June 2025

The following write-up was prepared by Alice (Shimiao) Zhang, an International Student from Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School.

We congratulate Alice on this spectacular milestone and look forward to all that she will accomplish in the future!

I’m incredibly honoured to be awarded the University of Waterloo Faculty of Science International Student Scholarship, valued at $80,000.

Being an international student isn’t always easy. The hecticness of moving in, adapting to new education systems, and redefining your way of living are all part of the package. But it nurtured my resilience and adaptability like no other experience could. Having moved countries twice, I have learned to be fearlessly proactive in the communities I care about. I think this mindset is crucial to meaningful learning and growth.

By participating in various school activities and international programs since my move, I’ve come to realise the importance of community. Building deep connections with people, whether from FIRST Robotics or the CERN-Solvay Programme, has made me feel a sense of belonging and opened doors I never imagined possible. The support I received both as an international student and as a woman in STEM drives me to reciprocate. Whether it’s co-founding Holy Trinity’s Math Club with my friends, running book drives for the underserved, helping HCDSB with international student orientations, or distributing menstrual products at robotics competitions, I want to pay forward the cross-continent support that shaped my journey around the world.

As a first-generation university student, I’m ready for the road ahead. My goal is to pursue a PhD in physics and contribute to research at institutes like CERN. This summer, I will be gaining physics research experience at the University of Toronto to prepare for a great start at Waterloo. I look forward to joining new communities while exploring outreach opportunities on and off campus!