SCHOLARS' PAGE
The Scholars and the Scholarship Committee met by a ZOOM call on December 23, 2020.
The Scholars themselves suggested that this page be updated.
A short description of their careers will be added as soon as they are provided.
Previous career reports will remain until they are replaced.
PROFILES FROM 2021
Ethan O'Connell is currently completing his third year of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UNB. He will be returning to work with the Communications Research Centre Canada this summer as a student intern to gain more co-op experience before graduation. In addition to his academics, he is part of the CubeSat NB project group preparing to launch a miniature satellite into space. He also maintains an active role with UNB Cares, helping connect students studying on line.
Grace Ashfield is in her second year of a combined electrical engineering computer science course. "This semester school was challenging being completely online for me, however I still enjoyed my courses and was able to 'meet' some people through group projects. Aside from the busyness of courses, I did a lot of work with the engineering undergraduate society to support first years, as well as maintaining some part time work with my job at Worlds UNBound."
Matthew Nickerson is currently employed as a Mechanical and Vision Designer with ATS Automation. He works at the ATS Innovation Center in Kingston helping design Symphoni, a proprietary technology for automated assembly. Previous employment: Mechatronics Designer at Transformix Engineering (2016-2020). Mechanical and Automation Designer at Ganong Bros. (2014-2016). Mechanical Engineering Co-op at Irving Paper (2013), Automation Design Co-op at Chiron-werke (2012). Graduated UNB Mechanical Engineering (Mechatronics) 2015.
Mitchell Small: Following his graduation from UNB Mechanical Engineering, Mitchell completed this Masters in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Toronto with a research focus on aerostructural analysis of airplane wings. During his time at UNB, he has completed co-op terms with Mercedes Benz in Germany and TransCanada Pipelines in Calgary, as well as a research position at UNB's wind tunnel lab. Mitchell also lent his time to the UNB Robotics Competition organizing committee, the Student Society of Mechanical Engineers at UNB, and the Aerospace Students' Association. He now works as a Solutions Engineer and Projects Manager with a Fredericton-based technology company, Eigen Innovations, where he leads the hardware deployment of quality control systems for industrial applications across North America.
Paige Wilson writes: "I am currently working on my Masters in Chemical Engineering at UNB. My research is based on electrochemistry in molten salts to help determine corrosion rates in SMRs (Small Modular Reactors). This research will help with the safety and longevity of the reactors. As the pandemic cancelled Usport and AUS soccer seasons this year I still have one year of eligibility to play for the UNB Varsity Soccer team next season during my final year of my masters."
On the lead page Thom's scholars are listed by first name in the order of their graduation from high school.
Regretfully, the scholarship was not offered in 2006 and 2020.
EARLIER PROFILES
Kathryn Instrum is attending Queen’s University in Kingston, ON, after graduating from École Sainte-Anne in Fredericton, NB in 2017. Her first year of engineering is a general program but starting in her second year she will be specializing in Applied Mathematics Engineering, sub-specializing in Systems and Robotics and will begin to support groups like the Women In Science and Engineering. She is seeking summer employment in her chosen field of study.
Michelle Bendrich is currently completing her PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Alberta, with Umicore AG & Co. KG as an industrial partner. She is a proud UNB engineering alumna, and enjoyed being part of the UNB EUS executive committee during her studies. Her interests include the modelling of automotive catalytic converters (her research topic), playing the piano, swimming, painting, board games, food, and travelling.