Two UCalgary students awarded prestigious 3M National Student Fellowship

Two University of Calgary students have become 3M National Student Fellows. Third-year biomechanics student Mathieu Chin and fourth-year health sciences student Tingting Yan join eight other students from around the country in being recognized for their leadership within and outside their post-secondary institutions.

Cumming School of Medicine's Yan led in the creation of the Human Connection Community Program and a photojournalism project called Humans of UCalgary. She has been conducting neuroimaging research at the Alberta Children’s Hospital and defended her honours thesis on April 5. This summer, she will be working on a research project for Healthy Child Uganda in Mbarara, Uganda.

The Faculty of Kinesiology's Chin has been a leader in UCalgary’s Peer-Assisted Study Session (PASS) program and is an education co-ordinator for Thrive, an innovative fitness facility that improves the quality of life for people affected by cancer. He has conditional acceptance into the Cumming School of Medicine for fall 2020 through the Pathways to Medicine scholarship. Chin is also an undergraduate researcher at the Sports Injury Prevention Research Centre — where he is exploring ways to reduce sports injuries.

Both Yan and Chin are members of Scholars Academy, a program that aims to enhance the academic and professional development of high-achieving students. Members benefit from a community that provides support, guidance and mentorship throughout their academic journey and beyond.

This June, both students will travel to Winnipeg to meet the other award winners at the Society of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education conference. There, they and the other winners will collaborate on a special cohort project. 

“Learning doesn’t just occur within the boundaries of lecture halls, but through insightful conversations with people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives,” says Yan, who is also a recipient of the Schulich Leader scholarship at UCalgary. “The cohort project is an amazing opportunity to facilitate these connections in post-secondary institutions around Canada.” 

This fellowship is a great way to build on the skills they have been honing through Scholars Academy.

“It’s an opportunity to continue to build on my leadership,” says Chin. “Having those many diverse perspectives from the different recipients of this award will be very beneficial.”

For Chin, the cohort project is an opportunity to expand on the mentorship he has already received at UCalgary.

“Mentorship has always been a big thing,” he says. “I’ve always felt I had that support. The University of Calgary has given me a support network that I don’t think I would have had otherwise.” 

Yan agrees. “I’ve always stood on the shoulders of giants, and I’m grateful for all of my mentors,” she says. “I’m very proud to be a member of the UCalgary community.”

You can read about all of UCalgary’s inspiring Scholars Academy students and alumni on the Scholars Academy website.