Thanks to receiving a $100,000 scholarship, an Assumption College Catholic High School student will begin studying physiology and mathematics at McGill University this fall.
Kini Chen, who graduates in June, was selected for the Schulich Leadership scholarship for her outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements.
Chen is the first student in Assumption’s history to receive one of these scholarships.
She says she's extremely honoured to have received the award, which will allow her to explore two fields of academic study while at university.
"I definitely feel like it's unreal feeling, how is this happening to me kind of thing. And I'm so excited to get started with the Schulich network."
Chen says a high school can only nominate one graduating student to the Schulich Leadership foundation for the award each year.
"So I talked to my guidance counsellor about it and filled out a high school application first. Then I was nominated, and then I was guided to fill out another application form directly to the Schulich Leader website. That's how it began," she said.
Assumption Principal Melissa Cavallin said Schulich Scholarships are presented to the best and brightest that Canada has to offer and that the entire school community is exceptionally proud of Chen.
"Students like Kini are the next generation of entrepreneurial-minded technology innovators. With their university expenses covered, they can focus their time on their studies, research projects, extra-curriculars, and entrepreneurial ventures."
Chen says she learned she had won about two weeks ago when she received an email from McGill during English class.
She says even two weeks later, it's hard to believe it's really happening.
"I thought it was just another promotional email from the foundation or something, but after I clicked in and saw it was sent from McGill University and they were congratulating me on this achievement I probably kind of froze for a couple of seconds," she continued. "But it was super exciting, and then I had to call my Mom immediately about the news."
Chen says her first choice wasn't always McGill, but given the scholarship and the amount of opportunity the famed school offers, it was a no-brainer to take the opportunity.
Across Canada this year 100 Schulich scholarships have been awarded - 50 engineering scholarships valued at $120,000 each and 50 science, technology or math scholarships valued at $100,000 each.
- with files from AM800's Rob Hindi