GP Comp grad Shubh Patel has earned an $80,000 scholarship from the Schulich Foundation for his academic excellence and leadership in the school community (Photo: Shubh Patel / Facebook)

By Shane Clausing

Schulich Leader Scholarship

GP Comp student Patel earns major national scholarship

Apr 30, 2020 | 4:53 PM

A Grande Prairie Composite High School student has earned himself a prestigious national scholarship for his outstanding academic achievements.

Shubh Patel has been awarded a Schulich Leader Scholarship worth a total of $80,000, which he will be using to study science at the University of Calgary.

The scholarship is awarded through the Schulich Foundation’s scholarship fund, which was created by Canadian philanthropist and businessman Seymour Schulich in 2012. The fund was created to deliver $100+ million in scholarships to Canada’s top students who are pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

“Schulich Leader Scholarships are the premiere STEM scholarship program in Canada and the world. With 100 outstanding students selected in Canada this year, it is all but guaranteed that this group will represent the best and brightest Canada has to offer,” said Schulich, in a release. “These future leaders will make great contributions to society, both on a national and global scale.”

Each high school in Canada gets to nominate one student every year. An average of 1,500 students are nominated for the award, which is then usually whittled down to 50 award winners each year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased need for many of these students to receive financial assistance, the scholarship was awarded to 100 students for this year.

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Patel was nominated by one of his teachers, Darren Foley. In his nomination, Foley compared Patel’s academic prowess to some elite athletes.

“Shubh is an exceptional student, I have often referred to him as a ‘generational student’,” said Foley. “Being a sports fan, I have compared his academic and community involvement to the skill set that Connor McDavid brings to the ice in hockey or a Lebron James to the court in basketball.”

“Shubh is an exceptional talent, an exceptional person in many ways that you want all students to aspire and emulate. He leads by example, from work ethic to perseverance, compassion to humility, and integrity to honest.”

Foley adds that Patel’s nomination wasn’t just earned through his academic achievement, but also his very active role in the school community.

“The number of initiatives he leads is staggering, including President of School Council, President of KIVA Microloaning Group, Chair of Model United Nations, President of Rotary Interact, Student Lead for 3D Children’s Society, and Lead of School First Responders. The University of Calgary is welcoming an amazing individual.”

As for Patel, he found out that he won the scholarship back on April 3. He says that he’s dreamed most of his life about winning a big scholarship.

“I’ve always dreamed of winning major scholarships like the Schulich and when I say dream, I mean I’ve actually dreamed about it, and being close to winning it. But in my dreams, I’ve actually never won it. When I got the call from the U of C on the afternoon of April 3 about how I was actually one of their recipients, I was ultimately in disbelief. It was truly a dream come true.”

Patel said that his parent’s reaction to him winning the $80,000 scholarship was quite comedic.

“As soon as I found out I ran to my parent’s bedroom and I found my dad was in a meeting from work and he told me to quiet down and stop shouting. So, then I ran downstairs and found my mom who was doing her daily yoga. When I told her the news, she didn’t really have a reaction, which I was surprised by. I later found out that all though she was really happy that I won, she was just sad that I would be leaving Grande Prairie for the University of Calgary and that she wouldn’t be able to see me as often.”

Patel tells EverythingGP that he submitted an application to the University of Calgary, University of Queens and University of Saskatchewan. He adds that the University of Calgary was his top choice.

Patel says that he’s always been a good student, but his grades really took off in Grade 7 when he focused more on school and becoming more involved in school activities. He says it’s all about having the right mindset.

Patel is enrolling at the University of Calgary this September. He will be taking a Bachelor of Science Honours with a major in biochemistry.

“I chose this program because over last summer, I had the fortunate opportunity to be apart of the Heritage Youth Researcher Summer Program, which is essentially the bio medical program at the University of Alberta,” said Patel.

“I was put into a cardiology research lab with Dr. Gary Lopaschuk, and his project and lab focused on metabolism in the heart and how by tweaking certain metabolic pathways in your body, you can cure certain disease states, such as diabetes and heart failure at critical stages. I was involved with that project and it had to do a lot with biochemistry and molecular mechanisms behind curing chronic diseases. Because of that, biochemistry really stood out for me and I thought I’d apply for that at U of C.”

Patel went on to add that in the future he would love to be apart of any cure for any chronic diseases, especially diabetes because it has run in his family before.

He wanted to give some thanks to his teachers and give some advice to those reading who want to excel in life.

“I strongly believe in Albert Schweitzer’s philosophy that, ‘Wherever you turn, you can find someone who needs you. Even if it is a little thing, do something in which there is no pay, but the privilege of doing it.’ It’s these words I live by on a daily basis and I encourage others to do the same.

“I also want to give out a huge thank you to Mr. Darren Foley who nominated me for the scholarship, and a huge thank you for all my K-12 teachers and all the work they put into us as students. And most importantly a huge thank you to my mom and dad, and a huge props to my mom who single handily raised my sister and I while my dad was traveling up to work.”

Patel becomes the second student in the last five years from Grande Prairie Composite High school to earn one of the coveted scholarships, following Heide Adham in 2017. Adham is also attending the University of Calgary.