We are thrilled to share that Loran alum Luka Bordeleau (’22) was named one of the 30 newly selected McCall MacBain Scholars. Open to students worldwide and selected for their purpose and integrity, the McCall MacBain Scholarship supports students pursuing a professional degree or a master’s at McGill University. Luka is the third Loran Scholar to have received this distinction.
From a young age, Luka was drawn to storytelling – spending hours reading and imagining characters and worlds of his own. That early passion proved formative, shaping his path toward anthropology, a discipline grounded in dialogue and the sharing of human experiences. He attributes his interest in the field to its ability to tell and elevate meaningful narratives, noting, “I’ve always loved stories and anthropology allows me to explore and amplify those that might otherwise go unheard.”
This fall, Luka will pursue a Master’s degree focused on the realities of migration and exile. His research explores the often-unseen volunteer efforts surrounding the deaths of migrants in Italy—asking difficult but important questions about who cares for those who pass far from home, who reconnects them with their families, and how these practices evolve within shifting political contexts.
During his Loran Summer in the not-for-profit sector, working for No Name Kitchen in Italy, Luka experienced a pivotal awakening. “That undertaking changed everything for me,” he recalls. “It made me realize I wanted to dedicate my work to issues of migration and mobility. Thank you to the Loran community, including my mentor, Catherine Côté (’16), my coach, Kanishka Sikri, staff, and fellow Loran Scholars and alumni, for helping me turn that realization into a clear direction.”
Throughout his undergraduate studies as a Loran Scholar, Luka found that the financial support and sense of community allowed him to become actively engaged in community projects that helped him discover the type of changemaker he wants to become – an experience he describes as formative in clarifying his values and ambitions. “The relationships I built showed me what truly matters to me,” he says, adding that he now feels equipped to pursue his future projects and aspirations with a strong sense of confidence and purpose.
As he prepares to join the McCall MacBain Scholars community at McGill, Luka is especially excited to connect with others who share a commitment to community and impact. For someone who has always been inspired by stories, he looks forward to learning from the diverse experiences of his fellow scholars and continuing to ensure that meaningful, overlooked perspectives find their way into the light.