Meet Brandon University’s first McCall MacBain Scholarship finalist

Brandon University’s Aimée Schmidt (BSc’25) will soon journey to Montreal as a national finalist for the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill.

Established with a landmark $200-million gift in 2019, the McCall MacBain Scholarships are Canada’s largest leadership-based scholarships for master’s and professional studies. More than 700 Canadians applied, and 151 advanced to a first round of interviews in November. The top 53 Canadians will attend the final round of interviews in Montreal, joined by 38 finalists from other countries. Travel and accommodation costs are covered for the final interviews.

“This will be my second visit to Montreal, and I’m excited to explore the city more fully. I hope to spend time in Old Montreal, use public transit to wander, and immerse myself in the city’s history and culture.”

McCall MacBain Scholars receive substantial funding to pursue an eligible degree at McGill University, including a $2,300 monthly living stipend during academic terms and summer funding options. Scholars are paired with mentors and coaches, participate in an interdisciplinary leadership program, and have access to the McCall MacBain House on campus. A relocation grant is also available for those moving to Montreal.

Applicants are endorsed by their universities of origin and assessed by volunteer leaders based on evidence of character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength, and intellectual curiosity.

Aimée recently graduated from Brandon University with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. Drawn to support her community through caregiving, she works as an operations specialist and support mentor at an in-house family support program in Carberry.

Aimée volunteers as a catechist at her church, leading youth religious education classes, and supports an elderly church member with daily tasks. As the interim faith formation coordinator, she implemented initiatives to improve volunteer engagement and satisfaction. Aimée also started a tutoring service for English and French immersion students and built a mobile application to recommend, review, and track books.

Aimée is applying to master’s programs in computer science at McGill. Her undergraduate thesis focused on the safety and fuel efficiency of autonomous vehicles.

“Being named a finalist is both humbling and energizing. I’m grateful for the opportunity and for the many mentors, peers, and experiences that helped bring me to this point,” said Aimée. “In my final undergraduate year, I engaged in cutting-edge autonomous vehicle research. Publishing this work strengthened my analytical thinking, academic writing, and perseverance, and confirmed my desire to pursue graduate-level research.”

“We aim to support emerging leaders who demonstrate integrity, kindness, curiosity, and courage,” said Dr. Marcy McCall MacBain, Chair of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill. “These students have already shown remarkable promise in their communities, and we’re grateful to the universities that encouraged and supported them in pursuing this opportunity.”

While in Montreal, Aimée will interview with leaders from academia, business, government, and the social sector. Up to 30 McCall MacBain Scholars will be selected after final interviews. Canadian finalists not selected for the cohort will be eligible to receive $10,000 towards their studies at McGill.

“We are also deeply thankful to the more than 300 leaders who lend their time to help us select these exceptional students and graduates,” added Natasha Sawh, CEO of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill. “The interviews provide candidates with a space for meaningful reflection, and we hope they leave with a stronger sense of their leadership potential and the impact they can have in strengthening communities.”

Applications will open in June 2026 for the 2027 cohort. More information about the McCall MacBain Scholarships can be found at mccallmacbainscholars.org.

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