Business
Mr. David Wen
Mr. David Wen has been selected as the Gold Business Winner of the RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for Undergraduates. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Through his entrepreneurial initiatives, he is following his passion for developing and nurturing new businesses that merge commerce and social development.
Mr. Wen’s chosen career blends philanthropy with entrepreneurship. His aim is to find interesting, fun and sustainable solutions to people’s needs. To that end, he has developed a Web-based organization, SolaCaritas.com, that, as he describes it, “will benefit charities, companies, and communities across Canada by making donating, volunteering, and general philanthropy easy.” Visitors to this site can learn about charities, their mission, events and volunteer opportunities. Donors can make contributions to charities through purchases from companies who not only participate in the site, but also use it to communicate their own philanthropic goals. Mr. Wen has likened the RBC Royal Bank scholarship to a roller coaster ride, from the peak of which he can “see a farther horizon, and experience greater heights” than he would have without it.
Mr. Jason Brown
Mr. Jason Brown has been selected as the Silver Business Winner of the RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for Undergraduates. He is currently working towards an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree at the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto, Ontario. His areas of specialty are marketing, entrepreneurship and international business.
Mr. Brown plans to pursue a career in law, studying international trade policy and facilitating international trade. He believes firmly that commerce and business can bring about significant social and economic benefits to Canadians. He is currently working on a project that would allow consumers to photograph UPC codes from advertising media with their cellular phones and show the image at a store to take advantage of savings or special offers. This digital coupon would improve efficiencies for businesses, simplify the process of using coupons for consumers, and combat consumer desensitization to advertising messages by engaging them directly in the advertising. Mr. Brown is honoured to have received this scholarship and feels “extremely fortunate” to have been recognized for his innovation.
Mr. Greg Overholt
Mr. Greg Overholt has been selected as the Bronze Business Winner of the RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for Undergraduates. He is currently working towards a Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario.
Mr. Overholt plans to combine his business and technical education to develop solutions to real-world problems and make a positive impact in the lives of others. He is currently working on an innovation called Hybrid Projections, that will allow frequent travelers/presenters the ability to be more effective, efficient, and professional, and help Canada create a strong presence in the global marketplace. Mr. Overholt credits this scholarship for giving him “significant personal motivation to continue to think innovatively.” He believes that by inspiring students to think creatively and take chances, this scholarship offers tangible ways to encourage and reward innovation in the Canadian economy.
Science
Mr. Craig Follett
Mr. Craig Follett has been selected as the Gold Science Winner of the RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for Undergraduates. He is currently working towards an Honours Business Administration degree and Bachelor of Engineering Science in Software Engineering at The University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario.
Upon graduation in the spring of 2008, Mr. Follett will begin work as a strategy consultant. With his passion for using technology to bring positive impacts to society, he has developed a software program called Work Hard, Play Hard. It is designed to help students aged 6 to 15 focus on academics while in front of a computer. In concert with parents and teachers, a points system will be devised, with students earning “play-hard” points for achieving academic goals. Students can use these points to buy permission to access social networking sites, games and other entertaining diversions on the computer. This innovation will help parents control what their children are doing online and teach children about discipline and time management. Mr. Follett is very thankful for the RBC scholarship, stating that winning it has been “both a thrill and a privilege.”
Ms. Amanda Thompson
Ms. Amanda Thompson has been selected as the Silver Science Winner of the RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for Undergraduates. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Her field of study is Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, with a minor in Psychology.
Ms. Thompson aims to establish a career as a director of a biotechnology or pharmaceutical company. Her goal is to better the lives of Canadians through the development of therapeutics. To that end, she is working on a Master of Business Administration, concurrent with her studies in science. Her love of chemistry and biology comes from the new discoveries she makes and the research she conducts. She is currently focused on the use of oncolytic viruses to specifically target cancer cells without damaging other cells in the body, believing that, once understood, these viruses have the potential to be used as a cancer therapeutic. Ms. Thompson “deeply appreciates” this scholarship for providing her with “the financial means to continue a meaningful education.”
Ms. Stephanie Tom
Ms. Stephanie Tom has been selected as the Bronze Science Winner of the RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for Undergraduates. She is currently working towards an Honours Arts and Science degree at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Her field of study is Biochemistry.
Ms. Tom loves the critical and creative thinking that go into scientific research. She plans to combine her skills in research with overseas studies in infectious diseases and tropical medicine, placing a special focus on vulnerable populations. She is currently looking to develop a handheld device that can quickly detect the causes of infections and provide physicians with useful diagnostic information. This innovation is especially important to rural and remote communities where there is limited availability of laboratory equipment. Ms. Tom feels that quick diagnosis of bacterial infections can help minimize the detrimental health effects that such infections have on patients with chronic illnesses, like HIV/AIDS. Eventually, Ms. Tom plans a return to academia where she can teach and continue working as a researcher. She is thankful for the award and greatly appreciates having the creative processes involved in her work “recognized and encouraged through this scholarship opportunity.”
Visual Arts
Ms. Janice Joo
Ms. Janice Joo has been selected as the Gold Arts Winner of the RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for Undergraduates. She is currently working towards an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences degree at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
Ms. Joo plans a career as a pediatrician. She aims to work at a Canadian children’s hospital, and, eventually, pursue a clinical teaching position. Her studies in health sciences have shown her the importance of teamwork in achieving the common goal of helping people in need. In addition to her career goals, she plans to be part of the team that will develop her innovation: an artistic teaching and learning tool that will allow scientists to express their creative ideas through 3-D animation. This tool will display the effects of disease on the human body, helping the general public better understand the root causes of common diseases. It will also give students a greater understanding of the science behind disease mechanisms and inspire younger generations to explore science as a career. Because of this scholarship, Ms. Joo feels “empowered to take this idea, and any other future idea, to the next level.”
Ms. Heather Smith
Ms. Heather Smith has been selected as the Silver Arts Winner of the RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for Undergraduates. She is currently working towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the Alberta College of Art & Design in Calgary, Alberta. Drawing is the major focus of her studies.
Ms. Smith is currently planning a career in freelance illustrating and possibly teaching. In addition to her work as a professional illustrator, she plans to work independently on her own projects. She loves her chosen field because of its endless ability to evolve. With her personal and professional pursuits, she hopes to “provoke a larger appreciation for images in a media-saturated culture.” Ms. Smith is “sincerely thankful” for the scholarship and the “positive opportunities for herself and other undergraduate students” that this award represents.
Ms. Meghan Scott
Ms. Meghan Scott has been selected as the Bronze Arts Winner of the RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for Undergraduates. She is currently working towards an Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Visual Arts at York University in Toronto, Ontario.
Ms. Scott believes strongly in the importance of visual arts in society and loves creating works of art that reflect her own experiences and viewpoint. She plans to introduce a new artistic movement that applies Super Realism and appropriation – the use of borrowed elements to create new work - to make people aware of the visual culture that surrounds them. Ms. Scott aims to encourage people to think critically about visual culture, and gain an appreciation of the artistic influence behind the images they see everyday. She plans to work full-time as an artist, travelling the nation to share her innovations, before returning to the academic world as a Visual Arts professor. She is “greatly honoured” to have received this scholarship and hopes other students with innovative ideas are inspired to communicate them.
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