocacy for improved mental health accessibility, Shah aims to found a company that develops real-world AI solutions to advance health care and society.
Lizzie Malcolm | Chemical & Physical Sciences Gateway
Lizzie Malcolm has combined scientific curiosity with strong leadership, winning the Best Chemistry Project award at the 2024 the Niagara Regional Science and Engineering Fair for their research on the hypothetical creation of element 119.
Through a lifelong passion for math and science, recognized through multiple science fair awards, Malcolm is driven to pursue fundamental discoveries in areas such as superconductive materials, cleaner energy and advanced electronics with the goal of advancing human knowledge and improving lives.
Jack Gillespie | Chemical & Physical Sciences Gateway
Jack Gillespie has demonstrated a deep commitment to scientific research, pursuing an independent Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair project on a bio-photovoltaic system that explored sustainable energy through photosynthesis-based electricity challenges.
Gillespie also excelled academically, achieving a 97.67 percent cent Grade Point Average in STEM subjects and earning multiple subject-specific and general proficiency awards. They aspire to advance space exploration by conducting research and developing solutions for space programs.
Liam Henderson | Integrated Science
Liam Henderson brings a wealth of leadership and entrepreneurship experience to McMaster, amassing over 600 hours of volunteer service, founding their school's Math Club and leading the successful restoration of their school's courtyard through fundraising, grant writing and project management.
They aspire to integrate science, mathematics and statistics to develop environmentally and economically sustainable materials and products, aiming to make meaningful impact both in their field and in the broader community.
Patrick Jeffries | Chemical & Physical Sciences Gateway
Patrick Jeffries has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, earning 12 highest-mark awards across 18 subjects, including science, technology and mathematics.
He is equally accomplished in athletics and leadership, competing in multiple sports at high levels and serving as a Core Leader at their school.
Jeffries aspires to develop the next generation of cost-effective and globally accessible medical robots to improve lives and address critical challenges in health and well-being.
Rizkallah Botros | Chemical & Physical Sciences Gateway
At the Toronto NASA Space Apps Hackathon, Rizkallah Botros built and presented an interactive 3D model solar system web app to encourage celestial defence while absorbing knowledge and motivation from real-world astronomers and physicists.
Botros aspires to become an astrophysicist and applied research entrepreneur, pursuing advanced studies while leveraging their entrepreneurial mindset to innovate.
