The President’s Scholarship for World Leaders
The President’s Scholarship for World Leaders is awarded to international students who are entering any of the University’s divisions for the first time – Undergraduate, Graduate, Collegiate, Professional, Applied and Continuing Education (PACE) or English Language Program (ELP). Award recipients are involved in activities that demonstrate leadership and have a minimum admission average of 80%. The award is valued at $5,000.
2020-21 Award Recipient
Jude Obidiagha – Applied Economics
As with students all over the world, one of the biggest hurdles graduates students usually encounter, especially students from developing countries, is finance and that is what this scholarship provided for me. The scholarship afforded me the opportunity to be less anxious about financial concerns and to focus solely on my academics. It also availed me the opportunity to take up community and volunteer opportunities with organizations like CancerCare Manitoba. These community and volunteering engagements have also broadened my horizon. I really want to thank the University of Winnipeg and the entire scholarship committee for taking a chance on me and allowing me the opportunity to live the dream of tomorrow.
My advice to current graduate students is to first and foremost, focus on their studies and also bear in mind that grad school also extends beyond intricately planned teaching curriculum to our relationship with classmates and the outside world. Enrich yourself with experience. Don’t be afraid to take up one or two community or volunteer experiences, join programs that build your leadership experience. Develop friendship based on similar values and interests. And finally, continue to dream big, imagine, and just go for it!
2021-22 Award Recipients
Uchechukwu Ebo – Applied Economics
I am currently a second-year M.Sc. student in the Bioscience, Technology, and Public Policy program. My project examines how climate change is altering aquatic ecosystems, specifically how carbon dioxide influences behaviour and physiology of juvenile salmonids. While out in the field collecting data for my project, I was notified that I was a recipient of the Research Manitoba Master’s Studentships. At the time I felt very relieved that I now had some financial help going forward with the project. With this knowledge, it was one less thing on my mind and I was really able to throw myself fully into data collection. Going forward this funding will allow me to focuses on analyzing my data and writing up my thesis. I would like to acknowledge and thank my supervisor, Dr. Caleb Hasler, for pushing me to apply and for helping me with the application process. This upcoming year I am most excited to finally meet and collaborate with other grad students within the program.
Rushil Goomer – Applied Computer Science & Society
Receiving The Presidential Scholarship for World Leaders for my graduate studies and research in the field of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Winnipeg is indeed an honour for me. The scholarship has made it possible for me to attend the school of Applied Computer Science and Society, especially during this Covid 19 pandemic. Being a foreign student adds a lot of economical burden on an individual, but scholarships like these not only relieve us financially but also motivate us to excel in our field of study.
During my undergrad, I understood the importance of having a good mentor and the key role they play in molding students’ lives. This was a driving force for me to start a mentoring series in the club that I led to guide fellow students. These experiences made me firmly believe in sharing my knowledge and experiences with those who seek to learn. In the spirit of this scholarship, I hope to build a culture of sharing knowledge and learning together.
I sincerely thank the committee for selecting my application and my thesis supervisor Professor Sheela Rammana for her guidance and support. I believe that my graduate studies at the University of Winnipeg would place me in a position to receive the finest possible training in the field of AI and that I will be able to contribute positively to the university’s research goals.
Arnold Osei – Applied Computer Science & Society
I would like to thank the selection committee for giving me this award. Being a graduate student in ACS is a lot of hard work, and awards like this help to ease the burden of having to think about one’s finances, in addition to academic work.
I believe this award is a tribute to some of my leadership and volunteering work back at home, especially with regards to helping people use Information Technology equipment effectively for better productivity, and to the people whose lives were touched in one way or another by these activities.
I want to thank my supervisor, Prof. Talal Halabi, for his immeasurable support in facilitating my journey to the University of Winnipeg, and also for allowing me to do research with him.
I would also like to thank my parents and friends back at home who have always been strong constant pillars to rely on through thick and thin.
I am looking forward now to continuing my research in enhanced intrusion detection systems for IoT networks using machine learning here at the University of Winnipeg with my supervisors Prof. Halabi and Prof. Al Mtawa (Both in the ACS department), finishing up my course related work, and getting to meet people in our friendly community here on campus for refreshing experiences!