In February 2025, 90 students from all corners of Canada convened in Toronto for Loran’s National Selections Weekend, hoping to be named a 2025 Loran Scholar. From those 90 finalists—each of whom had been chosen from a pool of more than 6,000 applicants for their demonstration of strength of character, a deep commitment to service, and exceptional leadership potential—only 36 were selected.

Elektra Dakogiannis was there helping to shuttle the finalists to and from their back-to-back interviews, encouraging them in moments of stress and providing insights only a veteran could have during this rigorous process. Elektra went through this very process herself in 2018 before being selected as a Polar Foundation Loran Scholar. Returning to help at Nationals this year is only one of the ways she stays connected and gives back to a community that supported her during her undergrad years and will continue to do so for a lifetime. 

“It was a great experience to see all these young, inspiring people; they really helped me feel motivated to get more involved in my community again. It was also great to see alumni and in-stream scholars—everyone had valuable advice and experiences to share,” says Elektra. 

Loran Scholars benefit from a four-year leadership-enrichment program, diverse opportunities for experiential learning both at home and abroad, financial support throughout undergraduate studies, and a network of values-driven peers and mentors—unlike anything else in this country. 

Becoming a Loran Scholar kicks off a journey of self-discovery, inspiration, challenge, and transformation; it’s a launchpad for exceptional students like Elektra to unlock their potential, empowering them to make positive change in their communities. But it wouldn’t be possible without the support of donors like the Polar Foundation. 

With a mandate to promote education and mentorship, and to help create the next generation of Canadian leaders at the top of its philanthropic goals, the Polar Foundation has been supporting Loran for almost a decade. In addition to Polar underwriting scholars and hosting Loran events, Paul Sabourin, Polar’s Chairman and CIO, has volunteered as an interviewer for close to a decade and has shared his own leadership lessons with scholars many times as a guest speaker. 

“We all know that current world events demand a stronger Canada—now more than ever. The long-term impact of investing in scholarships that emphasize Loran’s ideals of empathy, critical thinking, and leadership, while encouraging some of our best and brightest to give back to Canada, can’t be underestimated,” says Paul. 

It was this very sentiment that resonated with Elektra as a high school student in East Toronto when a community leader encouraged her to apply for the Loran Award. 

“What drew me to the Loran Award initially was how it was merit-based, not solely prioritizing grades. I think that helping Canadian students pursue higher education is very important; however, we also need to focus on the leadership and character development of the young people in our society.”

Elektra pursued a B.Sc. degree in physics at the University of British Columbia. But her fourth year of undergraduate studies was interrupted when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. 

“If not for Polar’s and Loran’s support, I probably would have had to drop out, and maybe not even finish my degree,” she says. 

The recovery period was long, and Elektra says the experience still affects her today, in all the negative ways one might expect following trauma, but in positive ways, too. 

“Loran’s focus on education pushed me to keep going. Also, we are taught to turn weaknesses into strengths, and I am slowly starting to use this experience to advocate not only for better medical integrity, but also for access to diagnostic resources in underprivileged communities.”

Since then, Elektra has completed a master’s degree in physics at the University of Toronto and is currently a PhD candidate at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany. Reflecting back on her journey, she says it has been nothing short of transformative.

“In high school, I think we see all leaders as being the loudest people who are able to speak the smoothest. Loran showcases the many valuable forms of leadership, which has allowed me to approach leadership in a way that embodies my own strengths. It also helped me improve my interpersonal skills and understand that a lot of solutions begin at the community level. And it’s just a very supportive environment, which really pushes you to become a better person.”

Learn more about how Loran donors make a difference.