Wilfrid Laurier University will welcome 64 Grade 10 and 11 students from across Canada – and one from the United States – from July 5 to 30 as part of the inaugural Shad Laurier program, which aims to build high-potential high school students’ skills and knowledge in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM), as well as entrepreneurship.

Laurier is one of 16 Canadian universities participating this year after becoming a Shad Canada university partner in 2019. About 1,000 high school students from coast to coast, and some from abroad, will take part in virtual workshops, lectures, panel discussions, group work and virtual field trips over 20 days through both their assigned university and Shad Canada.

“For me, Shad was an intellectually stimulating and challenging program, but also an environment where we got to meet and work with fellow students from across the country. I am very excited that we are able to create that experience for students here at Laurier and am exceptionally proud of the program the team has put together,” said Kenneth Maly, vice dean of Laurier’s Faculty of Science, Shad alumnus and co-chair of the Shad Laurier steering committee.

Shad Laurier students will work in groups to study and discuss a real-world problem, which will be announced across the country on the second day of the Shad program. Students will learn from Laurier professors working across disciplines to better understand the topic from a variety of angles and perspectives. At the end of the 20-day program, students will present solutions to the problem in front of a panel of expert judges.