Laurier Global Studies student receives McCall MacBain Scholarship to pursue a fully funded master’s degree

April 7, 2021
For Immediate Release

Waterloo – Wilfrid Laurier University Global Studies student Hayley Newman-Petryshen is one of 20 Canadians chosen to receive a McCall MacBain Scholarship, Canada’s first comprehensive leadership-based scholarship for master’s and professional studies.

The scholarship covers all tuition and fees for a master’s or professional degree at McGill University in Montreal, provides a monthly stipend for living costs and includes opportunities to participate in an intensive leadership development program.

More than 735 people applied for the McCall MacBain Scholarships, 132 participated in regional interviews with local leaders in November and 50 were invited to final interviews in March. Scholars were chosen based on their character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength and intellectual curiosity.

Newman-Petryshen helps run social justice initiatives through the Laurier Students’ Public Interest Research Group and started a committee that engaged nine campus groups to discuss and work to improve menstrual equity at Laurier. She has been volunteering with the WLU Rotaract chapter for four years, including last year as president.

“There is something incredible about knowing that a group of dedicated people really believe in you and your future,” said Newman-Petryshen. “To me, this scholarship means I will be able to further my studies in a field I am passionate about and hopefully use my research to make real-world differences.”

She aims to pursue a Master of Arts in Political Science at McGill, with the goal of exploring issues of climate change and gender.

“I hope to use my time at McGill to examine potential links between the exclusion and oppression of women and the exploitation of the environment in the context of trade liberalization, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa,” she said. “For our response to climate change to be effective, I believe we must be holistic in our approach and ensure that women are not further disadvantaged.”

Outreach is already underway for the second class of McCall MacBain Scholars, with the application period opening in June. The program will expand internationally over the next decade, with nearly 300 McCall MacBain Scholars selected by 2030.