Twelve RBC Royal Bank scholarships for new Canadian won by students of different nationalities

The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has recently awarded its second annual RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for New Canadians to twelve students from across Canada during a special dinner at the Ontario Heritage Centre in downtown Toronto.

RBC launched this scholarship program last year to recognize the important role immigration plays in Canada's cultural, social and economic development. This program is aimed at individuals who have been through the immigration experience, graduated high school or CEGEP, and are planning to pursue full-time studies at an accredited Canadian college or university this fall.

The winners of the award were selected from over one thousand applicants based on academic achievement (at least a 70 per cent average in their previous year of study), and their responses to three, 250-word essay questions about how immigration has shaped Canada, along with their personal experiences and advice to others going through similar experiences. Applicants for this scholarship program must also have been born outside of Canada, and be either permanent residents or citizens of Canada.

The recipients of the RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for New Canadians for 2008 represent a cross-section of nationalities from all over the world. Here is the list of program winners:

Ms. Brahamjot Moondi, age 18
Country of Origin: Newport, United Kingdom
Hometown: Brampton, Ontario
Program: Business Management and Organizational Studies, University of Western Ontario
Ambition: Chartered Accounting, followed by a career in business leadership

Ms. Chibeze Ojukwu, age 18
Country of Origin: Sydney, Australia
Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Program: Political Studies with a minor in Anthropology, University of Saskatchewan
Ambition: Work with Doctors without Borders, followed by a career in medicine

Ms. Janet Xu, age 18
Country of Origin: Shanghai, China
Hometown: Surrey, British Columbia
Program: Science, University of British Columbia
Ambition: A career in medicine

Ms. Jenny Duong, age 17
Country of Origin: Hong Kong, China
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Program: Humanities with double minor in English Literature and French, University of Toronto
Ambition: Graduate studies, followed by a career in teaching or journalism

Mr. Karanbir Gill, age 18
Country of Origin: Chandigarh, India
Hometown: Surrey, British Columbia
Program: Bachelor of Applied Sciences (Engineering), University of British Columbia
Ambition: An MBA followed by a career at a technology company

Mr. Kevin Zhou, age 18
Country of Origin: Beijing, China
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
Program: Engineering, University of Western Ontario
Ambition: An MBA followed by a career in finance or engineering

Mr. Paul Mou, age 18
Country of Origin: Taiwan
Hometown: Stouffville, Ontario
Program: System Design, University of Waterloo
Ambition: A doctorate in computer science followed by a career in robotics

Ms. Serena Chin, age 18
Country of Origin: Dagenham, United Kingdom
Hometown: Markham, Ontario
Program: International Bachelor of Business Administration, Schulich School of Business, York University
Ambition: An MBA followed by a business leadership role

Mr. Toby Woerthle, age 18
Country of Origin: Heilbronn, Germany
Hometown: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Program: Computer Science, University of Waterloo
Ambition: Owning a software business

Ms. Yelin Yang, age 18
Country of Origin: Shanghai, China
Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario
Program: Health Sciences, McMaster University
Ambition: A career in pediatrics

Ms. Yili Wang, age 18
Country of Origin: Panjin, China
Hometown: Brampton, Ontario
Program: Life Sciences, University of Toronto
Ambition: A career in medicine

Mr. Ashkan Pishvaei, age 18
Country of Origin: Tehran, Iran
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
Program: Bachelor of Arts, followed by Commerce in Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia
Ambition: Owning an accounting firm