18-летний инженер из Онтарио получил грант в $120 000 для создания инновационных технологий

Matthias Lodewyk says he wants to use his talent for innovation to create something that will help others. The 18-year-old Jordan resident’s quest received a big boost last month when he learned he was selected to receive a $120,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship to study engineering at Western University. “I’m really grateful to (scholarship founder) Seymour Schulich, the Schulich Foundation, and I’m really excited for all that Western University holds,” Lodewyk said. Schulich scholarships recognize entrepreneurial leadership and academic excellence in engineering, science, math and technology. Lodewyk said he received the good news email from the university on his tablet right after finishing a violin lesson that didn’t go as he had hoped. “I don’t think I was playing super well that day.” He applied to the Schulich Foundation for the scholarship in February and was nominated by Tricia Maughan, his academic adviser at Great Lakes Christian High School in Beamsville. With no word on his scholarship bid for three months and the June 5 deadline for all award confirmations fast approaching, Lodewyk said he felt it probably wasn’t going to happen. “I had pretty much given up hope,” said Lodewyk, who received his confirmation on June 3. “I am very grateful for Mrs. Maughan’s encouragement in my educational goals.” Lodewyk said he was home-schooled for most of his life before taking Grade 12 courses at Great Lakes Christian as a visiting student. With a passion for problem solving, Lodewyk said he wants to study engineering. “I feel that engineering is a program that has some of the most cutting-edge technology,” he said. “Western is known for its engineering — (the program) does not just provide world-class academics, but it also develops innovation-ready students through experiential learning.” Upon graduation, the Jordan resident would like to create a startup business focusing on new technology. “Build a new technology, create a business around it and be able to market and sell this new technology is where I want to go with that,” he said. “I don’t have a concept for my startup yet, but I want it to be based around an innovation. Hopefully it will be an innovation that is really needed that will help others.” Lodewyk said he was inspired to focus on creating helpful innovations last September while on a mission to bring free medical help to rural areas in Zambia. “I saw how a simple innovation called the LifeStraw provided numerous people with clean drinking water, a privilege we often take for granted,” he said. LifeStraw is a portable water filter that uses hollow fibre membranes to remove up to 99.99 per cent of contaminants. The second youngest in a family with four sisters and one brother, Lodewyk has had a lifelong interest and talent for building things the devout Christian said has been gifted to him by God. At age 13, he built a backyard forge and spent many hours exploring blacksmithing methods. As a 14-year-old, he built a record player out of a cardboard box and a few electronics. His four-fuel system for small engines garnered several awards, including the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (Niagara chapter) award at the 63rd Niagara Region Science and Engineering Fair.