Filipina immigrant in Canada wins $100,000 scholarship

Darlene Sofia Cuevas’ family immigrated to Canada in 2019. SCULICH

Darlene Sofia Cuevas of Winnipeg, Manitoba, leads this year’s crop of high school graduates, winning a prestigious $100,000 scholarship.

The 16-year-old from St. John’s Secondary won a coveted $100,000 scholarship from Schulich Leaders scholarships, one of 100 recipients.

“This group of 100 outstanding students will represent the best and brightest Canada has to offer and will make great contributions to society, both on a national and global scale,” says Schulich Foundation.

“I just remember my body started really shaking and after the call I just broke down crying and I felt really grateful,” she told CBC Manitoba TV news host Janet Stewart in an interview.

The scholarships are given to undergraduate students studying science, technology, engineering and math and awarded on the basis of academic excellence, leadership, creativity and charisma.

Cuevas will take up biosystems engineering at the University of Manitoba in September.

Cuevas, whose family immigrated to Canada in 2019, told CBC she didn’t have the money to further her education.

“I’ve applied to about 20 scholarships and I didn’t get 19 of those, it was all rejections. My last resort was, truly, a student loans. Now I think I don’t need to apply for any student loans,” she told CBC.

“Being granted this scholarship has truly made the path ahead of me boundless. Dreaming is free. Yet, it is a harsh fact that in our world today, it would always require some form of monetary foundation to achieve those dreams,” says Cuevas.

“I am forever grateful to all the teaching and non-teaching staff of my high school, St. John’s, as well as all the students for believing in me and, of course, to The Schulich Foundation for this life-changing opportunity.

“It is an honor to be able to fully devote my focus in my studies, passions, and especially future endeavors that will contribute to making our world better, without the financial burden my dream would have put on me and my family.”

The Schulich Leader Scholarships is a Canadian and Israeli undergraduate award program that provides scholarships for students enrolled in STEM areas of study.