Abigail Castellucci won first place with her essay entry. She is attending Humber College in their Design Foundation Program. This year (as we did last year as well), we asked our entrants to tell us how the global pandemic has affected their lives and their choices for their futures.
Abigail commented throughout her essay on this:
“It is no secret that over the past year and a half, the world has faced unprecedented struggles due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. The effects of the pandemic have in one way or another left its mark on all of us. For me personally, the pandemic has made me realize that sometimes the things that we deem as important, really don’t matter as much as we once believed…. If the pandemic has taught me anything, it is that your friends and family are of utmost importance. Covid-19 has also made me realize how much I miss simple luxuries. These include attending school in a classroom of students or walking into a grocery store without waiting in a lineup. I’ve realized that as much as we miss the big things in life - such as going out to fancy restaurants, or going on vacations; it’s the little things in life that really matter. Covid-19 has been an enormous wakeup call that self-preservation is of utmost importance. This pandemic has pushed our mental health to the limits.”
Please click on this link to read Abigail’s essay in its entirety: Abigail’s Essay
Maxwell (Max) Ellis was our second-place winner this year. His parents took him to Waterloo recently to begin his University adventure. As an only child, Max commented to us that he ‘was looking forward to everything’!! Max is enthusiastic about his chosen program – Astronomy and Physics.
An exerpt from Max’s essay follows: “I have several aspirations; a professor of astrophysics, a more research-based career, and contributing to the science community and pushing our knowledge beyond what it is now. Another huge goal for me is to have the opportunity to name a celestial object, like a planet or star. That said, I think that my number one, top choice would be a professor of astrophysics at Waterloo. I’d love to have this as my career because it would give me the opportunity to continue and conduct my own research, and it would also let me teach other people with the same interests and aspirations that I have, and strengthen their knowledge, the same as I will in the next few years.”
Please click on this link to read Max’s essay in its entirety: Max’s Essay
We wish each of our entrants to our Scholarship all the best in the coming years as they begin their post-secondary education. All the best to both Abigail and Max – we look forward to following you as you become successful in your chosen fields!!
Congratulations!
Deb, Kelly, Gary & James