We are proud to congratulate five members of the Shad Alumni Network on being named 2026 Loran Scholars — one of Canada’s most prestigious undergraduate awards.

Anisa Abduhamedova (Shad2025), Kate Blanchard (Shad2024), Finn Johnson (Shad2025), Kayla Okada (Shad2025), and Jin Lu Yu (Shad2025) were selected from a pool of more than 5,400 applicants across Canada.

The Loran Award recognizes exceptional young Canadians who demonstrate strength of character, a commitment to service, and outstanding leadership potential. Only 36 students were selected this year following a rigorous national selection process that included written applications, video submissions, regional interviews, and a final national selections weekend in Mississauga. Each recipient receives a four-year leadership enrichment program, mentorship, experiential learning opportunities, and financial support valued at more than $100,000.

With these five newest recipients, Shad now counts 125 Loran Scholars in its alumni network — a testament to the exceptional young people who come through our program and go on to lead with purpose.

Congratulations to Anisa, Kate, Finn, Kayla, and Jin Lu. We can’t wait to see what you do next. #ShadProud

Click on the images below to learn more about these changemakers and how they hope to make an impact on their communities.