Schmeelk Foundation announces 2015-2016 winners of the Richard J. Schmeelk Canada Fellowship

MONTREAL, June 15, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - The Schmeelk Canada Foundation announced today the winners of the prestigious Richard J. Schmeelk Canada Fellowship. The fellowship is offered to French and English speaking Canadians who wish to broaden their geographic and cultural horizons. The fellowship is available to students holding a bachelor's degree who desire to pursue graduate studies in Canada's other official language.

Through its university partners—the University of Western Ontario, University of Calgary, Université Laval and Université de Montréal—and links with business and government, the Schmeelk Canada Foundation offers recipients a unique opportunity to expand their network and pursue diverse opportunities country-wide.

Every year, the Schmeelk Canada Foundation awards its fellowship recipients $10,000 per term, renewable for a maximum of $40,000.

The following three students have been awarded the 2015-2016 Richard J. Schmeelk Canada Fellowship:

Chelsea Smith of London, Ontario will study Civil Law at Université Laval in Quebec City. Chelsea received her undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature and French from Huron University College at Western University where she was a Gold Medalist and won 10 other academic awards. More recently she was made a Juris Doctor in Law from Western University School of Law where she also earned a Diplôme de Français Juridique. Throughout her studies Chelsea figured constantly on the Dean's honour list and has been very active in sports, campus life and volunteer work, including founding the Western Law French Society.

Jean-Guy Belliveau of Belliveau Cove, Nova Scotia will pursue his doctorate in Medical Biophysics at Western University. His field of study is the intermediate and long-term changes in the central nervous system that occur following radiation therapy to low grade and benign brain tumours. Jean-Guy received his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical-biomedical engineering from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from Western University. Jean-Guy serves as a judge and guest speaker at French Immersion school events and volunteers his time as a minor hockey referee.

Mary-Elizabeth Brown of London, Ontario will undertake her doctorate in Music from the Université de Montréal. She holds an undergraduate degree in Music from the University of Toronto and a Master of Music degree from the Université de Montréal. She has been active in international music education in Uruguay, Brazil, Malaysia and The Bahamas. Her volunteer work with Orchestras Canada has helped raise funds to purchase musical equipment in developing countries. Mary-Elizabeth was nominated for an RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2014. She is the Concertmaster of Sinfonia Toronto, hailed as one of the finest chamber ensembles in the world.

"This year's recipients join an impressive group of Schmeelk fellows and alumni," said Pierre Lortie, Chairman of Schmeelk Canada Foundation. "The fellowship is offered only to the most deserving students who seek to embody the spirit of Canada's diversity; the new recipients pursue this tradition. I congratulate this year's winners and wish them the best success in their upcoming studies."

About the Schmeelk Foundation
The Schmeelk Canada Foundation is a registered charity founded in 1994, ten years after the distinguished American investment banker Richard J. Schmeelk created the Schmeelk Fellowship through his own personal contributions. The Fellowship aims to build tolerance and understanding between anglophone and francophone Canadians and to encourage more effective collaboration and trust between Canadian business and government through the promotion of intercultural awareness and interprovincial studies. Since the program's founding, more than 100 Canadian students have been awarded fellowships of up to $40,000.

SOURCE Schmeelk Canada Foundation

Adam Daifallah, Vice-President of the Board, 514.316.7089 [email protected]