From July 9 to 27, York University is hosting 64 high school students living on campus who are participating in the SHAD program, which looks to provide challenging and transformational opportunities focused on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics), business and design thinking.
SHAD is an inclusive month-long national summer program open to high school students in grades 10 and 11, which aims to cultivate the next generation of preeminent leaders in STEAM, business, social justice and entrepreneurship.
York University has been designated a SHAD campus since 2019, and the program echoes the experiential education York University aims to deliver its students, instilling self-confidence, entrepreneurial and workforce skills, and a network for life into all participating students.
An element of the program is to offers exposure to big ideas, and this summer students are being introduced to a broad cross-section of subjects through lectures with titles like: “Women in Leadership Sports,” “Indigenous and Refugee,” “Neuroscience Research at York,” and more. Lecturers include several York-affiliated professors.
Upon completing the program, participants are designated SHAD Fellows and become respected members of SHAD’s network for life. SHAD Fellows are described by the organization as being leaders and changemakers committed to the values of community, diversity, creativity, responsibility and excellence. They create positive change where they live, study and work, across the country and around the world.