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Area high school student tapped for prestigious national scholarship

Amelia Spacek of Aweres Township has a shot at receiving a Loran Award, which provides up to $100,000 in post-secondary funding for exceptional students with leadership potential
2021-02-20-AmeliaSpacekJH01
Amelia Spacek from Aweres Township has been tapped as a finalist for the Loran Award, which could provide the 17-year-old École secondaire Notre-Dame-du-Sault student with a scholarship of up to $100,000 over four years for undergraduate studies in Canada.

A 17-year-old high school student from Aweres Township could receive more than a little help with her engineering-based post-secondary education goals after being tapped as a finalist for a prestigious national scholarship worth up to $100,000. 

Amelia Spacek, a student at École secondaire Notre-Dame-du-Sault, has been chosen as one of 72 finalists for a Loran Award, a scholarship opportunity that's offered through the Loran Scholars Foundation. More than 6,000 students across Canada applied for the awards.  

Spacek says she was expecting a call from the national organization, but wasn’t expecting to be selected as a finalist. 

“It was such an honour just to have made it that far,” she said. “I was pretty happy when they called me.”

The Loran Scholars Foundation has the distinction of being the first national organization in Canada to grant undergraduate awards based on a mix of academic achievement, extracurricular activity and leadership potential. 

Spacek fits that bill and then some, having participated in the Algoma Rotary Science Fair, the VEX Robotics program, as well as local bridge-building and math competitions in Sault Ste. Marie. 

She has also volunteered her time to the Professional Engineers of Ontario for its bridge building events and National Engineering Month activities at Station Mall. 

On top of all that, Spacek is known to volunteer her time at Clean North, Algoma Trad and ARCH Hospice, where she plays the piano for residents. 

The grade 12 student has applied to engineering programs at the University of Toronto, McMaster University in Hamilton, Ottawa University and the University of New Brunswick in order to pursue a science and technology-related career.  

“I’ve been involved in robotics, bridge building and a lot of technology and science-related activities, and that’s what I’m really passionate about, and that’s what I love,” said Spacek. “I’m going to study engineering and I hope to be involved with some innovative projects - and then come back to work in northern Ontario.”

“I love it here, and it’s beautiful. I love camping in the provincial parks. It’s great.”

The Loran Scholars Foundation will grant up to 36 Loran Awards this year, which includes annual stipends, tuition waivers from a partner university, one-on-one mentorship, funding for summer experiences, in addition to annual retreats and forums. If she’s not selected as a Loran Scholar, Spacek will still be eligible to receive a $5,000 finalist award.

Spacek credits her family, friends, educators and the local engineering community for shaping her into the person she is today. 

“Everyone I’ve spoken to is very proud. My family is proud of me, and so are my teachers,” she said.  “I’m so thankful for all the support that my teachers, my sports coaches and my friends and family, and the engineering community.”

The virtual national selections will take place over three weeks in February and March.


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James Hopkin

About the Author: James Hopkin

James Hopkin is a reporter for SooToday in Sault Ste. Marie
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