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Ashton Grigg and Vardaan Malhotra have been named the University of New Brunswick’s recipients of the prestigious Schulich Leader Scholarship. Out of a pool of more than 300,000 potential candidates across Canada, 1,400 students were nominated, of which 50 received this celebrated award.

Mr. Malhotra, 18, is a recipient of the $100,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship. A graduate of Fredericton High School, Mr. Malhotra will be entering the Bachelor of Science in Engineering program this fall. Mr. Malhotra served as student council president, created an entrepreneurial food program to reduce food waste, earned provincial recognition for an essay on self-awareness and cultural inheritance as well as a second provincial award for developing a STEM product that demonstrated the power of sound on matter and its effects on health. Athletically, he was heavily involved in a number of sports, including cross country running, where he was a member of the varsity team.

Ms. Grigg, 18, is a recipient of the $80,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship. A Westisle Composite High School graduate from Tyne Valley, P.E.I., she will be entering the university’s Bachelor of Science program. Ms. Grigg was selected for her outstanding extracurricular involvement and strong academic performance. She served on Student Council, provided leadership in many areas of the school and led an initiative to reduce excessive bus times in her district. She also led a fund-raising Teddy Bear drive for the pediatric ward of her local hospital, which earned her a provincial Inspire Award. Further, she played in a number of sports, including soccer, basketball, badminton and hockey and earned numerous academic awards.

“Schulich Leader Scholarships are the largest STEM scholarships in Canada. With 50 outstanding students selected in Canada each year it is all but guaranteed that this group represents the best and brightest Canada has to offer. These students will make great contributions to society, both on a national and global scale. With their university expenses covered, they can focus their time on their studies, research projects, extracurriculars, and entrepreneurial ventures. They are the next generation of technology innovators,” says program founder Seymour Schulich.

About Schulich Leader Scholarships Canada

Schulich Leader Scholarships are prestigious entrance scholarships awarded to 50 high school graduates enrolling in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) undergraduate program at 20 partner universities in Canada. Each year, every high school in Canada can submit one Schulich Leader Nominee based on academic excellence in STEM, entrepreneurial leadership and financial need.

Recognizing the increasing importance and impact that STEM disciplines will have on the prosperity of future generations, businessman and philanthropist Seymour Schulich established this $100 million scholarship fund in 2012 to encourage our best and brightest students to become the next pioneers of global scientific research and innovation.

About the University of New Brunswick

The University of New Brunswick (UNB) is one of Canada’s oldest English-language universities and one of the first public universities established in North America. Founded in 1785, the multi-campus institution is home to over 60 research centres and institutes, groups and ongoing projects. The university offers over 75 undergraduate and graduate programs in 100 disciplines. UNB has over 10,500 students from more than 100 countries, and several thousand more take UNB courses online and at partner institutions around the world.

Visit schulichleaders.com for further information.

For media inquiries contact:

• Kelsey Pye, k.pye@unb.ca, 506-453-4508
• David Goodman, dgoodman@schulichfoundation.org, 416-480-6485
• Dara Newton, dnewton@uja.schulichleaders.com, 416-480-6492