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Loran believes the key to building a brighter future is empowering values-driven youth ready to embrace the challenge of leaving the world better than they found it. To find these young people, we look beyond marks to identify 36 students with a guiding sense of purpose: those who demonstrate exceptional strength of character, a deep commitment to service, and the potential to lead with integrity.

As graduating high school and Cégep students, the pursuits and accomplishments of the newest Loran Award recipients are exemplary. Still, it is their courage to push boundaries and challenge the status quo and their dedication to uplifting their communities that distinguish them as Loran Scholars.

Within the new cohort, one scholar volunteers at a helpline and serves as a member of a Nunavut-wide youth advisory committee on climate change; another is a volunteer providing interpretation services to refugees; one is a student dispatcher for the Kitimat Fire and Ambulance Service; and another is the vice president of the operations department of Opportunity, a youth-founded organization that researches opportunities for young Canadians. These are only a few examples that give us hope that Canada will thrive if we ensure such promising students are given the opportunity to imagine, explore, and create the future.

To become a Loran Scholar, each of these students participated in an in-depth, nationwide selection process carried out by hundreds of volunteer assessors and interviewers. From writing an application to regional semi-final interviews to attending National Interviews in Toronto, the entire Loran selections process is a personal growth experience—a chance for the students to learn about themselves and connect with other optimistic young changemakers.

At Loran, our mission is to find young people who approach challenges with curiosity, perseverance, and creativity, who are humble, inquisitive, and thoughtful, and who have the capacity to collaborate to drive change. We give these exceptional students a launchpad to unlock their potential and empower them to make positive change in their communities. Loran Scholars benefit from a four-year, comprehensive leadership-enrichment program, financial support, and a network of values-driven peers and mentors—unlike anything else in this country.

In addition to the Loran Award, we also recognize and provide one-time entrance awards to 54 Loran Finalists who made it to Nationals and 70 students recognized as Loran Provincial and Territorial Award recipients at the semi-final level. Overall, we will invest more than $4 million in 160 community-engaged students across Canada this year.

Since its inception 35 years ago, the Loran Scholars Foundation has provided more than $66 million in undergraduate awards to more than 3,400 promising high school and Cégep students, including 796 Loran Scholars. Together, the program’s alumni form a diverse ecosystem of values-driven leaders who accept the challenge of building a better world across an array of sectors, such as technology, the arts, law, science, education, and finance.

Loran Scholars have gone on to hold such positions as President of Doctors of the World, Country Manager for Azerbaijan at The World Bank, Assistant Professor of Critical Studies of Race & Indigeneity at the University of Toronto, Chief of Staff of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency with the Government of Canada, and CEO of Birds Canada. 

Moreover, eight Loran Scholars have gone on to clerk for the Supreme Court and 25 have been selected as Rhodes Scholars. Though their work spans a multitude of sectors and disciplines, alumni share and continue to be guided by Loran’s core values of character, service, and leadership.

Click here to learn how other Loran alumni are driving meaningful change.

Class of 2024

Kubra Ashori
St. Michael’s Adult Catholic Secondary School
Windsor, ON

Teerka Baskaran
Bayview Secondary School
Stouffville, ON

Mia Cadsby
University of Toronto Schools
Toronto, ON

Mishka Caldwell-Pichette
Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Rouyn-Noranda, QC

Émilie Charest
Cégep de Lévis
Issoudun, QC

Blake Conod
École secondaire catholique Marie-Rivier
Kingston, ON

Julien Côté
École Voyageur
Cold Lake, AB

Cianne Coutinho
Loyola Catholic Secondary School
Mississauga, ON

Hannah Daley
Citadel High School
Halifax, NS

Jakob DeGruchy
East Antigonish Education Centre/Academy
Havre Boucher, NS

Valérie GC Lalonde
École secondaire catholique de Plantagenet
St. Pascal Baylon, ON

Tristan Hall
Mount Elizabeth Middle-Secondary
Kitimat, BC

Mahrukh Hassan
Bedford Road Collegiate
Saskatoon, SK

Chloe Huang
Britannia Secondary School
Vancouver, BC

Lubna Ismail
Lord Beaverbrook High School
Calgary, AB

Shreya Jain
Maple Ridge Secondary School
Barrie, ON

Marie-Lou Latourre
Cégep Garneau
Québec, QC

Sarah Leshob
Collège André-Grasset
Montréal, QC

Sadie MacDonnell
Corner Brook Regional High School
Corner Brook, NL

Isaac MacLean
Three Oaks Senior High School
Summerside, PE

Liam McKay-Argyriou
Marion M. Graham Collegiate
Saskatoon, SK

Olivia Mendes
Sentinel Secondary School
West Vancouver, BC

Aamna Mushtaq
Princess Margaret Secondary School
Surrey, BC

Mbarouk Nassor
Cégep de Saint-Laurent
Verdun, QC

Chloe Nguyen
Sir Winston Churchill Secondary
Vancouver, BC

Baljot Rai
St. Paul’s High School
Winnipeg, MB

Sophie Robinson
Penticton Secondary School
Penticton, BC

Ashley Sabharwal
Clayton Heights Secondary
Surrey, BC

Aidan Sampson
St. Lewis Academy
St. Lewis, NL

Mark Seemann
Charlottetown Rural High School
New Glasgow, PE

Sally Smith
École Sainte-Anne
Fredericton, NB

Anne-Èva Soucy
Cégep de Sainte-Foy
Lévis, QC

Billy Truong
Bernice MacNaughton High School
Moncton, NB

Aidan Webb
Avon View High School
Windsor, NS

Kira Young
Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific
Yellowknife, NT

Katie Yu
Inuksuk High School
Iqaluit, NU

From coast to coast to coast, communities across Canada are celebrating the 2024 Loran Finalists.

Below is a selection of recent media features:

Out of a pool of over 5,200 applicants, the 90 young people selected as Loran Finalists for the class of 2024 have demonstrated their intrinsic drive to step up in the face of challenges and positively impact their communities. These students will be travelling from homes as widespread as Yellowknife, NT; Saint Lewis, NL; and Kitimat, BC when we welcome them at Loran’s National Interviews in Toronto on February 23-25, 2024 where they will have the chance to be named one of 36 Loran Scholars.

The Loran Scholars Foundation identifies students with character; those who believe in pushing boundaries by questioning the status quo, while showing compassion and a commitment to service—seeing a need and making positive change in their own communities. These young people view the world through a lens of curiosity, and have leadership qualities they may not even fully realize themselves. We look for qualities that grades alone cannot show: a breadth of interests, and deep commitment to service, the courage to make difficult decisions, and the determination to work towards long-term goals.

Loran’s reflective and thorough Selections process, carried out through the work of hundreds of volunteer assessors and interviewers, is designed to uncover this promise and leadership potential in students from the smallest towns to the largest cities across Canada. At a time when Canada is seeing a dramatic decline in volunteerism, the steadfast commitment of Loran’s nationwide network of volunteers is a testament to the recognized impact of the Foundation and the scholars it supports. For example, Loran Finalists are supporting their communities in a number of ways: 

  • Co-creating and raising funds for an after-school soccer coaching program at a local, under-resourced elementary school
  • Developing a local youth climate advocacy network after establishing an internship program focused on educating other students about Great Slave Lake
  • Selling handmade jewelry as a Ramadan fundraiser and donating the earnings to build wells in the most water-scarce regions of Pakistan
  • Establishing a pro-bono haircut service for students and teachers at his CEGEP with any donations given to the local mother-child hospital
  • Spearheading a vaccine literacy design-athon, engaging over 200+ youth participants across five countries in a dialogue about public health

We know that such promising young people have the power to change the future for the better—they just need a launchpad and opportunities to grow. This is precisely what we offer Loran Scholars: an enrichment program of leadership development and diverse learning experiences that equip them to create positive change over the course of their lifetimes.

During National interviews, we will be seeking the 36 young people who most exceptionally demonstrate strength of character, dedication to service, and leadership potential to be named the class of 2024 Loran Scholars. Each will receive a Loran Award, which comprises financial support including an annual stipend and tuition waiver; a comprehensive leadership enrichment program including a variety of summer work experiences; membership in a community of values-driven individuals, one-on-one mentoring, and annual retreats and forums.

Finalists not selected as Loran Scholars are eligible to receive a one-time $6,000 Loran Finalist Award tenable at any Canadian university. At the conclusion of our semi-final interviews, 70 students who distinguished themselves at that level received one-time $2,000 Loran Provincial/Territorial Awards. Overall, we will be investing close to $4M in 160 students across Canada this year. 

Since its inception, the Loran Scholars Foundation has provided more than $66 million in undergraduate awards to 3,300+ promising high school and CEGEP students including 647 Loran alumni. Together they form a diverse ecosystem of purpose-driven leaders pushing boundaries across an array of fields, such as technology, the arts, law, science, education and finance. Loran Scholars have gone on to hold such positions as: Executive Director of the Canadian Federation of Francophone and Acadian Communities; CEO, Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce; Research Scientist and Engineer at the NASA Ames Research Center; President & CEO, Birds Canada; and Assistant Professor, Critical Studies of Race & Indigeneity at the University of Toronto. Moreover, 8 Loran Scholars have gone on to clerk for the Supreme Court and 25 have been selected as Rhodes Scholars. Though their work spans a multitude of sectors and disciplines, alumni share and continue to be guided by Loran’s core values of character, service, and leadership.

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Media Contact

Lisa Paul, Manager, Community Engagement & Communications
lisa.paul@loranscholar.ca

2024 Loran Finalists

Calder Adams
Middleton Regional High School
South Farmington, NS

Mercy Ajibola
Nelson McIntyre Collegiate
Winnipeg, MB

Lexi Anderson-Schmidt
Stonewall Collegiate Institute
Stonewall, MB

Paniz Arbabi
École secondaire publique Gisèle-Lalonde
Ottawa, ON

Kubra Ashori
St. Michael’s Adult Catholic Secondary School
Windsor, ON

Teerka Baskaran
Bayview Secondary School
Stouffville, ON

Anita Bedi
École secondaire publique L’Héritage
Cornwall, ON

Juliette Benoît
Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific
L’Assomption, QC

Delice Betukumesu
Dawson College
Saint-Constant, QC

Maxence Bois
Cégep de Lévis
Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse, QC

Arihant Boli
Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School
Brampton, ON

Laurent Bourget
École secondaire catholique Paul-Desmarais
Ottawa, ON

Ciara Browne
Princess Margaret Secondary School
Penticton, BC

Mia Cadsby
University of Toronto Schools
Toronto, ON

Mishka Caldwell-Pichette
Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Rouyn-Noranda, QC

Emilie Charest
Cégep de Lévis
Issoudun, QC

Jaden Chiang
St. Augustine Catholic High School
Unionville, ON

Thomas Cho
St. Malachy’s Memorial High School
Saint John, NB

Blake Conod
École secondaire catholique Marie-Rivier
Kingston, ON

Julien Côté
École Voyageur
Cold Lake, AB

Cianne Coutinho
Loyola Catholic Secondary School
Mississauga, ON

Hannah Daley
Citadel High School
Halifax, NS

Jakob DeGruchy
East Antigonish Education Centre/Academy
Havre Boucher, NS

Pavi Dhiman
Turner Fenton Secondary School
Brampton, ON

Lucy Duncan
Bear Creek Secondary School
Barrie, ON

Nami Dwyer
Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy
Canmore, AB

Reanna Ellis
Cardinal Leger Secondary School
Brampton, ON

Saniyah Farzeen
Don Mills Collegiate Institute
Toronto, ON

Valérie GC Lalonde
École secondaire catholique de Plantagenet
St. Pascal Baylon, ON

Kyla Gillani
William Aberhart High School
Calgary, AB

Tristan Hall
Mount Elizabeth Middle-Secondary
Kitimat, BC

Mahrukh Hassan
Bedford Road Collegiate
Saskatoon, SK

Zainab Hedayati
Bedford Road Collegiate
Saskatoon, SK

Chloe Huang
Britannia Secondary School
Vancouver, BC

Lubna Ismail
Lord Beaverbrook High School
Calgary, AB

Zyva Jaffer
Milton District High School
Milton, ON

Shreya Jain
Maple Ridge Secondary School
Barrie, ON

Felix Jeong
Eden High School
St. Catharines, ON

Clay Johnson
Wellington Secondary School
Nanaimo, BC

Noah Karmali
Westmount Charter School
Calgary, AB

Samantha Kieyele
École secondaire Mosaïque
Dartmouth, NS

Caedmon Kovacs
Clayton Heights Secondary
Langley, BC

Siya Lakra
Bishop Carroll High School
Calgary, AB

Lauranne Lallemant
Collège Lionel-Groulx
Mirabel, QC

Mila Latinovich
Hillfield Strathallan College
Burlington, ON

Marie-Lou Latourre
Cégep Garneau
Québec, QC

Mireille Lemoine
Collège régional Gabrielle-Roy
St. Agathe, MB

Sarah Leshob
Collège André-Grasset
Montréal, QC

Eureka Liu
North Surrey Secondary
Surrey, BC

Ethan Lyric
Glenlawn Collegiate
Winnipeg, MB

Sadie MacDonnell
Corner Brook Regional High School
Corner Brook, NL

Isaac MacLean
Three Oaks Senior High School
Summerside, PE

Tisiane Magniga Wembou
École secondaire catholique Saint-Charles-Garnier
Oshawa, ON

Nayis Majumder
H. J. Cambie Secondary School
Richmond, BC

Charlie McEwen
Halifax Grammar School
Halifax, NS

Liam McKay-Argyriou
Marion M. Graham Collegiate
Saskatoon, SK

Olivia Mendes
Sentinel Secondary School
West Vancouver, BC

Ahmed Mohamed
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School
Sudbury, ON

Hannah Moores
Exploits Valley High
Grand Falls-Windsor, NL

Emi Morse
Central Kings Rural High School
Coldbrook, NS

Aamna Mushtaq
Princess Margaret Secondary School
Surrey, BC

Mbarouk Nassor
Cégep de Saint-Laurent
Verdun, QC

Reenaz Nawar
Port Moody Secondary
Port Moody, BC

Danella Nduwayo
Glebe Collegiate Institute
Ottawa, ON

Keegan Newnham-Boyd
F. H. Collins Secondary School
Whitehorse, YT

Chloe Nguyen
Sir Winston Churchill Secondary
Vancouver, BC

Olaitan Olajide
St. Mary’s High School
Kitchener, ON

Jada Overmars
Ernest Manning High School
Calgary, AB

Olivia Parsons
Highland Secondary School
Comox, BC

Baljot Rai
St. Paul’s High School
Winnipeg, MB

Paolo Ramelli
Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School
Hamilton, ON

Sophie Robinson
Penticton Secondary School
Penticton, BC

Elizabeth Rose
Victoria High School
Victoria, BC

Masha Rudak
John Abbott College
Pointe-Claire, QC

Ashley Sabharwal
Clayton Heights Secondary
Surrey, BC

Aidan Sampson
St. Lewis Academy
St. Lewis, NL

Mark Seemann
Charlottetown Rural High School
New Glasgow, PE

Sally Smith
École Sainte-Anne
Fredericton, NB

Anne-Èva Soucy
Cégep de Sainte-Foy
Lévis, QC

Madison Streamer
Frontier Collegiate Institute
Cranberry Portage, MB

Gabe Thacker
Senator Gershaw School
Bow Island, AB

Billy Truong
Bernice MacNaughton High School
Moncton, NB

Emmy Wang
Thomas Haney Secondary School
Maple Ridge, BC

Aidan Webb
Avon View High School
Windsor, NS

Abby Welshman
Corner Brook Regional High School
Mount Moriah, NL

Brandon Wu
Vancouver Technical Secondary
Vancouver, BC

George Xie
Lillian Osborne High School
Edmonton, AB

Kira Young
Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific
Yellowknife, NT

Katie Yu
Inuksuk High School
Iqaluit, NU

Parker Zhang
Walnut Grove Secondary School
Langley, BC

2019 Cronin Loran Scholar, Taron Topham, is the fourth Loran Scholar in three years to earn the Rhodes Scholarship, and the 25th over the last 29 years.

Originally from the small farming community of Grandview, MB, Taron Topham (’19) attended the University of Saskatchewan and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (with great distinction). He is currently a Registered Nurse working with a high acuity medicine unit at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon. 

During his time in the Loran program, Taron broadened his horizons through summer work experiences at the Offord Centre for Child Studies in Hamilton, ON as a Policy Research Intern; the Grandview Medical Clinic in Grandview, MB; Prairie Harm Reduction Services as part of the safe consumption team; and as a program team member at The Saskatoon Foodbank. While on campus, he was very involved in various roles and committees with the Saskatchewan Nursing Students’ Association. Additionally, he served as a volunteer firefighter in his rural community. 

Taron shares,
“The Loran Scholars Foundation and, now the Rhodes Trust, are opportunities to join global networks of individuals driven to make change in their communities. Loran’s investment in its scholars has pushed me to take risks that I would not have otherwise pursued. Loran’s extended community has shaped me during my time as a scholar and has continued to during my short time as an alumni. I am grateful for this opportunity through the Rhodes Trust. I would like to thank the Loran Scholars Foundation, staff, volunteers, mentors, peers, and my family for their continued support.”

Having grown up on a mixed cattle and grain farm in rural Manitoba, Taron values the importance of healthcare accessibility and equity for all. While at Oxford, he will be studying Msc. in Translational Health Sciences and Msc. in International Health and Tropical Medicine. Taron hopes to bridge gaps with the implementation of innovations and research discoveries in a multitude of healthcare settings. 

On behalf of the entire Loran community, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Taron Topham (’19) on becoming one of Canada’s newest Rhodes Scholars and we wish him all the best on this exciting new chapter of his educational journey.

Read more:

More than 80% of our alumni pursue graduate studies, many as tenants of major scholarships. Notably, 25 Loran Scholars have been awarded Rhodes scholarships over the past 28 years.

Taron Topham, 2019 Cronin Loran Scholar
University of Saskatchewan
2024 Rhodes Scholar (Prairies)

Rayene Bouzitoun, 2018 McCall MacBain Loran Scholar
University of Ottawa
2023 Rhodes Scholar (Québec)

Nicholas Harris, 2018 Ralph M. Barford Loran Scholar
University of King’s College
2022 Rhodes Scholar (Maritimes)

Aditi Sriram, 2016 Scace Loran Scholar
University of British Columbia
2022 Rhodes Scholar (British Columbia)

Patrick Hickey, 2015 Ralph M. Barford Loran Scholar
Western University
2020 Rhodes Scholar (Newfoundland)

Clare Lyle, 2014 Belzberg Loran Scholar
McGill University
2018 Rhodes Scholar (Québec)

Iain Sander, 2013 Loran Scholar
Queen’s University
2018 Rhodes Scholar (Prairies)

Claire Gummo, 2013 Applebanks Loran Scholar
Queen’s University
2017 Rhodes Scholar (Prairies)

Kaleem Hawa, 2012 BMO Loran Scholar
University of Toronto – Trinity College
2016 Rhodes Scholar (Ontario)

Sarah Burns, 2011 Ralph M. Barford Loran Scholar
Dalhousie University
2016 Rhodes Scholar (Maritimes)

Zia Saleh, 2010 W. Garfield Weston Loran Scholar
McGill University
2016 Rhodes Scholar (Alberta)

Dylan Collins, 2010 Loran Scholar
University of Victoria
2014 Rhodes Scholar (British Columbia)

Joanne Cave, 2009 W. Garfield Weston Loran Scholar
University of Toronto – Woodsworth College
2013 Rhodes Scholar (Prairies)

Sheiry Dhillon, 2008 W. Garfield Weston Loran Scholar
McMaster University
2012 Rhodes Scholar (Ontario)

Aneil Jaswal, 2007 W. Garfield Weston Loran Scholar
University of British Columbia
2011 Rhodes Scholar (British Columbia)

Kate Smolina, 2004 W. Garfield Weston Loran Scholar
University of Guelph
2008 Rhodes Scholar (Ontario)

Wojciech Gryc, 2004 W. Garfield Weston Loran Scholar
University of Toronto Scarborough
2008 Rhodes Scholar (Ontario)

Jeeshan Chowdhury, 2000 RBC Loran Scholar
University of Alberta
2006 Rhodes Scholar (Alberta)

Alexandra Conliffe, 1999 W. Garfield Weston Loran Scholar
McGill University
2004 Rhodes Scholar (Québec)

Maureen Hogan, 1998 Loran Scholar
Western University
2004 Rhodes Scholar (Newfoundland)

François Tanguay-Renaud, 1998 BMO Loran Scholar
McGill University
2002 Rhodes Scholar (Québec)

Mark Schaan, 1997 Loran Scholar
University of Waterloo
2002 Rhodes Scholar (Manitoba)

Andrea Iaboni, 1994 Loran Scholar
University of Toronto – University College
1998 Rhodes Scholar (Ontario)

Loraine Ronchi, 1993 Jostens Loran Scholar
York University
1996 Rhodes Scholar (Ontario)

Diane de Kerckhove, 1992 Loran Scholar
McGill University
1995 Rhodes Scholar (Québec)

From coast to coast to coast, communities across Canada are celebrating the Class of 2023!

Below is a selection of recent media features:

The Loran Scholars Foundation is redefining the idea of scholarships in Canada: looking beyond marks, we find and bring together community-engaged students who show strength of character and are ready to embrace the challenge of leaving the world better than they found it. As graduating high school and Cégep students, the pursuits and accomplishments of the 36 newest recipients of the Loran Award are exemplary, but it is their values-driven approach to leading and dedication to uplifting their communities that distinguish them as Loran Scholars. 

As the newest recipients of the Loran Award, these students participated in an in-depth, nationwide selection process carried out through the work of hundreds of volunteer assessors and interviewers. We look for qualities that grades alone cannot show: a breadth of interests, and deep commitment to service, the courage to make difficult decisions, and the determination to work towards long-term goals. 

Within the new cohort, one scholar founded a not-for-profit to support mental well-being; another established her First Nation community’s first youth centre; one organized a fundraiser to advocate for and raise awareness of struggles faced by Afghan women; another serves as her school board student trustee and lead astronomer at an eco-park; and one founded a science club for his local elementary students. These are but a few examples that give us hope for a future in which these emerging leaders are able to realize their potential. We know they just need support and opportunities to grow.

Loran Scholars benefit from a four-year, comprehensive leadership-enrichment program, tuition waivers and financial support, and a network of values-driven peers and mentors—unlike anything else offered in this country. We give exceptional young people a launchpad to unlock their potential and empower them to make positive change in their communities.

From writing an application to attending National Interviews in Toronto, the entire Loran selection process is a personal growth experience, in itself — a chance for the students to reflect, learn about themselves, and connect with other passionate and optimistic young changemakers. In addition to the four-year Loran Award granted to 36 students, we also recognize and provide one-time entrance awards to 54 Loran Finalists who made it to Nationals and 70 students recognized as Loran Provincial and Territorial Award recipients at the semi-final level. Overall, we will be investing close to $4 million in 150 students across Canada this year. 

Since its inception 34 years ago, the Loran Scholars Foundation has provided more than $62 million in undergraduate awards to 3,200+ promising high school and Cégep students including 757 Loran Scholars. Together, alumni of the program form a diverse ecosystem of purpose-driven leaders pushing boundaries across an array of fields, such as technology, the arts, law, science, education, and finance. Loran Scholars have gone on to hold such positions as: President, Doctors of the World; Country Manager for Azerbaijan, The World Bank; Assistant Professor, Critical Studies of Race & Indigeneity at the University of Toronto; Chief of Staff, Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency with the Government of Canada; and CEO, Birds Canada. Moreover, 8 Loran Scholars have gone on to clerk for the Supreme Court and 24 have been selected as Rhodes Scholars. Though their work spans a multitude of sectors and disciplines, alumni share and continue to be guided by Loran’s core values of character, service, and leadership.

Out of a pool of nearly 4,800 applicants, the 90 young people selected as Loran Finalists for the class of 2023 have demonstrated their drive to step up in the face of challenges and positively impact their communities. One finalist taught himself coding in order to develop an electronic medical record system for volunteers at a hospital in Haiti; another finalist and swim instructor advocated for the addition of French-language swim classes at her YMCA after recognizing the importance of preserving the French language in Manitoba; and another one established “Culinary Culture”, a culinary class for BIPOC to foster meaningful community gatherings in a post-COVID world. These students will be travelling from homes as widespread as Iqaluit, NU; New Albany, NS; and Kahnawake, QC when we welcome them at Loran’s National Interviews in Toronto on February 24-26, 2023. 

The Loran Scholars Foundation identifies students with character; those who believe in pushing boundaries by questioning the status quo, while showing compassion and a commitment to service—seeing a need and making positive change in their own communities. These young people view the world through a lens of curiosity, and have leadership qualities they may not even fully realize themselves. Loran’s reflective and thorough selections process, carried out through the work of hundreds of volunteer assessors and interviewers, is designed to uncover this promise and leadership potential in students from the smallest towns to the largest cities across Canada. We look for qualities that grades alone cannot show: a breadth of interests, and deep commitment to service, the courage to make difficult decisions, and the determination to work towards long-term goals. 

We know that such promising young people have the power to change the future for the better—they just need a launchpad and opportunities to grow. This is precisely what we offer Loran Scholars: an enrichment program of leadership development and diverse learning experiences that equip them to create positive change over the course of their lifetimes.

During National interviews, we will be seeking the 36 young people who most exceptionally demonstrate strength of character, dedication to service, and leadership potential to be named the class of 2023 Loran Scholars. Each will receive a Loran Award valued at more than $100,000 over their four-year undergraduate studies and join an extended community that will support their lifelong growth and pursuits. 

Finalists not selected as Loran Scholars are eligible to receive a one-time $5,000 Loran Finalist Award tenable at any Canadian university. At the conclusion of our semi-final interviews, 70 students who distinguished themselves at that level received one-time $2,000 Loran Provincial/Territorial Awards. Overall, we will be investing close to $4M in 150 students across Canada this year. 

Since its inception, the Loran Scholars Foundation has provided more than $62 million in undergraduate awards to 3,200+ promising high school and Cégep students including 615 Loran alumni. Together they form a diverse ecosystem of purpose-driven leaders pushing boundaries across an array of fields, such as technology, the arts, law, science, education and finance. Loran Scholars have gone on to hold such positions as: Partner,  Environmental Law Group at Gowling WLG; Managing Director, Consulting & Deals at PwC;  Chief Medical Officer at AIRMEDIC; Executive Director at Jane Finch Community & Family Centre; Research Scientist and Engineer at the NASA Ames Research Center; Co-Founder of  FundThrough; and Assistant Professor, Critical Studies of Race & Indigeneity at the University  of Toronto. Moreover, 8 Loran Scholars have gone on to clerk for the Supreme Court and 24 have been selected as Rhodes Scholars. Though their work spans a multitude of sectors and disciplines, alumni share and continue to be guided by Loran’s core values of character, service, and leadership.

2023 Loran Finalists

Sam Appleton
T.A. Blakelock High School
Oakville, ON

Banin Arjmand
Nutana Collegiate
Saskatoon, SK

Olivier Arsenault
École Marie-Esther
Shippagan, NB

Sarah Astatkie
Cobequid Educational Centre
Valley, NS

Ridhwanlai Badmos
Windsor Park Collegiate
Winnipeg, MB

Rhea Bhalla
Notre Dame High School
Calgary, AB

Aarushi Bhargava
Renert School
Calgary, AB

Momin Bilal
Bedford Road Collegiate
Saskatoon, SK

Cadena Brazeau
Strathclair Community School
Keeseekoowenin First Nation, MB

Kaitlyn Breon
Elwood High School
Deer Lake, NL

Ellen Brisley
Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute
Waterloo, ON

Chloe Budakian
Laurel Heights Secondary School 
Waterloo, ON

Chloe Carruthers
Georgetown District High School
Georgetown, ON

Sonya Chatterjee
Semiahmoo Secondary
South Surrey, BC

Paige Cheng
Britannia Secondary School
Vancouver, BC

Jaime Chown Chaikel
F. H. Collins Secondary School
Whitehorse, YT

Brynna Coogan
Cowichan Secondary School
Duncan, BC

Elijah Cosby
Thorold Secondary School
St. Catherine’s, ON

Mariana Cueto Mendoza
Dawson College
Montréal, QC

Andie Davis
Abbey Park High School
Oakville, ON

Jules Dawkins
Esquimalt High School
Victoria, BC

Gabriella deHaas
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
Alderville First Nation, ON

Cassidy Devereaux
Inuksuk High School
Iqaluit, NU

Emily Di Lauro
Oakville Trafalgar High School
Oakville, ON

Gracie Diabo
John Abbott College
Kahnawake, QC

Marème Diongue
École Ronald-Marion
Toronto, ON

Sabrina Du
John Abbott College
Kirkland, QC

Sophia El Bakir
Dawson College
Saint-Hubert, QC

Danya Elkhidir
Victoria High School
Victoria, BC

Liv Erickson
Central Collegiate Institute
Moose Jaw, SK

Tumi Fabiyi
Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School
Calgary, AB

Bethany Findlay
Eastdale Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Oshawa, ON

Anastasia Hamici
École secondaire Étienne-Brûlé
Scarborough, ON

Graeme Hanks
South Kamloops Secondary School
Kamloops, BC

Ayca Haskoylu
Western Canada High School
Calgary, AB

Alex Hawkins
Rothesay High School
Rothesay, NB

Islay Hayward
St. Malachy’s Memorial High School
Saint John, NB

Antong Hou
West Carleton Secondary School
Ottawa, ON

Cathy Hu
Collège André-Grasset
Montréal, QC

Braydon Hunter
Riverview Rural High School
Sydney, NS

Garvit Jain
Old Scona Academic High School
Edmonton, AB

Sarah Jeanveaux
Collège Universel – Campus Gatineau
Gatineau, QC

Joesh Khunkhun
St. George’s School
Vancouver, BC

Jacob Kranjac
Bishop Reding Catholic Secondary School
Milton, ON

Nyx Kucharski
Bridgetown Regional High School
New Albany, NS

Jocelyn Kuntsi
Manitoulin Secondary School
Manitowaning, ON

Telia Lafontaine
Flex ED School
Regina, SK

Olivia Lanc
St. Jean de Brébeuf Secondary School
Stoney Creek, ON

Rosalie Lavoie
Cégep de Lévis-Lauzon
Lévis, QC

Zoe Lee
Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts
Toronto, ON

Amber Leung
Port Moody Secondary
Coquitlam, BC

Jiayu Li
Harrison Trimble High School
Moncton, NB

Janie Maillet
École Clément-Cormier
Saint-Antoine, NB

Ava Majernik
École secondaire Gabriel-Dumont
London, ON

Félix Malhaire
Cégep de Granby
Shefford, QC

Chinmayi Manda
Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School
London, ON

Elijah Manjarrez
Windsor Secondary School
North Vancouver, BC

Ilia Mehr Bakhsh
St. Paul’s High School
Winnipeg, MB

Gerardo Mejia
H. J. Cambie Secondary School
Richmond, BC

Noa Melnick
The Anne & Max Tanenbaum
Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto
Toronto, ON

Vanessa Memeh
Cathedral High School
Hamilton, ON

Jennifer Mushagalusa
Centre scolaire Léo-Rémillard
Winnipeg, MB

Annabelle Newby
École secondaire catholique Paul-Desmarais
Ottawa, ON

Ivy Ngo
C. W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute
Toronto, ON

Hamidah Oderinwale
Blyth Academy Online
Brampton, ON

Richa Pandya
David Suzuki Secondary School
Brampton, ON

Ria Patel
Merivale High School
Ottawa, ON

Max Pittman
Corner Brook Regional High School
Corner Brook, NL

Maria Racine
Cegep de Jonquière
La Baie, QC

Lily Renaud
G.W. Graham Middle/Secondary School
Chilliwack, BC

Alexa Roop
South Colchester Academy
Westville, NS

Himanshu Sangale
Westmount Charter School
Calgary, AB

Muhaddisa Sarwari
Fraser Heights Secondary School
Surrey, BC

Bogdan Sava
Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf
Montréal (Pierrefonds-Roxboro), QC

Neila Selouani
École Marie-Esther
Shippagan, NB

Shreya Shah
University of Toronto Schools
Toronto, ON

Liam Sisson
Okanagan Mission Secondary School
Kelowna, BC

Chloe Son
École Saint Patrick High School
Yellowknife, NT

Miyawata Stout
École Secondaire Kelvin High School
Winnipeg, MB

Achyutha Surukanti
Old Scona Academic High School
Edmonton, AB

Ana Theriault
Fredericton Christian Academy
Fredericton, NB

David Tremblay
Cégep André-Laurendeau
Montréal, QC

Sera Tulk
Holy Spirit High School
Conception Bay South, NL

Max Turmel
École secondaire catholique Béatrice-Desloges
Orleans, ON

Laurence Vaillant
École secondaire catholique régionale de Hawkesbury
Vankleek Hill, ON

Jérôme Verret
Cégep Limoilou (campus de Québec)
Québec, QC

Gabrielle Walji
York Mills Collegiate Institute
Toronto, ON

Akutaq Williamson Bathory
Inuksuk High School
Iqaluit, NU

Burhanuddin Yamani
École Mallaig Community School
Vilna, AB

Steven Yang
Winston Churchill High School
Lethbridge, AB

On behalf of the entire Loran community, we extend our congratulations to Rayene Bouzitoun (McCall MacBain Loran Scholar ’18) on becoming one of Canada’s newest Rhodes Scholars. Rayene was nominated by the University of Ottawa for the Québec constituency.

During her time in the Loran program studying law and international development at the University of Ottawa, Rayene contributed to research projects oriented towards Indigenous and International law. She undertook two international internships as a Loran Scholar, in Bahir Dhar and Tunis.She chaired and wrote for the Law and Diversity Journal on campus, a role where she stepped forward to work alongside peers and administrators to facilitate many challenging conversations on the topics of diversity and inclusion in the law faculty. She has also contributed her perspective to numerous youth initiatives including the Saint Michel Youth Forum and Prime Minister’s Youth Council, and maintained strong ties to community initiatives she helped to initiate as a Cegep student at Collège de Maisonneuve. Rayene is a thoughtful and intellectually curious leader with a deep commitment to inclusive and equitable communities.

Rayene shares,

“The Rhodes Scholarship will allow me to realize my wildest dream: studying at the University of Oxford. However, I’m most excited at the idea of joining leaders from all over the globe to improve our world. Nothing can be achieved alone. I would like to take advantage of this platform to express my profound gratitude to the Saint-Michel community which served as a unique role model for me. Thank you to the Loran Scholars Foundation for welcoming me into the amazing community that shaped my sense of service and purpose. I am also forever indebted to the various mentors, professors, and community members who further shaped my sense of purpose. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child, and it is with many villages alongside me that I have reached where I am today. I’m tremendously grateful, and I’ll work hard to make my people proud.”

Rayene is the 24th Loran Scholar to earn the Rhodes Scholarship over the last 28 years. While at Oxford, Rayene hopes to study for a Magister Juris. On behalf of the extended Loran community we wish Rayene all the best on this exciting new chapter of her educational journey.

The Loran Scholars Foundation is honoured to be the first Canadian scholarship provider to receive an Award of Excellence from the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA) as the 2021 recipient of the Scholarship Provider of the Year Award (Large Provider).

The Scholarship Provider of the Year Award showcases scholarship providers from across North America that leverage their unique resources to strengthen postsecondary access and success, advance industry or professional performance, kick-start innovation, and improve conditions in their community and beyond. Each year, one outstanding scholarship provider that awards $500,000 or more in scholarships annually is selected as the recipient of the Large Scholarship Provider.

The Loran Scholars Foundation was recognized for its breadth and depth as a scholarship provider: its reach, identifying scholars from the smallest towns to the largest cities across Canada; its rigorous selections process, that looks beyond standard measures of grades to the character, service-orientation, and leadership potential of a student; the comprehensive four-year leadership enrichment program that shapes each Loran Scholars’ trajectory; and the engaged community of alumni, volunteers, donors and university partners that Loran cultivates to inspire scholars to effect meaningful change over the course of their lifetimes. Together with the support of our volunteers, donors, university partners, over the last 33 years, Loran has invested $57.76 million in more than 3,100 students across the country, including 733 past and present Loran Scholars.

“We share this honour with our community of volunteers, donors and university partners,” said Loran CEO and 1998 Loran Scholar, Meghan Moore. “Through their generosity and belief in the potential of youth we have been able to establish ourselves and grow into the foundation we are today.”

We are grateful to the NSPA for honouring Loran with this Award of Excellence and recognizing the foundation’s commitment to ensuring young people who demonstrate character, service, and leadership are given opportunities to fulfill their potential and build a better future for us all.

Read more on the NSPA’s site.