Korah student, robotics wiz, to join other teens for Canada-wide, virtual event

Having already made his mark in robotics with a bright future ahead of him, Shail Giroux, a Korah Collegiate Grade 11 student, has been chosen to participate with a select group of high school students across the country in Shad Canada’s virtual ShadOnline 2021 program this summer.

Normally, Shad Canada students take part in a 27-day program at a Canadian university in classrooms, labs and in hands-on learning.

There, inspired by keynote speakers, students are given a problem to work on, brainstorming with each other, mentored by university instructors and professionals in several fields (such as robotics and environmental science), and formulate a solution to a real world, global problem.

Due to COVID-19, ShadOnline 2021 will be held virtually from July 5 to 30, students participating in synchronous, real-time sessions.

There will be 16 online campuses involved in the program this year.

“I would love to do something that makes an impact on the world,” Shail said, speaking to SooToday.

“If we were to go away (and attend Shad 2021 in person), I’d choose University of Calgary because it’s a beautiful area of Canada, or UBC, somewhere far away to experience a different area.”

Shail, while attending Korah, is also an International Baccalaureate (IB) student. This worldwide education program established to give students the chance to receive an education fit for a globalizing world, designed to give participating students an edge in their intellectual, emotional, personal and social skills.

Korah Collegiate is a member school within the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

Being an IB grad gives participating students a second diploma, and an edge when applying to universities. 

The annual Shad program is tough to get into, accepting only 1,000 students from across Canada every year.

“We are very proud of him and so excited for him, especially because I wasn’t sure they were going to run the program. They had to cancel it last summer (due to COVID-19),” said Kathryn Johnstone, Korah Collegiate-based IB diploma program coordinator who assisted Shail through the Shad Canada application process.

“Two years ago we had an IB student (who attended a Shad program) and is now in engineering, and in 2014 I taught two very bright young girls who also went. We had two students go one summer. One of them’s now in second year med school and another one works in international business, so these students all go on to great, amazing careers,” Johnstone said.

But back to Shail. 

He serves on the Korah Student Senate, was on the Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club racing team, teaches cross country skiing to children, has volunteered with the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie and loves flying his drone.

He has been involved in VEX robotic competitions since he was in Grade 6.

He and his competition partner were the 2019 VEX Ontario robotics provincial champions, and he has attended the world championship three times.

Shail said he enjoys robotics competitions because “I like challenge, dedication and competition,” stating he plans to go into robotics or business (banking or economics) as a career.

“It (VEX Robotics and taking part in ShadOnline 2021) highlights the important aspects I feel I should know going into the workforce, going into postsecondary schooling. In conjunction with IB it brings out hard work, intelligence, dedication and core learning skills,” Shail said.

The Shad program has been known to help young people form an alumni of lasting friendships, with over 19,000 Shad alumni to date.

And you’re probably wondering where does the name ‘Shad’ come from?

It’s not an acronym, “but actually named after a fish that was found in Shad Creek near Aurora (Ontario),” wrote Jennifer Ross, Shad Canada marketing and communications director in an email.

Shad Canada was once called Shad Valley, based out of Aurora and established in 1981, its head office now in Waterloo.

More details of ShadOnline 2021 will be revealed to participating students closer to the time of the virtual event.