May 7, 2025
McCall MacBain scholarships awarded to two UCalgary students
Two UCalgary students, Yuvraj Agnihotri and Erik Barrett, are amongst 20 Canadians to receive a McCall MacBain scholarship to McGill University in 2025.
Established with a historic $200 million gift in 2019, the McCall MacBain Scholarships are Canada’s largest leadership-based scholarships for master’s and professional studies. Out of nearly 700 Canadian applicants, the top 150 were selected to attend the first round of interviews across the country and online. Of this group, 88 participants were invited to attend final interviews in Montreal earlier this year.
“These scholarships were created out of a belief that our world needs people who aspire to lead with purpose, empathy, integrity and courage,” said Dr. Marcy McCall MacBain, Chair of the McCall MacBain Scholarships. “We want to create opportunities for students to dream big, cultivate leadership, and contribute to something greater than themselves.”
Recipients were chosen based on exceptional character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength, and intellectual curiosity. “Every McCall MacBain Scholar has participated in six different interviews to earn this opportunity,” said Natasha Sawh, CEO of the McCall MacBain Scholarships. “They have already demonstrated extraordinary potential for impact, and they’ll join a community of entrepreneurial change-makers from varied fields and walks of life.”
Barrett has established support systems for students academically and through wellness initiatives at UCalgary
Erik Barrett
Chemical Engineering student Erik Barrett grew up in the small town of Minnedosa, Manitoba. In his time at UCalgary, he has left a lasting impact. From his involvement as president of the Energy and Environmental Engineering Students' Association to leading Running is Our Therapy club, Barrett has established himself as a support system for students academically and through wellness initiatives.
This passion for running intertwines with his role as the Regional Youth Ambassador for the Huntington’s Disease Youth Organization — with Barrett raising funds and awareness for Huntington's Disease initiatives through ultra-marathons.
Furthermore, Barret’s commitment to energy and environment is present in his career path from his internship developing low-carbon technologies at ATCO Gas & Pipelines to his president role in the Chemical and Oil & Gas Engineering Students' Society, representing and supporting 400 students.
Barrett’s journey toward becoming a McCall MacBain Scholarship recipient was shaped by the integration of his diverse passions and strong community leadership. Through the support of the Scholars Academy—a distinctive program that offers tailored guidance to high-achieving students engaged in research and leadership—he discovered the transformative potential of the McCall MacBain Scholarships.
"This scholarship is an incredible honour and I am excited to have this opportunity to learn new skills that will help me have a greater impact in my local and global communities. There’s a lot I want to do with my time on earth, and I am confident that this scholarship will help me achieve these goals," says Barrett.
“After receiving the call, I was sitting in my kitchen crying and laughing so hard that I woke up my roommate. We celebrated together over our morning coffee, still letting it sink in. I called my family that evening and tried to soak in the feeling of excitement and love that evening held,” says Barrett.
On the Master of Science in Chemical or Bioresource Engineering at McGill, Barrett says “I hope to then apply what I’ve learned to address problems facing energy, water, and food security across the globe. I want to give back to the communities that raised me.”
Agnihotri is a research assistant at the Alberta Children's Hospital where his focus is pediatric epilepsy
Yuvraj Agnihotri
Kinesiology student Yuvraj Agnihotri is a founding member and the vice president of finance of the Bhangra Club, managing sponsors, funding, and expense management for the club's competitions. In 2024, he won the Student Union Campus Involvement Award for his commitment to the club and other initiatives.
As a research assistant at the Alberta Children's Hospital, Agnihotri's research focused on comorbidities with pediatric epilepsy. He co-authored two studies presented at the American Epilepsy Society. Agnihotri has also volunteered with Adapted Physical Activity for Kids, supporting children's access to sports, and at Alberta Health Services hospitals.
Agnihotri will pursue a Master of Science in Experimental Surgery at McGill.
“I hope to continue exploring how change can be made to address inequitable access to healthcare, specifically among youth in areas of low socioeconomic status,” says Agnihotri. “This has been of particular interest to me throughout my undergraduate degree, and I hope to continue exploring this topic and striving to help those I can.”
Recipients of the scholarships were chosen based on exceptional character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength, and intellectual curiosity. “Every McCall MacBain Scholar has participated in six different interviews to earn this opportunity,” says Natasha Sawh, CEO of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill. “They have already demonstrated extraordinary potential for impact, and they’ll join a community of entrepreneurial change-makers from varied fields and walks of life.”
Entrance award recipients
The McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill also offered 95 entrance awards ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 each to top candidates not selected for the cohort.
The following University of Calgary students earned entrance awards:
- Jasmine Parhar - $10,000 McCall MacBain Finalist Award
- Howard Leong - $10,000 McCall MacBain Regional Award
- Thomas Tri - $5,000 McCall MacBain Regional Award
Applications will open in June 2025 for the 2026 cohort. More information about the McCall MacBain Scholarships can be found at mccallmacbainscholars.org.