MANITOULIN—Two Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) students have been accepted into the prestigious Shad Canada program this summer. Xavier Mara and Alexandra Wilson-Zegil of MSS are joining six other Rainbow District School Board (RDSB) students who will be participating in the program.
“I’m very excited to have been accepted,” stated Alex. “I have heard several people talk about what it is, and I am really looking forward to taking part in the program.”
“It is pretty awesome to be selected for the Shad program,” stated Xavier, a Grade 11 student at MSS. “It’s a great opportunity and I’m very excited to be going.”
“Shad provides students with transformational learning and networking opportunities,” said RDSB Director of Education Bruce Bourget. “The program fosters personal growth, nurtures gains in exploration, collaboration and innovation, and helps prepare students for their post-secondary studies.”
Students in Grades 10 and 11 with an aptitude for curiosity, excellence and resilience are accepted into the Shad program which prepares them to take on social and economic challenges. Selection criteria includes academics, extracurriculars, creativity, innovation and a commitment to excellence.
Program participants hear from acclaimed professors, experts and entrepreneurs, explore university campuses, take part in hands-on and virtual workshops, develop lifelong friendships and learn about future education and careers in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics (STEAM). Above all, they are able to collaborate with a project team on an innovative solution to a real-world problem.
“It’s a month-long program that is hosted at 20 different universities across Canada,” said Alex, who is a Grade 11 student. “Basically, for the month you wake up in the morning, eat breakfast, attend lectures, take part in outdoor activities like camping and learn from top professors 24/7.”
“Students have to apply for the program and as soon as the applications opened on September 15 I applied,” Alex continued. She explained the application process is pretty extensive. And you have to provide two references and fill out letters and answer several questions. I had to answer four different questions including outlining a challenge in my life and how to help fix it. I focused on the lack of female representation in STEAM. In my experience at the robotics world championships last year in Houston, I noticed a lack of girls in certain areas like building (robots). I want to get young girls interested in this. So, I created a bunch of lesson plans and sent them to the elementary schools on the Island.”
“I don’t know which university I will be going to for the program, we will be finding out at the end of March,” Alex continued. “You do get to list which ones you would like to take the program at. I am very anxious to find out which university I will be taking the program at. But I’m sure all the campuses are amazing and provide different quality experiences.”
When asked what her future career plans are, Alex, who is also The Expositor’s own Kids in the Hall columnist, said, “It changes quite a bit, from communications and psychology, science, communications and possibly law school.”
Alex is a member of the MSS Robotics team, a student senator representing MSS, a member of the MSS student council, worked at the Gore Bay Medical Centre in the doctors’ office last summer and has played Manitoulin house league hockey for about 13 years.
Xavier said, “This program is recognized by a ton of universities. And there are thousands of students who apply every year. It is incredible that two students from Manitoulin Island have been selected this year.”
“At this point, I would like to go somewhere for engineering, probably south to live in the city,” Xavier continued. Among the universities he indicated he would like to take the Shad program at included McMaster and Waterloo. “I listed a lot of universities in Ontario.” He also included the University of British Columbia as an option.
“One of the questions I answered on the Shad program application form was to come up with a problem in our community and what you did to help fix it. We live in Manitowaning and my dad works in Wiikwemkoong,” said Xavier. “During COVID, we built a couple of UV sterilization units and gave them to the senior folks at the (Wikwemikong) nursing home and for the clinic in Wiikwemkoong.”
After high school, Xavier would like to go to university to take engineering and get into the technology industry in some capacity.
“The Shad program begins on June 27 until the end of July,” said Xavier. “I’m pretty excited to be going.”
“I extend sincere congratulations to our student participants,” said Mr. Bourget. “I wish them the very best during this important journey of discovery.”
The two MSS students along with Kate Turner of Lively District Secondary School, Isaac Longston, Megan Martin and Samuel Dumais of Lockerby Composite School, and Lillian Li, Peter Xiong and John Liao of Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School will join hundreds of secondary students from across Canada to explore the exciting world of STEAM as part of the Shad program.
