Recipients of 2023 MacBain Niagara Falls Scholarships Selected

Niagara Falls, Ontario (Aug 21, 2023) – Eleven Niagara Falls students will receive scholarships valued at up to $44,000 over four years to pursue their post-secondary studies starting this fall. This is the sixth class to receive the MacBain Niagara Falls Scholarships, founded by John and Marcy McCall MacBain in 2017.

This year’s recipients are Mackenzie Agretto (Saint Paul Catholic Secondary School), Isabella Berardi (A.N. Myer Secondary School), Hannah Bet (A.N. Myer Secondary School), Kate Biamonte (A.N. Myer Secondary School), Stephany Chen (Westlane Secondary School), Lilly Dallman (Saint Michael Catholic High School), Jordan Howcroft (Saint Michael Catholic High School), Nasra Ibrahim (Stamford Collegiate), Maddox Libera (Stamford Collegiate), Tiya Patel (Stamford Collegiate), and Cole Pybus (A.N. Myer Secondary School). In addition, eight students were chosen for a finalist award of $2,500 to go towards their post-secondary studies. Selected applicants participated in extensive interviews which looked beyond academic achievement to examine activities and pursuits in the service of others and across a broad spectrum of leadership roles.

Historically reserved for university-bound students, this year, the MacBain Niagara Falls Scholarships expanded the scholarship to students pursuing diploma programs as well. From this cohort, Lilly Dallman will study practical nursing at St. Clair College, and Nasra Ibrahim will study computer programming and analysis at Niagara College. Like their peers attending university, Lilly and Nasra embody the values of strong character, community involvement, and leadership potential that these scholarships seek to foster.

“It is my pleasure to announce the sixth class of MacBain Niagara Falls Scholarship recipients,” said John McCall MacBain, OC. “Having grown up in Niagara Falls, it always brings me joy to support young people from my hometown. I received scholarship support as a young person and know what a difference it can have in someone’s life. The MacBain Niagara Falls Scholarship recipients were selected based on their potential for leadership, their solid academic records, and their positive contributions to their school and broader community. I hope this program will encourage recipients to dream big, and to continue giving back to the Niagara Falls community and the world at large.”

Applications for the 2024 MacBain Niagara Falls Scholarships open September 19th. Students in both degree and diploma streams apply through the same online application portal.

The 2023 MacBain Niagara Falls Scholarship Recipients:

	Mackenzie Agretto Saint Paul Catholic Secondary School Social sciences, McMaster University Mackenzie is co-president of her school Key Club, leading fundraisers and service projects in the community. She is the inclusivity lead for the Student Council and the student representative for her school board’s special needs advisory committee, through which she organized a prom event for special needs students. Mackenzie has volunteered with her school’s special education program since grade nine, for which she learned American Sign Language. She was captain of her school’s swim team, plays badminton, and works as a lifeguard.
	Isabella Berardi A.N. Myer Secondary School Accounting, Brock University Isabella is the founder and president of the Crochet Kindness Club, where she recruits fellow students to crochet ‘worry worms’ in partnership with Pathstone Mental Health. She has also launched her own online crochet store, donating a portion of profits to charity. Isabella serves as co-chair of the mental health subcommittee at the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee, is Co-President of the Key Club, and sits on the Student Council. She also sings in her school choir and works as a Peer Leader at Niagara Region Public Health.
	Hannah Bet A.N. Myer Secondary School Biomedical sciences, McGill University Hannah volunteers with the local food bank, Project SHARE, where she helped organize a fundraiser and supports special events. She tutors her peers at school and sits on the executive of the school’s Key Club where she helped raise money for the Thirst Project. In the past, she has supported Arthritis Association and Cancer Run events. Having previously worked as a restaurant hostess, Hannah now works as a sales associate at a garden centre.
	Kate Biamonte A.N. Myer Secondary School Communications, University of Ottawa Kate plays softball and ringette in the community and coaches younger girls. She also volunteers as a softball umpire. Kate plays on the school hockey team, and is the social media manager for A.N Myer’s Athletic Council. Kate has volunteered as student leader for grade nine orientation, and she serves as the treasurer of the Key Club, where she helps to lead community fundraisers. Kate works as a hostess and retail worker at a restaurant.
	Stephany Chen Westlane Secondary School Creative Industries, Toronto Metropolitan University Stephany is currently co-prime minister of her school’s Student Council, after serving as a grade representative the previous two years. She helped to organize and oversee the school’s annual Rankin Cancer Run. Stephany is also a member of Westlane’s basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee and slo-pitch teams. She volunteers at the Niagara Falls Public Library as a reading and math buddy to younger students in the community. Stephany works as a hostess at a restaurant and as a cashier at a haunted house.
	Lilly Dallman Saint Michael Catholic High School Practical nursing, St. Clair College Lilly plays both hockey and rugby in the community. She is also a member of her school’s Athletic Council, where she helps to run school sports activities. Lilly was a member of the School Chaplain’s Crew, where she organized community fundraisers. She has also volunteered at the Holy Trinity Soup Kitchen. Lilly now works as a counter worker at a fast-food chain, as an ice patroller at the local hockey rink, and as a babysitter.
	Jordan Howcraft Saint Michael Catholic High School Concurrent education and physics, Brock University Jordan plays competitive soccer in her community and school and coached young children in the sport. She also served as captain of her school’s curling, basketball and soccer teams. Jordan volunteers as a scorekeeper for school and community matches. Jordan is a grade representative on the Athletic Council where she develops social and traditional media content to promote her school’s sports teams. Jordan works as the head cashier supervisor at a grocery store.
	Nasra Ibrahim Stamford Collegiate Computer programming and analysis, Niagara College Nasra is a member of a team developing an app for the Niagara chapter of Technovation Girls. On her school’s production team, Nasra has worked in various roles including photographer, videographer, editor, director, broadcaster, and anchor. Nasra has served as secretary of Student Council and as a Link Crew leader. A long-time volunteer at her mosque, Nasra is now employed there as a teacher for younger children. She has previously worked as a sales associate and a manager in retail.
	Maddox Libera Stamford Collegiate Landscape architecture, University of Guelph Maddox is prime minister of the Student Council and is the chair of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council. Previously, he was a Link Crew commissioner for his school. Maddox helped launch a community garden program in conjunction with Project SHARE, the local food bank. He also captained the school volleyball team and managed the rugby team. Previously, Maddox worked at a grocery store and as an intern in the Office of the Mayor and CAO. He now works as a general associate at a garden market.
	Tiya Patel Stamford Collegiate Medical sciences, Brock University Tiya serves as the Public Board Council president for the Ontario Student Trustees Association, where she advocates for students to the Ministry of Education and other provincial stakeholders. She is also the chair of the regional Student Senate and serves as the deputy prime minister of the Student Council. Tiya captains the volleyball team and plays badminton. She tutors her peers in math and physics, and volunteers at the public library. She has previously worked as a hostess at a restaurant and as a poll worker at Elections Ontario.
	Cole Pybus A.N. Myer Secondary School Applied science in engineering, University of British Columbia Cole volunteers with the Niagara Falls Downtown Business Improvement Association, where he supports their community events. He was captain of his school’s hockey team and played on a community team as well. Cole also plays badminton and is a member of the Athletic Association. He sat on Student Council as a grade representative and was a counsellor for A.N. Myer’s grade nine orientation program. Working as a camp counsellor in the summers through the YMCA, Cole now works as a sales associate in a retail store.