News
February 13, 2013
Waterloo native is awarded full academic scholarship to Brescia at Take the Lead
London, ON –Waterloo native Janice Lam was the winner of Brescia’s Take the Lead public speaking contest on November 10th, 2012 and was awarded a one-year full academic scholarship beginning in September 2013. Lam competed along with 37 other young women, all of whom spoke about Women in Leadership.
Brescia’s Take the Lead public speaking contest welcomes young women in Grades 11 and 12 from across Ontario to speak about women who inspire leadership. “What motivated me to participate in Take the Lead was the opportunity to learn more about Brescia. Take the Lead is more than just a competition; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says Lam. She also adds, “It is a great opportunity to be on campus and to be able to meet other students.”
Lam, a Grade 12 student at Waterloo Collegiate Institute, inspired the panel of final-round judges at the annual competition and was surprised with the results announced. “When I first heard my name, I didn’t believe it. I knew there was a chance that I could win, but it was not something that I expected,” says Lam.
Director of Communications, Marketing, and External Relations at Brescia, says of the program, “We are thrilled with the caliber of young women who have met the challenge of speaking in front of an audience with such enthusiasm and passion. And we add the Take the Lead “alumnae” to an ever-growing cohort each year. They have become ambassadors for Brescia and proponents of the values inherent in female leadership.”
All participants were judged on content and delivery of their speech in both the preliminary and final rounds. The contest hosted the 38 young women and their families as well as 27 female judges from the Brescia community, including alumnae, volunteers, educators, and local celebrities. The final-round of judges included: Jane Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the Children’s Aid Society of London & Middlesex and a member of the Brescia University College Council of Trustees; Mary Lou Finlay, former host of CBC’s “As It Happens”; Liz Hewitt, lawyer, E. Hewitt Law and member of the Council of Trustees; Cynthia Good, Director of Creative Book Publishing at Humber College; Gail Stoddart, Vice President, Bank of Montreal Nesbitt Burns; and Natalie Lovie, reporter and newscaster at AM980.
Janice Lam recommends to future participants to think outside of the box. She goes on to say, “the best topic is one that you enjoy learning from and talking about.” For more information about Take the Lead go to http://www.brescia.uwo.ca/takethelead/index.html.
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For more information please contact Colleen Aguilar, Communications, Marketing & External Relations Officer, at 519.432.8353, ext. 28280 or colleen.aguilar@uwo.ca.
Brescia University College, Canada's premier women's university college, is affiliated with Western University. The 1,275 women registered as either full or part-time students at Brescia study a wide variety of subjects in Arts, Social Sciences, and Foods & Nutrition in an empowering, compassionate, student-centred, and invigorating environment. Degrees are granted by Western. The Catholic College welcomes students from all backgrounds and values diversity. For more current and archived news, a listing of faculty experts, and photos please visit our Online Media Room at http://www.brescia.uwo.ca/media/index.html