A graduating student from Treherne Collegiate is the recipient of a prestigious scholarship.

Shayna Timmerman has been selected to receive an $80,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship to pursue studies in Science at the University of Manitoba. The 18-year-old maintained a 97% academic average in her graduating year at Treherne Collegiate. She is the first nominee ever to earn one of the prestigious scholarships at Treherne Collegiate and the second-ever in the Prairie Spirit School Division.

“It's a huge honour because not many people get this opportunity. I'm very lucky,” Timmerman says. “I'm also very relieved because it covers my schooling, which opens up tons of opportunities. I just want to thank everyone who supported and challenged me because they helped me get to where I am today and the person I am.”

She plans to complete the U of M pre-optometry program before furthering her studies at the University of Waterloo.

“I was interested in optometry after I did a job shadow,” explains Timmerman. “It allows me to help people and I think it would be an honour to enhance someone's vision. It just really fit my personality cause I can interact with people, work independently as well as in a team. It just seemed like a really cool job to me.”

Timmerman was one of 50 people among 1,300 applicants across Canada who were vying for a Schulich Leader Scholarship. The program recognizes high school graduates enrolling in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) undergraduate programs at participating universities in Canada and Israel.

“Recipients are the best and brightest STEM students in Canada,” says Seymour Schulich, a businessman and philanthropist who established this $100-million scholarship fund in 2012 to encourage the best and brightest students to the next pioneers of global scientific research and innovation. “I truly believe that many of these students will make great contributions to society, both on a national and global scale.”