Helping prospective students reach their potential

The U of S is one of 16 host universities partnered with SHAD, an enrichment program for Canadian high school students focusing on STEAM subjects (science, technology, engineering, arts and math). Every year almost 1,000 students from across Canada are selected to participate and attend SHAD at a campus outside of their home province. It’s an opportunity for high school students who may not be considering the U of S for their post-secondary education, to experience all of the advantages the U of S has to offer.

“The University of Saskatchewan is a particularly suitable host for SHAD because it is a multidisciplinary campus,” said Glyn Kennell, program director for SHAD Saskatchewan. “This leads to significant collaboration from multiple disciplines and provides broad academic exposure to SHAD students. This is beneficial to solving a societal problem that has health, engineering, societal and business aspects.”

The societal problem is presented to students during the first week of SHAD, challenging them to come up with an innovative solution. This year’s problem was: “How might we help Canadian communities be more resilient in a natural disaster?”

Students spend the rest of the month working on their solutions by drawing from the various academic disciplines they experience.

U of S faculty, colleges and research centres introduce students to academic disciplines through innovative workshops, lectures and activities. Topics covered include astrobiology, geology, kinesiology, toxicology, public policy, medicine, engineering, journalism, planetary orbits, public speaking, survival skills, financial competency, blacksmithing and more. The topics touch on popular issues such as creating a digital footprint, technology doping in sports, resiliency after natural disasters, and the legalization of cannabis.

Only halfway into SHAD Saskatchewan, some of the participants already see their future at the U of S.

“I am now considering the University of Saskatchewan for post-secondary education,” said Alexa Pelletier, a grade 12 student from Grand Falls, N.B. “Before SHAD, I had never considering going anywhere outside of my province, let alone all the way to the Prairies. Now that I know this university has a strong engineering program it would definitely be worthwhile.”

“Due to this program, the University of Saskatchewan is certainly higher up on my list than it would have been without,” said Joel Roth, a grade 12 student from Brampton, Ont. “If I decide to go into engineering, toxicology or agriculture, the University of Saskatchewan would definitely be one of my top choices.”

SHAD’s various activities and challenges demonstrate to students the power they have to make an impact in their communities.

“SHAD has taught us that nothing is impossible and that our generation is the generation of change and innovation,” said Unjalee Parmar, a grade 12 student from Calgary, Alta.

“These exceptional students from all parts of Canada spend the month of July together with their peers and mentors,” said SHAD President and CEO Tim Jackson. “We hope they end the month not only dreaming big, but empowered with the tools and passion they need to take risks, roll up their sleeves and get going.”

Once the students complete the program, they become part of an impressive network of nearly 17,000 SHAD fellows including 32 Rhodes Scholars, 88 Loran Scholars and 56 Schulich Leaders.