Maya Walton (she/her) is a 2026 Schulich Leader Scholar in engineering, graduating from Lethbridge Collegiate Institute in Lethbridge, Alberta. Jason Zhang (he/him) was named a 2026 Schulich Leader Scholar in sciences, graduating from Mount Douglas Secondary School in Victoria, British Columbia. Both Walton and Zhang have demonstrated leadership and entrepreneurship within their schools and communities. They are two recipients of this year’s Schulich Leader Scholarship.
Maya Walton: Designing innovative solutions for real-world impacts
For Maya Walton, mechanical engineering offers her the chance to blend creativity with technical design and turn innovative ideas into real-world impact. She is about to start her academic journey in the field, attending the University of Victoria this fall.
Mechanical engineering appeals to me because it lets ideas become tangible solutions that can improve people’s lives. It requires continual learning, responsibility and innovation in an ever-evolving field.”
Maya Walton
Walton says she always enjoyed studying math and science, but encouragement from science teacher Jen Scott helped her explore different areas of STEM and see a clear path forward to engineering.
Her passion grew after she discovered the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition. She participated on the University of Lethbridge’s team for two years. Her team competed against others across the globe, earning consecutive silver medals. As team lead one year, she led the development of a rapid detection kit for bovine respiratory diseases designed to make testing more accessible and efficient for farmers.
“Participating in the iGEM competition showed me how innovative, creative ideas are refined, tested and communicated,” she says. “It showed me what engineering means and what it can actually do.”
A leadership style shaped by values
Walton leads by example, crediting her extracurricular experiences with shaping her leadership style. She chooses to lead “less through authority and more on trust, responsiveness and consistency.”
She volunteered with Building Brains Together, a nonprofit organization focused on improving brain development and executive functioning across the lifespan. Her involvement helped build an entrepreneurial mindset shaped by the values of community and creativity.
I believe in creating environments where people feel heard and empowered to bring their ideas to life.”
Maya Walton
In the future, Walton hopes to use engineering and innovation to address both local and global challenges. She says the Schulich Leader Scholarship has made those goals possible. “The award lets me fully invest in my education and the opportunities that come with it. I’m incredibly grateful and honoured to receive the award.”
Walton is looking forward to studying mechanical engineering at UVic. She says she was drawn to the faculty’s integrated co-op program. The four mandatory co-op terms played a major role in her decision.
“I think that combination of classroom learning and hands-on experience will be valuable for my engineering career,” she says. “I’ll be able to see how my theoretical work and my lab work apply to real life while gaining professional experience.”
Jason Zhang: Discovering science fairs and turning curiosity into innovation
Jason Zhang was also drawn to UVic for its co-op and research opportunities. He is starting a combined data science degree with the Faculty of Science this fall.
He already has a personal connection to the university. Moving to Victoria for grade four, he spent his Saturdays at UVic’s Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities (CARSA). Along with his love of cycling and hiking, he spent many years as a competitive rock climber with UVic’s Senior Competitive Climbing Team. He now works at CARSA— describing it as a fitting “full circle moment.”
Zhang has built a strong community in his hometown. He chose UVic to stay close to the people he loves and the island that shaped him. “I really love the island,” he says. “There’s so much more to see; I haven’t had enough time to fully explore it yet.”
Using innovation to build upon a curiosity for exploration
His curiosity in exploring the unknown goes beyond his love of the outdoors. As a leader, he’s always looking for innovative solutions to help the community. In grades 11 and 12, he received bronze and silver medals in two national science fairs. He was also head of the science fair club at his high school and a senior coach of the Math Challengers club. He even co-led his school’s cross country team one year after the coach’s unexpected departure mid-season.
He hopes to pursue a career in bioinformatics by combining his interests in science, computing and data analysis. This passion for bioinformatics emerged after he began studying computer science in grade 11 and saw how naturally it complemented his existing love of science.
A breast cancer diagnosis in his family inspired his science fair project topic that same year, combining machine learning and genetics. Using publicly available gene expression data from breast cancer patients, Zhang developed a machine learning model that could predict a patient’s cancer subtype with 93 per cent accuracy. His project placed fifth at the regional science fair, qualifying him for the Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF).
Reflecting on his CWSF experience, Zhang said, “I was surrounded by the most captivating, interesting projects—all from people my age or even younger. They inspired me.”
A creative approach to science communication
Realizing that if he wanted his project to do well, he needed an innovative way for it stand out. He decided to present his project like a business pitch.
“Being a confident, creative and charismatic presenter worked. I received a silver medal on awards night, the first at my school in ten years,” he says. “I feel like my presentation was what got me my silver medal.”
Zhang says receiving the Schulich Leader Scholarship has already created opportunities by relieving his financial burden and helping him connect with other Leaders across the country.
The title ‘Schulich Leader’ helps you walk through so many doors.”
Jason Zhang
About Schulich Leader Scholarships Canada
Recognizing the increasing importance and impact that STEM disciplines will have on the prosperity of future generations, businessman and philanthropist Seymour Schulich established the Schulich Leader Scholarships in 2012. This transformative $100+ million fund is designed to encourage the best and brightest students to become Schulich Leader Scholars: the next generation of entrepreneurial-minded, technology innovators.
Awarded through The Schulich Foundation, these prestigious entrance scholarships support 100 high school graduates enrolling in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) undergraduate program at 20 partner universities across Canada.
Every high school in the country is invited to submit one Schulich Leader Nominee per academic year. Nominees are selected based on academic excellence in STEM, entrepreneurial leadership and financial need.
