St. Francis Xavier University student Alex Clow is in the running for the McCall MacBain Scholarships, Canada’s first comprehensive leadership-based scholarship program for master’s and professional studies.
The scholarship enables students to pursue a fully funded graduate degree at McGill University while participating in an intensive leadership development program. McCall MacBain Scholars are matched with mentors, advisors, and coaches who accompany them on their journey.
Mr. Clow will be among 50 Canadian finalists representing 28 universities at a final round of interviews from March 24 to 26. During the interviews, he will meet with leaders from academia, business, government, and the social sector. Final interviews are planned to take place in Montréal, with travel costs covered.
Nearly 700 people applied for the McCall MacBain Scholarships this year, and 146 participated in regional interviews with local leaders in November before the 50 finalists were selected. Up to 20 McCall MacBain Scholars will be chosen after final interviews.
Finalists were chosen based on their character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength, and intellectual curiosity. They include aspiring dentists, engineers, entrepreneurs, community leaders, scientists, lawyers, policy-makers, doctors, public health specialists, and more.
Mr. Clow is completing a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics at StFX. For three years, he has been volunteering with X-Project, a student society offering educational assistance, recreational activities, and leadership programs for African Canadian and Mi’kmaw youth. He delivered weekly programming and later took on the coordination of community programming. He has also served as the Arts representative with the StFX Students’ Union and participated in the debate society.
"My experience at St. Francis Xavier University has had a profound impact on who I am," he said. "During my time here I discovered my passion for mathematics and refined my commitment to support those around me whenever possible."
He hopes to pursue a Master of Science in Mathematics and Statistics at McGill. "I hope to continue my research in pure mathematics, attempting to better understand the phenomena across our daily lives that often go unnoticed. Be they in our computers, social media, or traffic, I am fascinated by studying the general patterns which bind us all together."
“The McCall MacBain Scholarship finalists have demonstrated empathy, integrity, and courage in a rapidly changing world,” said Natasha Sawh, Dean of the McCall MacBain Scholarships. “While their undergraduate experiences may have differed from what they initially expected, these students have dedicated their time and talents to a wide array of initiatives. They have distinguished themselves through their commitment to meaningful social change.”
The McCall MacBain Scholarship covers tuition and fees for the program of study, a living stipend of $2,000 per month, mentorship, coaching and leadership development opportunities.
Finalists who are not selected as McCall MacBain Scholars will be eligible for a $10,000 Finalist Award for their studies at McGill.
The scholarships are the result of a landmark $200 million gift, which at the time was the largest single donation in Canadian history, by John and Marcy McCall MacBain. The scholarship program will expand internationally over the next decade, with nearly 300 McCall MacBain Scholars selected by 2030. Applications for the first global cohort, comprising 20 Canadians and 10 international students, will open in June 2022 for September 2023 admission.
