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Fourth-year 91²Ö¿âdent Ellie Namit is a national finalist for the McCall MacBain Scholarship at McGill — one of 52 Canadian finalists chosen from over 600 applicants.

 

The selection process emphasizes holistic criteria such as character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength, and intellectual curiosity. Namit will travel to Montreal to attend final interviews in March. 

 

“It still feels surreal,” Namit said. “I’m sure every student knows when you’re so focused on your classes, working, and volunteering it’s hard to recognize how much you’ve accomplished. Being chosen as a finalist gave me that moment of recognition that all I’ve done has truly had an impact.”

 

Gaining Skills While Giving Back

 

Namit, who is completing an honours in Sociology and a major in Human Rights, is President of the Students’ Union, overseeing union affairs, developing annual priorities and policies, and creating the 2025-2028 strategic plan.

 

They also co-founded Spark, a financial literacy and youth entrepreneurship project, are Vice-Chair of the Board for the New Brunswick Student Alliance, a Project Manager for Enactus 91²Ö¿â, and campus ambassador for the Canadian Law Review. They served as vice-president of the Pre-Law Society and now compete on the 91²Ö¿â Moot Court team. 

 

Namit has also worked as a peer tutor, an assistant student success coach, and a research assistant studying abortion access in the province.

 

“St. Thomas really values community involvement and experiential learning so I've had constant opportunities to put what I've learned in class into action,” Namit said. “From work experience to volunteering, I've been able to develop my skills while giving back to my community."

 

At McGill, Namit intends to pursue a master’s in Medical Sociology and Public Policy, with research focused on issues of substance use, food security, and housing.

 

Canada’s Largest Leadership-based Scholarship

 

The McCall MacBain Scholarships are Canada’s largest leadership-based scholarships for master’s and professional studies. Each scholarship covers tuition and fees for an eligible degree, a living stipend of $2,300 per month during academic terms, summer funding options, mentorship, coaching, a leadership curriculum, and access to the McCall MacBain House.

 

Applications will open in June 2025 for the 2026 cohort. More information about the McCall MacBain Scholarships can be found at .

 

“We need more leaders who act with integrity, kindness, curiosity, and courage,” said Dr. Marcy McCall MacBain, Chair of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill. “We congratulate the students who have already distinguished themselves as the top candidates nationally and globally, and we thank the universities that nominated them for this opportunity.”

 

During their visit to Montreal, Namit will participate in interviews with leaders from academia, business, government, and the social sector. Up to 30 McCall MacBain Scholars will be selected after final interviews. Finalists not selected for the cohort will be eligible to receive $10,000 or $20,000 for their studies at McGill.

 

“We are grateful to the more than 300 senior leaders who contribute their time to the decision-making process,” added Natasha Sawh, CEO of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill. “The interview process allows students to reflect on their experiences and motivations, and we hope each one comes away from the process with a better understanding of their capacity to lead and to strengthen communities.”