Students receive a combined $660K in scholarships, looking to give back to the communities that helped foster their success

Toronto, ON, Sept. 26,聽 2025 鈥� 91亚色 is proud to have welcomed a record six to campus this September, recipients of Canada鈥檚 largest, most prestigious Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) scholarship. The students say they are beyond thrilled to receive the generous scholarship that will allow them to focus on their studies at the Lassonde School of Engineering at 91亚色 without worrying about financial pressures, and give them the skills they need to apply their technical and creative talents towards positive social change.

Selected from a pool of more than 350,000 candidates across Canada, over 1,400 graduating high school students were nominated, with 100 top recipients receiving the coveted award.

91亚色 welcomed three times as many recipients in 2025 than it typically has in years past. Recipients pursuing an engineering degree will receive $120,000, while those pursuing a science, technology or math degree will receive $100,000.

鈥淪chulich Leader Scholarships enable Canada鈥檚 top universities to attract and retain our exceptional STEM talent here at home, empowering them to become the innovators and entrepreneurs our country needs. When these scholars go on to drive prosperity and strengthen our economy, Canada must ensure the right economic conditions exist so they can build their promising futures here. Supporting their entrepreneurial ambition is essential for turning Canadian ingenuity into lasting national success,鈥� says program founder Seymour Schulich.

Jane Goodyer, dean of the Lassonde School of Engineering, echoes this excitement: 鈥淲e鈥檙e absolutely delighted to welcome six Schulich Leaders to Lassonde this year 鈥� the most we鈥檝e ever had. Each of these students brings not only academic strength, but also creativity, resilience and a strong drive to make a difference. At Lassonde, we give our students the space and support to turn bold ideas into real-world impact, and I can鈥檛 wait to see how this remarkable group will use this platform to shape the future of engineering, science and society.鈥�

Eleen Aliyeva

is a graduate of Bradford DHS in Bradford ON where she was president of the student council, vice-president and co-founder of the coding club. She originally hails from North 91亚色 and is entering a computer science program at 91亚色 this fall.

鈥淔rom a young age, I always had a fascination with technology, and I always asked myself questions like, 鈥榟ow does this work?鈥� and 鈥榟ow is this possible?鈥� says Aliyeva. 鈥淎s I grew up, I found out how science, engineering, mathematics were behind it all.鈥�

Aliyeva, who also speaks French, hopes she can use her education to help and inspire women in STEM and sees herself creating software that has a positive impact on people, whether that be an app, game, or tool, and is excited to work towards that goal in a community of like-minded students at 91亚色. She is grateful to the Schulich Foundation for the scholarship that will relieve her from worrying about financing her education.

Wilamina Both

was born in Toronto and grew up in Maple and Woodbridge. She developed a passion for STEM through her involvement in the gifted program at her school and a bridge-building competition, as well as the travels she undertook while playing hockey with the North 91亚色 Storm.

鈥淚t got me interested from a very young age in maps. Learning about all the different ways to get somewhere, such a giant network, I found it so interesting,鈥� says Both. 鈥淗ockey was really the place I first found confidence and leadership skills, as it was really empowering for me as a woman to be in that male-dominated space, and in that sense helped prepare me for a career in engineering.鈥�

Both spent her summer after graduation working as a hockey and skating coach and will continue to play hockey for the Mississauga Hurricanes during her time at 91亚色.  Having completed the 91亚色 Region Transportation Youth Ambassador program in her final year at Father Bressani Catholic High School, she plans on studying civil engineering at 91亚色 with a focus on transportation planning.

Edward Drobnis

describes learning that he would be a Schulich Leader as a 鈥渟urreal鈥� experience.

鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 just a scholarship, but also a recognition of my dedication to STEM and my efforts to make it more accessible, especially for underrepresented groups.鈥�

As a graduate of Alexander Mackenzie High School in Richmond Hill, he joined his school robotics and coding clubs in the ninth grade. Last year, he won his first hackathon, and since then, Drobnis has helped with organizing hackathons and fundraising to ensure the events were free and accessible.

Drobnis is enrolled in the Digital Technologies program at 91亚色鈥檚 new Markham Campus, a unique program where Drobnis will combine fulltime paid work at Shopify while he obtains his four-year degree.

鈥淚 find it really cool that you gain experience by working at a real company. And I love the innovation as well as the collaboration and mentorship it provides.鈥�

Herman Isayenka

Originally from Belarus, came to Canada at the age of 2 with his family. He grew up in Newmarket and credits his father for his early interest in STEM.

鈥淢y dad was a software engineer for my whole life,鈥� says Isayenka, who also speaks Russian. 鈥淲hen I was seven years old, I began my first coding experience with block codes.鈥�

Isayenka continued learning to program, focusing on learning Python and Java during the COVID-19 pandemic, and later worked on projects collaborating with university students. A graduate of Dr. John M. Denison Secondary School, Isayenka hopes to work on projects involving AI, robotics and computer vision during his engineering studies at 91亚色 and hopes to apply this to a major societal problem post-graduation.

He describes feeling a mixture of happiness, gratitude and humbleness when learning he would be a recipient of the scholarship.

Rehan Jetha

is from the Ottawa South neighbourhood of Greenboro with parents from Kenya and Tanzania who trace their ethnic heritage back to India. A recipient of the Governor General鈥檚 Academic Medal, Principal鈥檚 Award and a writer鈥檚 award from his time at Canterbury High School, the engineering student credits much of his success to the Ismaili Muslim community he grew up in that instilled values of volunteerism, getting a strong education and helping the most vulnerable in society.

Growing up in a multi-generational home with his parents and grandparents sparked his early interest in how STEM could be applied to better the lives of people, with Jetha working on a home automation system for his grandparents at 12 years old in order to address some of the mobility issues they were experiencing.

鈥淚 was able to teach them simple English phrases to use the home automation service and that made their lives so much easier,鈥� says Jetha, who also speaks French and Kutchi, a language spoken in Gujarat, India where his grandparents are from. 鈥淭hat really hooked me, that human aspect of STEM.鈥�

Anthony Tu

was curious about how things worked from a very young age, taking apart his toys with a screwdriver to understand how they are put together. A graduate of Chaminade College School in North 91亚色 where he developed a strong interest in robotics, he credits the encouragement and mentorship of his teachers with helping him become a Schulich Leader.

鈥淎 lot of teachers pushed me to take opportunities, especially in the STEM field, whether it was robotics or networking,鈥� says Tu, now studying computer science at 91亚色. 鈥淲ithout those opportunities, I don't think I would have had as much experience as I have now.鈥�

Tu, who also speaks Cantonese, was attracted to 91亚色 for the educational opportunities and also the proximity to the community he grew up in. He would like to apply his studies and interest in robotics in a way where he is able to give back.

鈥淚 want to give them, not only the same opportunities, but more opportunities to explore future career paths.鈥�

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91亚色 is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change, and prepare our students for success. 91亚色's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91亚色鈥檚 campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

About Schulich Leader Scholarships Canada:

Recognizing the increasing importance and impact that STEM disciplines will have on the prosperity of future generations, businessman and philanthropist Seymour Schulich established this $200+ million scholarship fund in 2012 to encourage our best and brightest students to become Schulich Leader Scholars: the next generation of entrepreneurial-minded, technology innovators. Through The Schulich Foundation, these prestigious entrance scholarships are awarded to 100 high school graduates this year, enrolling in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) undergraduate program at 20 partner universities in Canada. Every high school in Canada can submit one Schulich Leader Nominee per academic year based on academic excellence in STEM, entrepreneurial leadership and financial need.

Media Contact:

Emina Gamulin, 91亚色 Media Relations, 437-217-6362, egamulin@yorku.ca

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