U of T’s 2022 Schulich Leaders: harnessing technology to help Canadians
Dec 5, 2022
Photo by Ken Jones
Azlan Naeem has seen big tech changes in his lifetime. “I saw the flip phone turn into the smartphone,” he says. “I never would have thought an iPhone camera would be as good as a DSLR camera. I’ve seen change happen right in front of my eyes, and so for me, the thought that studying tech is about shaping and creating the future, is a very, very interesting thing.”
As one of 10 new recipients of a Schulich Leader Scholarship at the University of Toronto, Naeem is the face of that future. The Schulich Leaders combine skills in the STEM fields—science, technology, engineering and mathematics—with leadership experience, and they’re all energized to problem-solve for a better world.
Kai Chen, for example, has already started. As a high school student in Saskatoon, he and his friend co-founded SK Eco-Solutions, a non-profit that collected plastic bottles and recycled them into 3D printing filament.
“We were, I think, the first people in North America to do this,” he says. “We found sponsors, purchased the machine, and gave the filament away to schools in our city. When we graduated, we decided to hand over the project to our school’s environmental team, who will keep it going.”
The Schulich Leader Scholarships nurture leadership and tech innovation
The community leadership, innovation and tech know-how embodied in Chen’s story are the characteristics that define the Schulich Leaders. The four-year scholarships, valued at $80,000 for science, technology or mathematics students and $100,000 for engineering students, were founded by philanthropist Seymour Schulich through the Schulich Foundation. Starting in 2023, the values will rise to $100,000 and $120,000, respectively.
We’re so grateful to Seymour Schulich and the Schulich Foundation for the opportunities they are providing to these outstanding young learners.
“The University of Toronto is delighted to welcome our 2022 Schulich Leaders,” says Meric Gertler, president of U of T. “They are Canada’s future researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs—leaders who will make a mark on our world for the better. We’re so grateful to Seymour Schulich and the Schulich Foundation for the opportunities they are providing to these outstanding young learners.”
We’re so grateful to Seymour Schulich and the Schulich Foundation for the opportunities they are providing to these outstanding young learners.
Seymour Schulich made his entrepreneurial mark in the finance and mining industries, and became one of Canada’s most generous philanthropists. Since establishing the Schulich Leaders program in 2011, he has donated $200 million to the scholarship endowment. Supporting young people is his passion and proudest achievement—and his book, Get Smarter: Life and Business Lessons, is full of mentoring advice for young entrepreneurs.
Creating opportunities and changing lives
“This scholarship completely changed my life,” says Chen, who will study mechanical engineering at U of T. “It’s a massive confidence booster, because obviously somebody believes in me. It also relieves so much financial pressure.”
He grew up in Saskatoon, near the airport, where he developed his love of aviation and even worked on a ground handling team. The Schulich support not only helped him finance the move to Toronto, but also gives him the opportunity to explore U of T Engineering’s stellar suite of extracurricular opportunities related to his passion, like the aerospace team.
“This opportunity is just so surreal,” agrees Naeem, who is enrolled in computer science. “It’s kickstarted my career right out of the gate. It’s amazing of donors like Mr. Schulich to motivate the younger generation like this. We are the people who are going to carry on your legacy. If you give us a chance, it will make incredible changes in the world.”
It’s amazing of donors like Mr. Schulich to motivate the younger generation like this. If you give us a chance, it will make incredible changes in the world.
Naeem, for example, was a founding member of several clubs at his high school, including the STEM focused robotics and programming clubs. He’ll bring this leadership drive into his career, which he hopes will include postgraduate research and entrepreneurship.
It’s amazing of donors like Mr. Schulich to motivate the younger generation like this. If you give us a chance, it will make incredible changes in the world.
“The scope of the Schulich Leader Scholarship is both visionary and generous,” says Sandy Welsh, the university’s Vice-Provost, Students. “Including both financial support and membership in the growing Schulich Leaders Network of successful alumni, this program ensures students the opportunity to fully realize their potential for leadership, community and innovation. U of T is sincerely grateful to Mr. Schulich for supporting our incredible students.”
Meet the 2022 University of Toronto Schulich Leaders
Mahjabeen Ali, Computer Engineering
An active volunteer and a youth council leader at her local community centre, Mahjabeen Ali is a graduate of a STEM-focused high school, the Scarborough Academy of Technological, Environmental, and Computer Sciences @ W. A. Porter Collegiate Institute.
Lauren Altomare, Engineering Science
Torontonian Lauren Altomare comes to U of T with big dreams to help people with mental illness. Planning to specialize in biomedical engineering and artificial intelligence, she hopes to combine the two to launch an innovative startup that uses AI tech to treat and prevent mental illnesses.
Sheryl Buttar, Computer Science
Active in Air Cadets, debate, and coding, and an advocate for gender equality in STEM, Sheryl Buttar also founded a dance program for seniors. She brings this versatility to her studies in computer science at U of T Mississauga, where she also hopes to develop entrepreneurship skills and launch a startup.
Kai Chen, Mechanical Engineering
With twin passions for aviation and the environment, Kai Chen hopes to work toward sustainability and better accessibility in the aerospace industry. A former Air Cadet, he has also already co-founded an environmental nonprofit that helps schools recycle plastic bottles into 3D printing filament.
Armaandeep Dhanoa, Engineering Science
A passion for research has already led Armaandeep Dhanoa to placements at university labs, where he helped scientists investigating ways to detect skin cancer and how fertility rates affect the workforce. He’s excited to expand his potential for problem-solving at U of T, including specializing in machine learning.
Robert Firsov, General Engineering
For Robert Firsov, open-minded enthusiasm brings opportunities—from volleyball medals to captaining his school’s robotics team. With a passion for the automotive industry, he hopes to participate in U of T’s student car-design teams. And eventually, to create innovative, sustainable solutions for vehicles.
Logan MacDonald, Life Sciences
Nova Scotian Logan MacDonald chose to study at U of T because of his interest in entrepreneurship. Beginning with studies in biochemistry, he hopes to one day create a STEM startup that leverages tech innovation to solve scientific problems and improve quality of life.
Alexander Macri, Computer Science
Alexander Macri is already familiar with U of T, having attended summer science camps that nurtured his interest in research and innovation. Here, he plans to specialize in artificial intelligence, and looks forward to developing innovative AI solutions for previously unexplored applications.
Azlan Naeem, Computer Science
A deep curiosity about our world has led Azlan Naeem to explore interests from sports to music, from coding apps to raising money for his local food bank. He hopes his U of T studies, focusing on artificial intelligence, will lead him to both research and entrepreneurship.
Lucy Shen, Computer Science
Lucy Shen hopes her studies in computer science, AI and machine learning will lead to developing tech-based ways to help graduating students develop financial literacy skills. While studying, she also hopes to continue her interests in business, supporting women in STEM, and ultimate frisbee!
