A Burnaby Mountain Secondary grad has earned one of Canada’s biggest STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) scholarships.
Miranda Andersen was awarded an $80,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship and will study sciences at UBC starting this fall.
The 18-year-old was named the top student at her school last year as well as the top student in biology.
She also swam competitively in the Canadian swimming championships.
“These achievements, alongside her leadership in filmmaking to educate her community on environmental issues and her selection as keynote speaker for the Leadership Society of B.C., were part of her selection as a Schulich Scholar,” stated a UBC press release.
The annual Schulich scholarship program was created by Canadian business leader and philanthropist Seymour Schulich in 2011.
This year 1,300 nominees across Canada vied for 50 scholarships.
Central grad earns mcdonald’s award
A Burnaby Central Secondary grad has $10,000 to put toward her nursing studies at Langara this year thanks to a McDonald’s Employee Scholarship.
Celin Zheng was one of only six students across Canada to earn the award, which is given out annually to young, promising McDonald’s employees who demonstrate exceptional achievement in their work, academics and dedication to the community.
Zheng was an honour student throughout high school, maintaining a 3.7 GPA. She joined over a dozen different clubs, played badminton and basketball, and sang in the school’s choir – all while working 30 hours a week at a Burnaby McDonald’s, where she distinguished herself as an outstanding employee and role model, according to an award press release.
Walking for reconciliation
Burnaby school district officials will hit the streets in the spirit of reconciliation this month, and they are calling on students, parents, staff and other community members to join them.
The district is registered to participate in the Walk for Reconciliation Sunday, Sept. 24 in downtown Vancouver.
The two-kilometre walk and a Reconciliation Expo afterward are designed to bring together people of all ages, backgrounds, cultures and faiths in an effort to build better relationships with Canada’s Indigenous people.
“The act of walking and sharing our stories joins us in a commitment to create a new way forward for reconciliation,” states the event’s website.
The walk takes off from 650 Cambie St. at 9:30 a.m. and ends at Strathcona Park, where the Reconciliation Expo runs till 3 p.m. and features a series of Indigenous and multicultural performances and a keynote speech.
To join the school district at the walk, sign up at tinyurl.com/SD41signup.
For more information, visit tinyurl.com/VancouverWalk.
Do you have an item for Class Act? Send news from Burnaby schools to cnaylor@burnabynow.com.
