Canadian Foundation Awards $11,000 In Scholarships

The Canadian Phi Delta Theta Scholarship Foundation announced today that it has awarded $11,000 in scholarships to six Canadian Phis representing four chapters.

Winners of the 2014 Canadian Foundation scholarships are:

Rahim Shamsy – Western – $3,500

Brother Shamsy received the Canadian Foundation’s top honour in 2014 (the J. Fred Green Award). He was in his second year of study, majoring in Civil Engineering at Western University in London. He is on the university’s Dean’s Honour List with a 3.9 GPA. In addition to focusing on his academic studies, Rahim was working with his fellow colony brothers at Ontario Beta toward the re-installation of the chapter. In the colony, he was elected to the Risk Management position. He is active in the Ismaili Muslim community in London as a religious education teacher for youngsters. On campus, Rahim was the Founder of Kite Engineering (an engineering consulting start-up company) and was active on two intramural soccer teams. Brother Shamsy has demonstrated the three cardinal principles of the Fraternity (friendship, sound learning and rectitude) and, thus, the Foundation was pleased to recognize him with a $3,500 scholarship.

Jason Strandberg – Dalhousie – $2,500

Brother Strandberg received a $2,500 Foundation scholarship in recognition of his well-rounded accomplishments. He was a fourth year Accounting major at Dalhousie with a 3.65 GPA and was on the university’s Dean’s List. He was the chapter’s Treasurer and was Nova Scotia Alpha’s Kleberg delegate in Oxford, Ohio. Jason was the university’s Golden Key International Honours Society’s Vice President of Recruitment and was a residence hall President, Treasurer and orientation week house leader. In the community, Brother Strandberg was a volunteer Tae-Kwon-Do instructor in addition to volunteering as an income tax preparer. Following graduation he intends to become a CPA in the Calgary area.

Justin M. Van Beelen – Dalhousie – $2,500

Brother Van Beelen was in fourth year Civil Engineering at Dalhousie when he was awarded a $2,500 scholarship from the Foundation. He maintained a 3.63 GPA and was the chapter’s Scholarship Chairman. He was recognized with a George B. Robertson Phi Delta Theta Scholarship as well as an entrance scholarship from the university and was recognized as Iron Phi #343 by the general Fraternity by raising $1,200 after completing a 140 km bike ride. On campus he was the Vice President (Academics) in the Civil Engineering Society.

Javier A.M. Locsin – Dalhousie – $1,000

Brother Locsin achieved a 3.22 GPA in his fourth year studies in Civil Engineering at Dalhousie and was recognized with a $1,000 Foundation scholarship. He was the President of the Dalhousie Civil Engineering Student Society and was the chapter’s Scholarship Chair during his time as an undergraduate Phi. Brother Locsin remains active in the community through tutoring students in various engineering fields, in addition to being a volunteer with the provincial chapter of the SPCA.

Gabriel J. Ghiglione – McMaster – $1,000

Brother Ghiglione was a third year 3.0-GPA Anthropology and Biology major at McMaster when he received a $1,000 Foundation scholarship. He was active as a varsity cross-country athlete on campus and was 25th in Canada at the CIS championships this year. Gabriel was the President of the ALS Society at McMaster and was the chapter’s Philanthropy Chairman, leading the chapter’s efforts in a number of community initiatives. He was involved with McMaster Athletes Care, a program to get varsity athletes volunteering in the community.

Andrew J. Wiedemann – Alberta – $500

Brother Wiedemann was a fourth year Chemistry major with a 3.4 GPA at the University of Alberta. He received a $500 Foundation scholarship in 2014 in recognition of his campus, community and chapter involvement. Andrew organized the chapter’s teeter-totter marathon, and was the delegate to the Kleberg Emerging Leaders Institute as well as the biennial convention in addition to being Fundraising Chairman. He intends enroll in medical school upon graduation.

Since the Foundation’s inception in 1974, it has awarded $236,810 in scholarships to 213 deserving Canadian Phis.