Georgian College

41 GEORGIANVIEW 2024 PRINT EDITION AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS Toronto Hydro award empowers student When the pandemic hit in 2020, high school student Madi Meehan never thought the global shutdown would affect how she chose her future career aspirations, but it did – in a significant way. "COVID was a real eye-opener for me to see how fragile our economy is," says the first-year student in the Electrical Engineering Technology program at Georgian. "I really wanted a career that was pandemic-proof and we'll always need hydro. We'll always have nuclear power. They play such a pivotal role in maintaining and sustaining our economic stability." Growing up in a tight-knit community, Madi knows many men who work in skilled trades; her mother also works in the energy sector. Seeing there was still a role for these jobs during the pandemic, combined with her love of the outdoors, she started envisioning a path for herself in engineering technology. Madi is a 2023 recipient of the Toronto Hydro Women in Engineering Award and is grateful for the financial assistance and encouragement she received. "Beyond easing financial stress, this award also serves as powerful encouragement for women in STEM," says Madi. "Their belief in my potential empowers me to strive for excellence and serves as a reminder that gender should never be a barrier to pursuing one's passion." In her recent co-op as a system control operator, Madi was responsible for sending crews out during power outages. In her next co-op, she would like to try a position as part of a crew to get an idea of what she wants to do after graduation. "I am eager to immerse myself in the world of electrical engineering and Toronto Hydro's generosity has made this journey all the more achievable," she says. "I am determined to honour their investment by excelling in my studies and making meaningful contributions to the field." The Toronto Hydro Women in Engineering Award is presented to two female-identifying students entering their first year of the Electrical Engineering Technology or Technician program at Georgian College. Student recipients must demonstrate academic merit (minimum 70 per cent GPA). As part of their application, students provide a brief submission about their education and extracurricular engagement to date and their passion for pursuing a career in the engineering sector. "We believe offering this award to women in Engineering Technology is important, as it helps to address the underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields," says Jennifer Stulberg, Director, Talent Management & Culture at Toronto Hydro. "For engineering in particular, it supports career development, helps break down any barriers and encourages diversity. This cultivates a pipeline of talented women in Engineering Technology, ensuring a skilled workforce for the organization and the industry as a whole. Overall, the award is reflective of Toronto Hydro's ongoing commitment to increasing the representation of women within the company and the electricity sector and fostering the next generation of engineering talent." | For more information about the Toronto Hydro/Georgian partnership visit Georgiancollege.ca/employers-partners.

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