The RCAF Foundation Student Scholarship is offered to Canada’s next generation of aviation and aerospace leaders. These scholarships are designed to assist post-secondary students in S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) areas of study who are planning future careers in the fields of either Aviation or Aerospace.

We expect these student scholarships to help encourage more young people to consider careers in these fields as the demand for skilled people grows in both the private and defence sectors.

This RCAF Foundation Student Scholarship supports two of our Areas of Focus including engaging young Canadians and working with the aviation and aerospace industry to promote future careers opportunities.

Thanks to the support of many donors, 50 $1,000 scholarships were available this year. We are very proud to share for the first time the 50 recipients of the 2022 RCAF Foundation Student Scholarship, selected from nearly 300 applications from across the country. Thank you to our jury (listed below) who had a challenging (but enjoyable!) task reviewing the applications.

Thanks to the scholarship, my financial burden had been slightly alleviated, which allowed me to focus more on my engineering studies. I was also honoured to receive validation for my career goals in aerospace.

Annie Wang, Repentigny, QC

Receiving the RCAF Foundation Scholarship made me feel supported, heard and seen. I felt even more motivated to continue to pursue my dreams of becoming a pilot. The Scholarship has provided me with more than just financial support, I have gained confidence as well.

Neghat Hidari, Toronto, ON

Receiving this scholarship made me gain a lot of perspective on the future. Before applying, I had a vague idea of what I wanted to do in the future, but nothing concrete. However, in writing the application for this, I had to think of my position in a future world, and it made me realize exactly what I wanted to do. Winning the scholarship helped even more, because it showed me that what I want to do in the future is not crazy, and that I would have people rooting for me and supporting me.

Callum French, Greely, ON

Congratulations to these outstanding students!

Meet our recipients:

Air Canada RCAF Foundation Scholarship

Frank Bustamante

Calgary, AB

University of Calgary

Avionics Engineer/Communications Engineer

Kensington Hewson

Vernon, BC

Mount Royal University

Airline Pilot

Ryan Khourchid

Peterborough, ON

Seneca College

Airline Pilot

Chris Allan RCAF Foundation Scholarship

Jake Fehr

Bracken, SK

Prairie College

Medevac pilot

W/C William G. Barker, VC RCAF Foundation Scholarship

Ember Warren

Ottawa, ON

Carleton University

Aerospace Engineer

BMO RCAF Foundation Scholarship

Kai Chen

Saskatoon, SK

University of Toronto

Aerospace Engineer

Paige Wakelin

London, ON

University of Windsor

Pilot

Wafa Zellouf

Saint-Basile-le-Grand, QC

Polytechnique de Montréal

Aerospace Engineer

CIBC RCAF Foundation Scholarship

Elian Dupre-Sarmiento

Calgary, AB

University of Calgary

Aerospace Engineer

BGen Michael Dabros OMM, CD2 RCAF Foundation Scholarship

Emma Ellsworth

Ottawa, ON

Carleton University

Aerospace Engineer

CAE RCAF Foundation Scholarship

Agathe Bérubé

Montréal, QC

Polytechnique Montréal

Aerospace Engineer

Anh-Khoa Chau-Vo

Montréal, QC

Concordia University

Aerospace Engineering

Olivier St-Onge

Montréal, QC

Université Concordia

Engineering Project Manager

Flying Officer Melvin Garland RCAF Foundation Scholarship

Grace Wilson

Cobourg, ON

Seneca College

Pilot

Hamilton International Airport RCAF Foundation Scholarship

Kendra Berg

Dutton, ON

Fanshawe College

Pilot

Kaden Lac

Waterloo, ON

University of Waterloo

Pilot

Armin Mahboubi

Toronto, ON

Western University

Commercial Pilot in Northern Canada

JDS Group of Companies RCAF Foundation Scholarship

Alexander Krawciw

Victoria, BC

University of Toronto

Space Robotics Engineer

George Macdonell RCAF Foundation Scholarship

Sahil Kale

Waterloo, ON

University of Waterloo

Aerospace Mechatronics Engineer

John (Jack) Franklin Riley RCAF Foundation Scholarship

Anastasiya Yermolenko

Winnipeg, MB

University of Manitoba

Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

Alfred and Barbara Smith RCAF Foundation Scholarship

Mattias Cheung

Prince George, BC

Toronto Metropolitan University

Aircraft/Spacecraft Design

Mohamed-Sofiane Ferrani

Laval, QC

Concordia University

Rocket Engineer – Mechanical designer

Gabrielle Gracia

Penticton, BC

University of British Columbia

Aerospace Engineer

Ruby Hopkins

Waubaushene, ON

University of Waterloo

RCAF Fighter Pilot

Kyra Jarvis

Kingston, NS

University of Waterloo

Commercial Aviation Pilot

Duaa Khan

Sackville, NB

Mount Allison University

Aviation/ Aerospace Engineering

Sheldon Lewis

Pickering, ON

University of British Columbia

Astrophysics/Astronautical Engineering

Emma Paczkowski

Canmore, AB

Queen's University

Embedded Software Engineering for Satellite Applications

Amy Pon

Calgary, AB

University of Calgary

Aerospace researcher

Peter Shmerko

Calgary, AB

University of Alberta

Research in electronics and aerospace

Winnipeg Jets RCAF Foundation Scholarship

Luis Adrian Manalili

Winnipeg, MB

Red River College Polytech

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer

Onovidi Aribilosho

Winnipeg, MB

Red River Polytech

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer

Sara Gervino

Winnipeg, MB

University of Manitoba

Mechanical Engineer/Aerospace Engineer

Air Vice-Marshal Larry Wray RCAF Foundation Scholarship

Benjamin Harbarenko

Leduc, AB

University of Alberta

Aerospace Engineer

RCAF Foundation Scholarship

Mir Ruwayd Afeef

Port Moody, BC

University of British Columbia

Aerospace Engineering

Camila Beam

Cumberland Bay, NB

Mount Allison University / Moncton Flight College

Aerial Firefighter

Maya Cantin

Saint-Hubert, QC

Polytechnique Montréal

Aerospace Engineer and Pilot

Adam Gibson

Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Sault College

Commercial Pilot

Carolyn Huang

Edmonton, AB

University of British Columbia

Software Engineer

Rayan Kerfai

Laval, QC

Collège André-Grasset

Aerospace Engineer / Pilot

Lukas Kobler

Whitehorse, YT

University of Calgary

Propulsion Engineer

Charles Maloux

Cold Lake, AB

University of Alberta

Pilot

Tanisha Natomagan

Deseronto, ON

First Nations Technical Institute / Canadore College

Airline Pilot

Francis Radiff

Anchorage, AK

Queen's University

Engineering/Aviation medicine

Jesse Rivett

Maple Ridge, BC

University of the Fraser Valley

Commercial Pilot

Evan Schonfeldt

Kirkland Lake, ON

University of Ottawa

Aeronautical Engineering

Trisha Virdee

Peterborough, ON

Seneca College

Pilot

Hugh Warkentin

Kingston, ON

Queen's University

Chemical Engineer

Jaden Williams

Ottawa, ON

Carleton University

Aerospace Engineer

Lauren Williams

Chester, NS

Dalhousie University

Aerospace Engineer

2022 SELECTION JURY

The recipients are chosen through a competitive application and selection process. The time and thoughtful review put forth by these jurors reflects their dedication to aviation and aerospace and commitment to supporting the next generation of leaders.

Meet our 2022 jury

Dean Black

Executive Director

RCAF Association of Canada

Brent Henman

2021 Scholarship Recipient

Kristin Long

Pilot

WestJet Airlines

Tonya Yearwood

Senior IT Project Manager

Air Canada

Sophia Wells

Community Engagement and Mentorship

Elevate Aviation

John Wright

Executive Vice President

Maru Public Opinion

Interested in past recipients?
Click here for the 2021 RCAF Foundation Student Scholarship recipients

2021 STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Digital Exhibition: RCAF Station Jarvis