The Shad Laurier program wraps on July 29, following a month of 56 Grade 10 and 11 students from across Canada taking up residence at Wilfrid Laurier University’s Waterloo campus to participate in collaborative science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) programming to find solutions to real-world problems.  

Using the skills learned in workshops, lectures, and hands-on exercises throughout the month, Shad students worked together in design teams to pitch products or services to address the program theme of wellness.  

Rachel, a Grade 10 student, values the entrepreneurship-based learning throughout the program. Her favourite talk so far was a venture panel of Laurier alumni who began a start-up called AquaSONG and explained their trial-and-error process.  

“A lot of the information we’re learning about entrepreneurship isn’t really taught this in-depth in high school,” said Rachel. “Our design groups are full of students with different skills in many different topics, but we’re all learning useful skills in entrepreneurship.”