The Notre Dame High School community is filled with pride as one of its own, Allison Goodyear, was awarded the highly competitive Schulich Leader Scholarship, one of Canada’s most prestigious undergraduate awards in STEM. Selected from over 300,000 students across Canada, 1,500 nominees shortlisted, Allison stands among the elite 100 recipients of this $100,000 scholarship. She is attending Queen’s University to pursue Biotechnology. Notre Dame Principal Jean-Paul Cloutier shared his excitement for Allison’s success: “We are thrilled to see the positive impact Allison will undoubtedly make at her new academic home. Notre Dame High School has been fortunate to have a student like Allison, who demonstrated leadership and academic excellence. She has paved her way to success, earning her a scholarship and admiration from her peers and mentors.”
Reflecting on her achievement, Allison credits not only her hard work but also the influence of her school and community for helping her reach this milestone. “As much as the Schulich Leader Scholarship was awarded to me, I did not win it alone,” she says. “My success was only possible due to the support from my family and Notre Dame school community, and the opportunities I had been given that helped me grow as a leader and person.”
The Schulich Leader Scholarship is more than just financial support; it recognizes Allison’s dedication to academics, leadership, and service. Her journey toward this award began long before the scholarship came into view. “Unbeknownst to me, I had been working towards this long before I had even heard the words’ Schulich Leader,’ she reflects. For Allison, excellence was always a personal standard. But she realized that academics alone didn’t make her feel fulfilled. “I found that participating in the communities I was a part of was what added sweetness to my life,” she explains. Allison’s commitment extended well beyond the classroom—she was actively involved in the Student Council, Prom Committee, Yearbook, Music Ministry, and Trivia Team while working as a music teacher and tutor.
For Allison, winning the scholarship was as much a personal achievement as it was a shared success with her community. When she learned about her win, her first instinct was to share the news with her family and then rush back to Notre Dame High School. “I scoured the school looking for anybody that remained, sharing so many hugs, tears, and moments of joy. This was a win for all of us. Everyone who had supported me, everyone who had taken a chance on me, everyone who had believed in me,” she recalls.
Reflecting on this experience, Allison feels that it wasn’t simply the scholarship that changed her life but the journey of service and leadership that led to it. “Positively impacting others and bringing them joy is worth more than any scholarship or bursary,” she shares. “Those are the moments that change your life.”
Allison Goodyear’s story reminds us that achievement is built through community, dedication, and the desire to make a difference. As she begins her studies at Queen’s University, the Notre Dame High School community proudly celebrates a student who embodies its values of service and excellence.