UBC student Emilie Lapointe selected as the 2011 Vale Master’s in Engineering Scholarship Winner

(Renfrew, Ontario): A new ambassador and role model for women in engineering has joined the illustrious list of Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation scholarship recipients.  The Foundation is proud to announce that Emilie Lapointe, a master’s in engineering student at the University of British Columbia, has been named the 2011 Vale Master’s in Engineering Scholarship winner.

This prestigious $10,000 scholarship is awarded annually to the most promising woman in a graduate engineering program at the master’s level in Canada. This year’s winner is an outstanding and dedicated member of her community, donating her time and energy to helping others, while extolling the values of leadership and promoting the profession of engineering.

Emilie Lapointe from Ste-Sabine, Quebec is a civil engineering student candidate at the university where her research focuses on geotechnical engineering specializing in soil improvement.

Among her many accomplishments, she has volunteered as a mentor for Women in Science and Engineering at UBC, worked as a Leader for the Science Week Project, is actively involved with Engineers Without Borders including serving as a delegate at the EWB National Conference, and donated her time as a driver this past holiday season for Operation Red Nose.

“I know my leadership and communication skills have evolved during my professional activities, but even more so through the various extracurricular activities I have been involved in,” says Emilie.  “I will continue to be involved in mentoring young women; it is rewarding to see their motivation and I feel fulfilled when I can use my experiences to inspire other people.”

“As an employer, these scholarships are essential for our organization to ensure we develop future talent in engineering,” says Michael Gribe, Manager HR Systems, Workforce Planning, Budgeting and Sourcing for Vale. “We are extremely proud to have Emilie represent both Vale and the profession of engineering as our 2011 Master’s in Engineering Scholarship recipient.  “Vale is a world leader in the mining industry and we have a committed and growing presence in Canada, from the construction of a new processing plant in Newfoundland to the development of a potash property in Saskatchewan.  We are dedicated to building a strong future and investing in the communities we serve.”

Along with the financial support, Vale also offers the opportunity for summer job placements to its scholarship winners.

Since 1990, the Foundation has been promoting engineering as a career choice for young Canadian women through its extensive scholarship program, a website that attracts thousands of new visitors a month, social media programming, and scholarship winner presentations to high school students.

Emilie will receive her scholarship certificate at the CEMF Annual Awards Ceremony hosted by Engineers Canada as part of its AGM.  The ceremony will take place in Halifax in May.

“Emilie epitomizes the strong, positive and well-rounded role model the Foundation is proud to support – we believe she is truly an ambassador for the profession of engineering and is an inspiration to young women across Canada who may, one day, choose to become a professional engineer due to her influence,” says Huntley O’Connor, CEMF president. “Congratulations Emilie!”

Information in this post provided by CEMF.