Twenty Newfoundland and Labrador students who excel in academics were recognized today for the 2025 Research Inspired Student Enrichment (RISE) Awards. The recipients were announced by the Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, at a ceremony in St. John’s.
Rise Awards are presented to Level II high school students who demonstrate academic excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The winners will attend one of three enrichment programs offered at the following locations:
- Research Science Institute located at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Boston Leadership Institute located in Wellesley, Massachusetts
- Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program at the University of Toronto
Information on the award recipients and the summer programs is included in the backgrounder below.
The Department of Industry, Energy and Technology provides approximately $320,000 for tuition, accommodations and travel stipends for the students to participate in the enrichment programs. The selection process for RISE Award winners includes an assessment of academic achievement, as well as written essays in which applicants must highlight plans for future study, career and research interests, and how those interests are relevant to Newfoundland and Labrador.
The RISE Awards help foster early development of the talent in demand for the province’s workforce, and introduce youth to the many possible careers in science-based fields, while celebrating their academic achievements.
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“Year after year I am amazed at the drive and focus of the RISE Award winners, both in the classroom and in their extracurricular activities. We are proud to celebrate and reward their hard work with these awards. These summer enrichment programs have been shown to open doors and help students make connections that further their studies and careers for years to come. Congratulations to this year’s winners! We know they are going to be great ambassadors for our province.”
Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology
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Le gouvernement provincial reconnaît les titulaires des prix RISE 2025
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BACKGROUNDER
The following 20 students have each received a 2025 Rise Award.
- Kate Blanchard – Valmont Academy, King’s Point
- Jack Hanlon – Lakewood Academy, Glenwood
- Sydney Hartle – Gander Collegiate, Gander
- Lily Hefford – Crescent Collegiate, South Dildo
- Ava Hodder – Pasadena Academy, Pasadena
- Abigail Janes – Holy Heart of Mary High School, St. John’s
- Noshin Khan – Waterford Valley High, St. John’s
- Samuel Lane – Mealy Mountain Collegiate, Happy Valley-Goose Bay
- William Lane – Mount Pearl Senior High, Mount Pearl
- Aivin Siby Nilakkapallil – White Hills Academy, St. Anthony
- Grace Noseworthy – St. Bonaventure’s College, St. John’s
- Alpita Patro – Gonzaga High School, St. John’s
- Emma Rogers – Random Island Academy, Hickman’s Harbour
- Katherine Rumbolt – Holy Heart of Mary High School, St. John’s
- Anastasia Saika-Voivod – Gonzaga High School, St. John’s
- Sahil Singh – Gonzaga Regional High, St. John’s
- Keagan Smith – St. Bonaventure’s College, St. John’s
- Sarah Thomas-Mouland – Holy Heart of Mary High School, St. John’s
- Paige Whittle – Waterford Valley High, St. John’s
- Sophia Zhang – Holy Heart of Mary High School, St. John’s
Research Science Institute is a partnership between the Center for Excellence in Education, a not-for-profit organization based in McLean, Virginia, and MIT. The institute offers a six-week summer enrichment program in the Boston, Massachusetts, area, and emphasizes advanced theory and research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. The program introduces students to the entire research process, from literature review to experimental design and analysis.
Boston Leadership Institute is a three-week program held in Wellesley, Massachusetts, offering STEM research programs taught by top educators and researchers. Ranked among the top five summer science enrichment programs in the United States, the program provides students with an opportunity to develop high-level research skills and subject matter expertise through lectures, presentations and hands-on experiments.
Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program is a four-week program held at the University of Toronto. The program offers pre-university engineering and science enrichment, as well as research project design opportunities.