St. John Henry Newman Graduate Named 2026 Schulich Leader
The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board is proud to congratulate St. John Henry Newman Catholic Secondary School graduate Victor Wybenga on being named a 2026 Schulich Leader at McMaster University. Victor has been awarded a prestigious $120,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship in recognition of his outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Established by Canadian businessman and philanthropist Seymour Schulich, the Schulich Leader Scholarship is one of Canada's most prestigious undergraduate STEM scholarships. Awarded annually to just 100 students across Canada, the scholarship recognizes exceptional students who demonstrate academic excellence, entrepreneurial leadership, and the potential to become the next generation of innovators and technology leaders.
Throughout his time at St. John Henry Newman Catholic Secondary School, Victor combined academic excellence with leadership, creativity, and a passion for innovation. Among his proudest accomplishments was founding and leading the school's Coding Club, creating opportunities for fellow students to explore computer science while fostering a collaborative learning environment. This fall, Victor will attend McMaster University to pursue Engineering.
"We are very proud of Victor on achieving this scholarship," said Anthony Macaluso, Principal of St. John Henry Newman Catholic Secondary School. "Whether on the ice, on stage, or in the classroom, he consistently demonstrates a commitment to excellence. We look forward to all the great things he's going to accomplish in the future."
Student Spotlight
How will this scholarship impact your future?
"Because of the Schulich Leader Scholarship's generous financial support, I will be able to pursue my interests in the STEM field even further than I normally would, without the financial pressures that would normally come with taking a major such as Engineering. Throughout my life, I've always been interested in the intersection between technology and the arts, whether it be building and using audio technologies, or creating hardware or software projects to benefit musicians. Throughout my university career and beyond, I plan to utilize the financial freedom offered by the Schulich Leader Scholarship to dive deeper into both my technical and creative interests, while tackling and building even more ambitious projects along the way.
Additionally, throughout high school, some of my fondest memories and biggest accomplishments have been through the Coding Club I founded and led at my school. I believe both the financial and networking resources given by the Schulich Leader Scholarship will allow me to experience something similar during my time at McMaster, by accomplishing even greater Engineering feats, surrounded by similarly minded and driven people. Overall, I hope all of the leadership opportunities, connections, and financial support provided by the Schulich Leader Scholarship will drive me to learn, create, and lead, so I can ultimately achieve success from my passion for STEM."
How did you feel when you learned you had been selected?
"When I first opened the email, at the end of my fifth-period class, I almost fainted. I almost didn't believe it was real. After school ended, I rushed home to tell my parents. In those fleeting moments, I started looking back on everything I had done to get to this point, and everyone who helped me along the way. I felt an immense sense of gratitude towards my school, my teachers, my friends, and most importantly, my family. I seriously felt like I would be nowhere near where I am today without them. So, after getting home and giving my parents the biggest hug, I felt relieved knowing that the person I truly am, combined with all the work and risks that I'd taken on, were enough to achieve something like this. After a whole four years of writing essays, sending in applications, and keeping my grades up, I could finally breathe a breath of fresh air, as all the stress and anticipation were mostly gone. Overall, I could not be more grateful to be given this opportunity."
How will this recognition help you pursue your goals?
"In the future, along with my Engineering degree at McMaster, I plan to involve myself in as many extra-curricular and work opportunities as possible. I believe the financial resources given by the Schulich Leader Scholarship will allow me more time and energy to pursue these experiences. Additionally, the industry connections and the Schulich reputation will allow me to have more success in searching for opportunities that exist at the crossroads of engineering and the arts, ultimately leading me to pursue a career in something I genuinely love."
The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board congratulates Victor on this outstanding accomplishment and wishes him every success as he begins the next chapter of his educational journey at McMaster University.
To learn more visit Schulich Leader Scholarships
