2025 Schulich Leaders grateful for ‘life-changing’ scholarship to study STEM at U of T

Oct 24, 2025

two students side by side — *Vishwa Dave (left) and Hudson Jantzi both received a 2025 Schulich Leader Scholarship.*

Finding out she was a Schulich Leader was a ‘life-changing’ moment for Vishwa Dave. The computer science student was about to graduate from Stouffville District Secondary School in Stouffville, Ont., when the e-mail arrived confirming she had been awarded the prestigious scholarship at the University of Toronto.

Shaking with excitement and not quite believing what she had just read, she forwarded the e-mail to her father. He immediately called (with her mother and grandmother also on the line) to confirm it was indeed real and congratulate her. “It was a really joyful moment for all of us,” says Dave. “My first instinct was to tell the people that had helped and supported me on the way. It was honestly a life changing moment.”

A distinguished network of scholars

Dave is one of 10 students entering U of T and one of 100 students across the country to receive a 2025 Schulich Leader Scholarship, awarded annually to scholars entering a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program across 20 partner universities.

Valued at $100,000 each for science, technology and mathematics students and $120,000 each for engineering students, the scholarship covers the entire cost of an undergraduate education.

As well as the financial piece, Dave says being part of such a distinguished network is also invaluable. She’s already met a few of this year’s scholars in her classes and has been contacted by previous Schulich winners who have offered guidance and support. “It is just a really welcoming community and all the resources we have are great,” she says.

A life of giving back

Seymour Schulich got his own head start with a scholarship, allowing him to graduate from McGill University’s first-ever MBA class in 1965. He has spent his life giving back and investing in future leaders. “True meaning doesn’t come from success alone,” he says. “It comes from making a difference and being of service to the next generation.”

Read more of Schulich’s life lessons and strategies in Get Even Smarter, an addendum to his best-selling 2006 book Get Smarter.

Dave was introduced to computer science in Grade 10 and developed a love for programming and robotics. She took part in an international competition known as FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) in a nearby community, which led to starting a female-led robotics team at her school called the Erudites. She helped lead them to victory at the next FRC.

*Dave runs some quick tests on the code for her team’s robot at a 2025 FRC event where her team took first place.*

“We ended up winning the rookie award, which was really rewarding because it was like our hard work was paying off. And then in the second event, we ended up winning the event itself and getting first place.”

Dave is thrilled to continue her passion for STEM by studying computer science at U of T and is interested in learning more about how the field intersects with other domains. She adds none of this would be possible without the generosity of the donors.

“I’m very grateful for this opportunity because it has opened so many doors. And just being welcomed into such a wonderful community, I don’t think there’s words to encapsulate how much it means to me,” says Dave.

A strong engineering program made U of T the top choice for Hudson Jantzi

Hudson Jantzi’s strength in STEM and passion for robotics had already earned him top prize at the Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF). It also earned him not one, but four Schulich Leader Scholarships at universities across the country, including U of T.

For Jantzi, who was captain of his robotics team at Elmira District Secondary School in Elmira, Ont., selecting U of T was the obvious choice.

“I chose U of T because it had the strongest engineering program of them all,” says Jantzi, who is now studying Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE). “U of T life also just seemed pretty awesome.”

*Jantzi solders a circuit board for his First Robotics Team.*

Jantzi first became interested in engineering and robotics in Grade 10, where he came up with a solution to a common problem – removing pesky dandelions from lawns. Jantzi developed a robot that would use cameras to detect and remove the invasive plant species without chemicals. He went on to win gold at CWSF in 2022 and has since patented the invention.

He wants to continue to develop solutions to real-world problems by working in robotics or big tech in the future and knows he is in the right place to do it. “I’m sure the education I get at U of T will be valuable and I’ll be able to succeed,” says Jantzi, who is also interested in the role artificial intelligence (AI) will play in the field.

He is grateful to the donors for providing him with an opportunity to study what he loves at such a distinguished university.

“I just want to say thank you so much. It’s enabled me to achieve things I never thought I could achieve. It is going to make a big difference in my future,” says Jantzi, who is also grateful to be part of the network of Schulich leaders.

“It connects you with all sorts of other engineers, entrepreneurs and people in STEM with some of the same goals and missions to me, which is awesome.”

Scholarships give students a head start in STEM

The Schulich Leader Scholarships were developed by philanthropist and Canadian businessman Seymour Schulich in 2012.

“This is an unparalleled opportunity for students to invest in their future at the top university in Canada,” says U of T President Melanie Woodin. “We are extremely grateful to Seymour Schulich and the Schulich Foundation for giving these bright young minds a head start as our country’s next generation of leaders in the STEM disciplines.”

Sandy Welsh, U of T’s vice-provost, students says the scholarships remove financial barriers, provide invaluable networking opportunities and set up the next generation of innovators for success.

“We have already seen the contributions Schulich scholars have made in STEM disciplines across Canada and beyond. I am confident all the 2025 Schulich Leaders will go on to make a real difference in their chosen fields and make U of T proud.”

U of T’s 2025 Schulich Leaders also include:

Aarav Kohli, Arts & Science, Computer Science, from Ancaster, Ont.

Chloe Quine, Arts & Science, Mathematics & Physical Sciences, from Mackey, Ont.

Vincent Tianze Qu, Arts & Science, Computer Science, from Aurora, Ont.

Keerthi Mamidi, Arts & Science, Computer Science, from Whitby, Ont.

William Yixi Xu, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, Engineering Science, from Dundas, Ont.

Ibrahim Khawar, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, Engineering Science, from Oakville, Ont.

Jacob Allan, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, Engineering Science, from Wolfe Island, Ont.

Nolan Cheung, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, Materials Engineering, from West Vancouver, B.C.