Six engineers recognized with scholarship awards

The recipients were chosen from a large number of submissions from across Canada. This year they represent electrical biomedical, civil, environmental, and geo-environmental branches of engineering, as well as law, social and ecological sustainability, and social sciences.

The six annual scholarships are made possible through the generous support of Manulife and TD Insurance Meloche Monnex.

“This year’s scholarship recipients are an excellent example of how engineers improve the lives of Canadians in so many ways,” said Engineers Canada president Digvir Jayas, FEC, P.Eng.

“We are proud to support them as they build on their existing engineering expertise through dedicated research, policy development, and skills advancement in order to solve the problems facing our society and to improve our lives.”

“We are pleased to be supporting Canadian engineering professionals and the contributions they make to society through their research and work,” said Wallace Thompson, VP sales and marketing, Affinity Markets, Manulife.

“We are committed to meeting the needs of the membership by providing industry leading insurance products for well over six decades and continuing our long standing relationship with the Engineers Canada scholarship program.”

“We are proud to support the future of engineering and of our participation in the Engineers Canada scholarship program for over 60 years,” said Paul Douglas, VP, Affinity Market Group, TD Insurance Meloche Monnex.

“Our commitment to fostering long-term relationships with our business partners is what sets us apart as one of the leading providers of group home and auto insurance programs.”

This year’s recipients exemplify the valuable contribution that engineers make to society by innovating and helping advance the areas of patient care, earthquake resistant structures, sustainable water treatment, technological progress and management in the energy industry, the promotion of women in engineering, and consumer energy consumption.

The six 2015 scholarship recipients are working on a range of projects:
Engineers Canada-Manulife Scholarships ($12,500):

• Hélène Dutrisac, P.Eng. (PEO), is pursuing a doctorate in Civil Engineering at McGill University. Her research focusing on how buildings resist earthquake ground motions is expected to permit more efficient and refined seismic design of earthquake-resistant structures.

• Matthew d’Entremont, P.Eng. (Engineers Nova Scotia), is pursuing a doctorate in Electrical Biomedical Engineering at Dalhousie University, researching the use of precision ultrasound technology as a non-invasive surgical tool. His research will allow for faster surgeries, reduced recovery time and reduced patient risk.

• Evelyne Monfet, ing. (OIQ), is interested in finding optimal and efficient practices to treat wastewater using microalgae. The applications of Evelyne’s research will optimize wastewater treatment while producing biogas and decrease the consumption of non-renewable fuel.

Engineers Canada–TD Insurance Meloche Monnex Scholarships ($7,500):

• Robert Sevalrud, P.Eng., MBA (APEGA), is pursuing his law degree at the University of Calgary. He intends to combine his previous studies in Geoenvironmental Engineering with his current emphasis on securities to foster technological progress and positive change in the energy industry.

• Katherina Tarnai-Lokhorst, FEC, P.Eng. (APEGBC), is pursuing a Doctor of Social Science degree at Royal Roads University. Her research will help increase the number of young women studying engineering and help students of both genders better understand engineering career choices.

• Stephanie Whitney, MEB, P.Eng. (PEO), is pursuing a doctorate in Social and Ecological Sustainability at the University of Waterloo. Her research in energy conservation marketing and behaviour will help reduce home energy consumption through awareness raising.

Engineers Canada is the national organization of the 12 engineering regulators that license the country’s 280,000 members of the profession. Together, we work to advance the profession in the public interest.