Abhinav Menon just celebrated his grade 12 graduation from Aden Bowman Collegiate, and he’s receiving a Schulich Leader Scholarship for his outstanding academic and extra-curricular achievements. This grant supports Canada’s top prospects in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Menon will receive $100,000 over four years while he studies the sciences, likely specializing in chemistry or biochemistry. From there, he is looking at a career in material chemistry creating biomaterials, used for medical purposes.

He says what is equally valuable to the stipend part of the scholarship, is he gets to be a part of a network of global-minded individuals on a national level.

Menon says, “It’s important to be dedicated to a specific area such that you show your passion and depth of understanding. For example, when I applied, I talked a lot about those biomaterials for medical purposes, and I think they saw that passion and the enthusiasm and that’s very valuable and that’s something they look for.”

Menon will study at the University of British Columbia starting this fall.