Sixty remarkable high school students from across
the country have descended on the University of New Brunswick’s campus in
Fredericton to embark on an exciting summer adventure.

For four weeks in July, the teens are
living in residence at UNB to attend the Shad Valley program, taking advanced
lectures on science, engineering and technology while learning how these
disciplines can be fused with entrepreneurial thinking and innovation.

The program is a unique opportunity for
students to work together in a group-oriented environment that enhances their
teamwork and leadership skills.

“Shad Valley participants at the University
of New Brunswick experience a wide range of exciting, challenging and
life-changing activities. They’re exposed to everything from building robots
that compete against each other to opportunities to visit world-renowned biomedical
engineering, nanotechnology, geomatics and other science labs,” says Dr.
Dhirendra Shukla, Shad Valley UNB program co-director and associate professor
and chair in technology management and entrepreneurship in the faculty of
engineering at UNB. “Also on the agenda are meetings with acclaimed scientists
such as Norman Whitney who received the Order of Canada for his contribution to
our nation as a UNB professor of biology, forestry and environmental
management.”

Shad Valley provides high school students
with a pre-university experience to learn about campus life right when they are
starting to make decisions about the future. Participants learn from
outstanding UNB faculty, and attend workshops and seminars led by business
leaders from the community.

Recreational activities and visits to local
cultural attractions add another dimension to the curriculum. The program
culminates in an entrepreneurship competition where students are placed in
groups to create a new product or service, write a business plan, build a
prototype and present their ideas to an industry panel.

“There is even more to Shad Valley than
classroom academics and entrepreneurship. An exciting aspect of the program is
that students learn about science while visiting some of New Brunswick’s
beautiful landscape,” says Alison Howells, Shad Valley UNB co-director and
program development officer at UNB. “We visit the iconic Hopewell Rock and hike
in Fundy National Park, a UNESCO biosphere reserve, while learning about the
world’s highest tides. Our activities promote cooperation and teambuilding, so
participants improve their group skills and problem-solving abilities.”

Participants in the not-for-profit Shad
Valley program are selected based on their high potential in the fields of
science, technology and engineering, while demonstrating strong leadership abilities
and a passion for entrepreneurship and innovation.

Selected from some 1,000 applicants, 549
were chosen this year through a process that takes into account exceptional
academic standing, as well as community involvement, volunteerism and
extracurricular activities. A financial aid package provides assistance to
successful candidates who need support towards their participant fee. Once
admitted to the program, students are assigned to one of 10 host campuses
across Canada. The experience inspires them to reach new heights of excellence as
they pursue their educational and career aspirations. 

About
Shad Valley

Celebrating 32 years of excellence in 2012,
Shad Valley provides a transformational experience that unleashes the
entrepreneurial and innovative potential of exceptional youth. Hosted in July
at 10 top universities across Canada, the Shad Valley program is an intensive
month-long enrichment program for high-potential secondary school students.
They live in campus residence and attend workshops and lectures that focus on
science, engineering, technology and entrepreneurship. They also enjoy
team-building exercises and recreational activities that create a strong sense
of community. Shad Valley’s close to 12,000 alumni are outstanding achievers
that create a strong network for program participants. More information is
available at www.shad.ca.

To arrange an interview with one of the
program co-directors or the Shad Valley students at UNB, contact Rita Parker at
rita.parker@unb.ca or 506-453-3540.

To arrange an interview with Shad Valley,
contact Lysianne Buie at 519-884-8844, ext. 234 or lysianne@shad.ca