Recipients of 2022 MacBain Niagara Falls Scholarships Selected

Niagara Falls, Ontario (September 14, 2022) – Seven Niagara Falls students will receive scholarships valued at up to $44,000 over four years to pursue their undergraduate degrees starting this fall. This is the fifth class to receive the MacBain Niagara Falls Scholarships, founded by John and Marcy McCall MacBain in 2017.

This year’s recipients are: Aidan Bilon (Westlane Secondary School), Gabe Ferron (Saint Paul Catholic High School), Alexandra Watson (A.N. Myer Secondary School), Connie Wu (A.N. Myer Secondary School), Maggie Huang (Saint Paul Catholic High School), Finesse Warriner (A.N. Myer Secondary School), and Sydney Yott (Saint Paul Catholic High School). In addition, six students were chosen for a finalist award of $2,500 to go towards their university 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.

The MacBain Niagara Falls Scholarship have historically been reserved for university-bound students. However, recognizing that students who exemplify the values that the scholarship aims to support pursue a variety of educational pathways, in 2023 the program will expand to also include college-bound students. The McCall MacBain Foundation is thrilled to announce that, up to three scholarships will be offered to students pursing two- or three-year diploma-stream programs and up to nine scholarships will be offered to students pursuing degree programs beginning in fall 2023.

“It is my pleasure to announce the fifth class of MacBain Niagara Falls Scholarship recipients,” said John McCall MacBain, OC. “These students were selected based on their potential for leadership, and their positive contributions to their school and broader community. I know firsthand what an impact a scholarship can have on a young person’s life, and hope this program will continue to encourage and inspire a new generation in Niagara Falls.”

Applications for the 2023 MacBain Niagara Falls Scholarships open September 19th. Students in both degree and diploma streams apply through the same online application portal. To learn more and to apply, visit https://bit.ly/niagara26.

The 2022 MacBain Niagara Falls Scholarship Recipients:

Aidan Bilon

Westlane Secondary School

BASc in Mechanical Engineering, University of Waterloo

Aidan is Co-Chair of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, where he founded and chaired a new environmental sub-committee to run events and promote awareness of climate change among youth in Niagara Falls. Aidan is also Prime Minister of the Westlane Secondary School Student Council and represents the school as a student senator at the school board level. He is a sprinter with the community track team. Aidan works as a sales associate in retail. Interested in a career in green energy and green transportation, Aidan will study mechanical engineering in the co-op program at the University of Waterloo.

Gabe Ferron

Saint Paul Catholic Secondary School

BSc in Life Sciences, McMaster University

Gabe leads the Saint Paul Catholic Secondary School drum line, where he teaches and coaches other students, and performs in a band for charity. He is the event coordinator for both the school Music Council and Key Club. Gabe has swum competitively for the Brock University team and has volunteered at a local farmers market. He works as a lifeguard for the City of Niagara Falls. Fascinated by plants, animals, and their ecosystems, Gabe will study life sciences at McMaster University.

Maggie Huang

Saint Paul Catholic High School

Bachelor of Business Administration, Brock University

Maggie is co-president of her school’s Key Club, which she grew to be the largest chapter in the district. In this role, she has raised money for a humanitarian organization and the local food bank. Maggie sits on the Student Council executive and volunteers weekly at a local soup kitchen. She is on both the school tennis and cheerleading teams. Maggie works as both a retail sales associate and as a barista. Hoping to work in finance or banking, Maggie will study international business administration.

Finesse Warriner

F.N. Myer Secondary School

BTech in Graphic Communications Management, Toronto Metropolitan University

Finesse is a peer leader at Niagara Region Public Health. She was president of the A. N. Myer Key Club, organizing service projects in the community, and now serves as a representative for the regional district Club. During the pandemic, she launched a new club to encourage collaborative, student-run community projects. She volunteers her time creating social media and marketing content for community organizations, including with Bleed the North, an organization working to end period stigma in Ontario, and Project SHARE, a community food bank. With a plan to work in the creative industries, Finesse will study Graphic Communications Management.

Alexandra Watson

A.N. Myer Secondary School

Concurrent BA & BEd in primary/junior education, Nipissing University

Alexandra is Co-President of the A.N. Myer Athletic Association and was a leader for the school’s grade nine transition program in September. She is a competitive dancer with her school and a member of the school basketball team. Alexandra spent time on a sustainable farming project in Italy and volunteered at a Niagara Falls soup kitchen. Alexandra works as a restaurant hostess, as well as a camp counsellor and dance instructor for young children. These experiences inspired Alexandra to study to become a primary/junior teacher majoring in Child and Family Studies at Nipissing University.

Connie Wu

A.N. Myer Secondary School

BSc in Bio-medical Science, University of Guelph

Connie is President of the A.N. Myer Key Club, where she has organized crafting events for seniors, community clean-ups, and fundraisers for local and international charities. At A.N. Myer, Connie is on the Reach for the Top team, was an executive member of the multicultural club, and was the musical accompanist for the school musical. Connie holds her ARCT Diploma in piano performance and plays the trumpet in the A.N. Myer concert band. She works part time at a pharmacy and hopes to become an optometrist.

Sydney Yott

Saint Paul Catholic High School

BEng in Biomedical Engineering, University of Guelph

Sydney is Vice-President of the Saint Paul Athletic Council and has played on the school tennis, varsity soccer, varsity hockey, and volleyball teams. She is a student trustee and is president of the Catholic Board Council of the Ontario Student Trustee Association. She has volunteered at an animal sanctuary and last year led a fundraising and education campaign on the impacts of Residential Schools in support of the Woodland Cultural Centre. Sydney works as a style specialist at a retail outlet. Interested in anatomy and adaptive technologies, Sydney will study biomedical engineering.

Read about the 2022 McCall Huron County Scholarship Recipients here.