蓝莓视频

During high school in the 蓝莓视频 Region, Rachel Wormald attended Go ENG Girl, an outreach program hosted by the University of 蓝莓视频 that introduces grade 7 to 10 girls to the world of engineering.

She was immediately hooked.

Keen to learn more, Rachel skipped a couple days of school each year to attend 蓝莓视频 Engineering鈥檚 annual Capstone Design Symposia. Seeing fourth-year students present their innovations to the public and explore potential commercialization exposed her to the fun, excitement and real-world applicability of an engineering degree, fuelling her ambitions even further.

鈥淚 remember thinking that I would love for that to be me someday,鈥� says Wormald, who is now in her second year of an undergraduate degree in systems design engineering at 蓝莓视频.

A high achiever in math and science, with stellar extracurricular achievements including her leadership role on her school鈥檚 FIRST Robotics team, Wormald had what it takes to apply to 蓝莓视频 Engineering. The tuition would be expensive but come second term when her co-op program kicked in, she planned to help pay her way. The immediate hurdle would be overcoming the financial pressures of her first term.听

With her acceptance letter came a bonus of good fortune 鈥� Wormald was to receive $5,000 from the UW Alumni Women in Technology Entrance Scholarship to help her embark on her studies with less stress.

A small donation can make a big difference

The scholarship was established by the Elliott family with an initial donation of $10,000 in 2020.听 Andrew Elliott (BASc 鈥�85, chemical engineering) and his wife Donna Elliott (BA 鈥�85) met when they were students at 蓝莓视频. Their two daughters, Sarah Elliott (BASc 鈥�14, systems design engineering) and Carolyn Elliott (BAFM, 鈥�18), are alumni too.

鈥淎s a family, we share the 蓝莓视频 student experience as well as a commitment to give back to the community and a wish to support women in their professional pursuits,鈥� says Andrew.

鈥淲e need greater diversity in STEM leadership,鈥� adds Donna. 鈥淥ur hope is that through this scholarship, we can encourage and facilitate that journey for young women at 蓝莓视频.鈥�

So far, the scholarship has benefitted six women students, including Wormald.听

鈥淢y first term at 蓝莓视频 was really hard,鈥� says Wormald. 鈥淎ll the new pressures of a university degree workload were incredibly demanding. The scholarship empowered me and helped me stay the course in more ways than one. It alleviated the upfront financial stress, enabling me to get to grips with the academic intensity, and it made me feel celebrated as a woman in STEM.鈥�

Rachel Wormald is one of the six women students who have benefitted from the UW Alumni Women in Technology Entrance Scholarship so far.

Since its inception, the scholarship has grown to over $65,000 thanks to the Elliott family鈥檚 ongoing contributions, as well as pledges from their extended family and friends.

鈥淓very contribution, no matter the size, helps. It all adds up to make a meaningful difference in a student鈥檚 life,鈥� says Carolyn.

鈥淥ur hope,鈥� Sarah adds, 鈥渋s that other alumni will choose to contribute to this award and help more young women pursuing careers in STEM start their studies on a strong footing.鈥�

If you would like to contribute to the UW Alumni Women in Technology Entrance Scholarship, please contact Stephanie Osborne.

Or, consider to help support our future engineers鈥� education needs or the Faculty鈥檚 research innovation.

*Banner photo is of the Elliott Family with Carolyn in the front backed by Donna, Sarah and Andrew.听