Shad Valley’s alumni entrepreneurs are the athletes of business, stretching to attain business goals of Olympic proportion
While the 2008 Olympic summer games will have the world’s eye focused on athletic talent, there is no particular time of the year when people are scheduled to tune in to business. Daily, leaders of innovation are showcasing their strengths, ideas and talents that are shaping the economy year-round. However, during the month of July, for the past 28 years, students from across Canada have been taking part in their own Olympic event, dedicated to focusing on academic talent.
Shad Valley is a program that offers youth in Grades 10, 11, and 12, with strengths in science, math, and technology, the opportunity to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Students emerge with a better concept of the business world at a young age and can begin exercising their entrepreneurial muscle. From the get-go, these young entrepreneurial athletes are equipped with the skills to enter the real-world of business, to think and plan like leaders, and develop innovative ideas that will fuel the economy in the coming years.
“At Shad, students are given the opportunity to think and come up with ideas on a larger scale than they would initially conceive. Shad Valley is the training ground for tomorrow’s global business leaders,” explains Barry Bisson, President of Shad International. “We have alumni working on the multi-national front, whose ideas are influencing global changes. They got there because they each carry a torch for innovation.”
With many established alumni since the program began in 1981, and 620 new students welcomed every summer, Shad Valley has conceivably a very large roster of intelligent, motivated leaders. Those who have made it to the proverbial Olympic level are among these alumni. They have embraced their talents, pursued a marketable idea, and expanded that idea into their own business.
So where is the Olympic level for Shad Valley’s entrepreneurs? “It is always growing and changing,” explains Kunal Gupta, a 2005 Shad Valley alumnus. Kunal’s organization, Impact, based in Waterloo, Ontario, is a non-profit organization which promotes entrepreneurship to youth across the country. “To compete on a global scale, you have to think globally or else your venture will never break into other markets. Shad Valley taught me to embrace my talents and transfer them to a larger degree of entrepreneurial thinking.”
Another alumna making big waves is Jennifer Corriero, Shad ’98, co-founder of Taking IT Global, bringing technology and communication to nations around the world. She describes her hard work in business as being, “The marathon of a lifetime.” She explains that to compete with others on a larger scale, you have to envision something outside of your realm and break boundaries frequently. “Shad Valley prepared me to become a leader and opened my eyes to the winning formula of entrepreneurship. Sacrifice, success, hard work, team work, and of course innovation – these are the elements of a gold winning team.”
Michael Brown, a fellow alumnus, would agree. He has held a position at Research in Motion in Waterloo, Ontario since his Shad work placement there in 1995. Working in software development, Michael’s work has led to many patents under his name and a spot in a globally recognized company. “Shad provided the launch pad for my career and readied me for the high stake world of business at RIM. There is so much investment put into innovation – all great ideas were once in someone’s mind – and Shad recognizes the key to unlocking them and generating success.”
Some people are born with the ability to compete in either physical or mental situations. Similar to the role that the Olympics play in recognizing the most talented athletes around the world, Shad Valley has done the same for youth in education.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Shad Alumna receives prestigious thesis award
Amanda Jernigan, a 1996 Shad Valley alumna, has received the prestigious Master’s Thesis Award from the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools. Amanda was honoured in April of this year at the awards luncheon ceremony in New York City for her thesis in the category of Arts and Humanities. As a recipient, she also received a monetary award of $1,000, from UMI Dissertation Publishing.
The Master's Thesis award rotates, on a four-year schedule, amongst the following subject areas: Arts and Humanities; Agricultural, Biological and Health Sciences; Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering; Social Sciences and Education. The prestigious award is open to students at all leading Eastern Canadian universities (Ontario to Newfoundland) and all Northeastern U.S. universities, including the Ivy League schools. The Arts and Humanities award will be granted again in 2012.
Amanda earned her Bachelors degree in English from Mount Allison University, followed by her Master of Arts from Memorial University in Newfoundland. Her winning dissertation focuses on the work of Canadian poet Richard Outram, specifically on the significance of whole-part structures, in theme and form, in Mr. Outram's oeuvre.
Congratulations to Amanda for this outstanding honour!
The Master's Thesis award rotates, on a four-year schedule, amongst the following subject areas: Arts and Humanities; Agricultural, Biological and Health Sciences; Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering; Social Sciences and Education. The prestigious award is open to students at all leading Eastern Canadian universities (Ontario to Newfoundland) and all Northeastern U.S. universities, including the Ivy League schools. The Arts and Humanities award will be granted again in 2012.
Amanda earned her Bachelors degree in English from Mount Allison University, followed by her Master of Arts from Memorial University in Newfoundland. Her winning dissertation focuses on the work of Canadian poet Richard Outram, specifically on the significance of whole-part structures, in theme and form, in Mr. Outram's oeuvre.
Congratulations to Amanda for this outstanding honour!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Three Shad Valley alumnae amongst Chatelaine’s ‘Women to Watch’
Waterloo, ON – Shad Valley International is excited to inform the Shad community with the news that three alumnae have been recognized in Chatelaine magazine’s May 2008 article entitled ‘80 women to watch’, which is now available in print only.
Jennifer Corriero, Skawenniio Barnes, and Sharon Wei, have been named amongst the 80 women featured in the national publication’s 80th anniversary special. Both Jennifer and Skawenniio were recognized under the category of Politics & Community, while Sharon was noted under Arts & Culture.
Sharon Wei, a 1994 Waterloo Shad, is a musical prodigy who met three other equally talented artists and formed the chamber-music ensemble Made in Canada. Sharon, who attended the University of Western Ontario and the Curtis Institute of Music, also received a diploma from Yale and now tours North America and Europe with an orchestra, often performing as a soloist.
Jennifer’s organization, TakingITGlobal, is considered one of the world’s premiere online communities for youth with 1.8 million hits a day. Jennifer, a 1998 Calgary alumna, co-founded the non-profit organization, and has been called a global leader and a shaper of the future.
Chatelaine highlighted Skawenniio’s efforts and initiative in organizing the creation of a community library at age 13, drawing global attention and a donation of 30,000 books. She attended the Shad Valley program in 2005 at the University of British Columbia and is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree at Yale University.
We would like to congratulate our alumnae for this national recognition! There is certainly a feeling that these women will continue to pursue excellence.
Below are the excerpts from Chatelaine Magazine, May 2008:
Made in Canada, 28 TO 30
Angela Park, Judy Kang, Sharon Wei, and Rachel Mercer are Made in Canada, a chamber-music ensemble that’s leading the next generation of classical musicians, picking up CBC’s Galaxie Rising Stars Award (selected by the nation’s music critics) in 2006. The members, who met at Banff Summer Arts Festival and have since scattered across North America, make it a point to reunite annually in Canada to play together
Jennifer Corriero, 27
She’s been called a digital dignitary, a global leader, a shaper of the future and the Wired Woman Young Woman of the Year. When she was just 19, Jennifer Corriero co-founded TakingITGlobal, a non-profit group based in Toronto dedicated to using the internet to strengthen young people’s abilities to be socially aware, globally responsible citizens. Considered one of the world’s premiere online communities for youth, it has 188,000 members in 261 countries and receives 1.8 million hits a day.
Skawenniio Barnes, 20
Hailing from the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory near Montreal, Skawenniio (whose first name means “one beautiful word”) started her life in activism at age 13 by writing an award-winning essay for CosmoGirl! about her community’s need for a library. Her prize included a trip to New York, a scholarship of US$10,000 and global attention. Before long, 30,000 donated books from all over the world began landing at her door. Barnes worked at the library until last fall, when she began her first year of studies at Yale University.
Jennifer Corriero, Skawenniio Barnes, and Sharon Wei, have been named amongst the 80 women featured in the national publication’s 80th anniversary special. Both Jennifer and Skawenniio were recognized under the category of Politics & Community, while Sharon was noted under Arts & Culture.
Sharon Wei, a 1994 Waterloo Shad, is a musical prodigy who met three other equally talented artists and formed the chamber-music ensemble Made in Canada. Sharon, who attended the University of Western Ontario and the Curtis Institute of Music, also received a diploma from Yale and now tours North America and Europe with an orchestra, often performing as a soloist.
Jennifer’s organization, TakingITGlobal, is considered one of the world’s premiere online communities for youth with 1.8 million hits a day. Jennifer, a 1998 Calgary alumna, co-founded the non-profit organization, and has been called a global leader and a shaper of the future.
Chatelaine highlighted Skawenniio’s efforts and initiative in organizing the creation of a community library at age 13, drawing global attention and a donation of 30,000 books. She attended the Shad Valley program in 2005 at the University of British Columbia and is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree at Yale University.
We would like to congratulate our alumnae for this national recognition! There is certainly a feeling that these women will continue to pursue excellence.
Below are the excerpts from Chatelaine Magazine, May 2008:
Made in Canada, 28 TO 30
Angela Park, Judy Kang, Sharon Wei, and Rachel Mercer are Made in Canada, a chamber-music ensemble that’s leading the next generation of classical musicians, picking up CBC’s Galaxie Rising Stars Award (selected by the nation’s music critics) in 2006. The members, who met at Banff Summer Arts Festival and have since scattered across North America, make it a point to reunite annually in Canada to play together
Jennifer Corriero, 27
She’s been called a digital dignitary, a global leader, a shaper of the future and the Wired Woman Young Woman of the Year. When she was just 19, Jennifer Corriero co-founded TakingITGlobal, a non-profit group based in Toronto dedicated to using the internet to strengthen young people’s abilities to be socially aware, globally responsible citizens. Considered one of the world’s premiere online communities for youth, it has 188,000 members in 261 countries and receives 1.8 million hits a day.
Skawenniio Barnes, 20
Hailing from the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory near Montreal, Skawenniio (whose first name means “one beautiful word”) started her life in activism at age 13 by writing an award-winning essay for CosmoGirl! about her community’s need for a library. Her prize included a trip to New York, a scholarship of US$10,000 and global attention. Before long, 30,000 donated books from all over the world began landing at her door. Barnes worked at the library until last fall, when she began her first year of studies at Yale University.
Providing a top education key to growth, summit told
04/09/2008
Providing students with a world-class education is the key to economic growth in the province, two panelists told the Fullsail venture capital conference Monday in Saint John.
"We don't have oil in the ground. Our oil is brain," said Barry Bisson, president of Shad International, a company providing a program called Shad Valley that is designed to encourage entrepreneurship learning amongst students.
Also an adjunct professor in engineering at the University of Waterloo, Bisson returned to New Brunswick for the summit to share his expertise in teaching entrepreneurship to young people. He agreed to act as panelist because, he said, "New Brunswick is very close to my heart."
So is education in New Brunswick: Bisson spent eight years obtaining a bachelor and a masters degree in engineering and 21 years teaching with the faculty of education in New Brunswick before he moved on to his current Ontario posting.
During Monday's early morning panel, moderator Ian Hanomansing from the CBC posed a question to Bisson: "Can you teach entrepreneurship?" Without a doubt, you can, was Bisson's response. In fact, you have to. Education is the only way to change.
When Bisson was teaching in New Brunswick, he said he too often saw students who didn't know how to think big.
"I saw a lot of business plans for a lot of restaurants in Moncton. We have to get these students thinking 'the world is my market', as opposed to 'Fredericton is my market.' I call it grantrepreneurship, the idea students have had that they have got to get a government loan or a government grant."
Shad Valley takes students beyond that line of thinking and moves them toward thinking about how to build a business plan or a concept that will attract investors.
Bisson said that New Brunswick is fourth nationally in terms of student participation rates, which is a good sign.
"My goal is to see between 40 and 50 each year and get them connected to New Brunswick businesses to show them you can have a great career in the province. That can stem the brain drain. If one or two every year stay here and begin a business, the impact can be huge."
Key, however, is for students to receive a first-rate education in mathematics and engineering, so they have the skills needed to build the gadget that everyone in the world wants to buy.
"I'm so, so optimistic about this province right now," said Bisson. That's something the technology manager with the University of Waterloo's Intellecutal Property Management Group, Scott Inwood, has seen first-hand. Inwood, who also acted as panelist at the summit, explained that Waterloo has a reputation for the amazingly profitable business spinoffs that have been created from its strong academic core.
There are three things the University of Waterloo has done to encourage an entrepreneurial way of thinking, Inwood said. Firstly, he said that the university focused on science and math education - because those are the streams that generate products, systems or concepts that lead to businesses. Secondly, the university moved ahead with a co-operative education program, which matches students with real-life businesses in their chosen field in order to move their creativities toward solution-based entrepreneurial ideas. Thirdly, the university allowed inventors to own the intellectual property developed at the school.
The school has been working on this since 1957, Inwood said. "It takes time, but it grows. As students see success it becomes contagious."
Michelle Porter
Telegraph-Journal
Published Tuesday April 8th, 2008
Appeared on page B3
Providing students with a world-class education is the key to economic growth in the province, two panelists told the Fullsail venture capital conference Monday in Saint John.
"We don't have oil in the ground. Our oil is brain," said Barry Bisson, president of Shad International, a company providing a program called Shad Valley that is designed to encourage entrepreneurship learning amongst students.
Also an adjunct professor in engineering at the University of Waterloo, Bisson returned to New Brunswick for the summit to share his expertise in teaching entrepreneurship to young people. He agreed to act as panelist because, he said, "New Brunswick is very close to my heart."
So is education in New Brunswick: Bisson spent eight years obtaining a bachelor and a masters degree in engineering and 21 years teaching with the faculty of education in New Brunswick before he moved on to his current Ontario posting.
During Monday's early morning panel, moderator Ian Hanomansing from the CBC posed a question to Bisson: "Can you teach entrepreneurship?" Without a doubt, you can, was Bisson's response. In fact, you have to. Education is the only way to change.
When Bisson was teaching in New Brunswick, he said he too often saw students who didn't know how to think big.
"I saw a lot of business plans for a lot of restaurants in Moncton. We have to get these students thinking 'the world is my market', as opposed to 'Fredericton is my market.' I call it grantrepreneurship, the idea students have had that they have got to get a government loan or a government grant."
Shad Valley takes students beyond that line of thinking and moves them toward thinking about how to build a business plan or a concept that will attract investors.
Bisson said that New Brunswick is fourth nationally in terms of student participation rates, which is a good sign.
"My goal is to see between 40 and 50 each year and get them connected to New Brunswick businesses to show them you can have a great career in the province. That can stem the brain drain. If one or two every year stay here and begin a business, the impact can be huge."
Key, however, is for students to receive a first-rate education in mathematics and engineering, so they have the skills needed to build the gadget that everyone in the world wants to buy.
"I'm so, so optimistic about this province right now," said Bisson. That's something the technology manager with the University of Waterloo's Intellecutal Property Management Group, Scott Inwood, has seen first-hand. Inwood, who also acted as panelist at the summit, explained that Waterloo has a reputation for the amazingly profitable business spinoffs that have been created from its strong academic core.
There are three things the University of Waterloo has done to encourage an entrepreneurial way of thinking, Inwood said. Firstly, he said that the university focused on science and math education - because those are the streams that generate products, systems or concepts that lead to businesses. Secondly, the university moved ahead with a co-operative education program, which matches students with real-life businesses in their chosen field in order to move their creativities toward solution-based entrepreneurial ideas. Thirdly, the university allowed inventors to own the intellectual property developed at the school.
The school has been working on this since 1957, Inwood said. "It takes time, but it grows. As students see success it becomes contagious."
Michelle Porter
Telegraph-Journal
Published Tuesday April 8th, 2008
Appeared on page B3
Government supports Shad Valley youth enrichment program
April 4, 2008
FREDERICTON NB and WATERLOO ON– Funding of $200,000 to support the development of New Brunswick high school students, who have been identified as top performers, innovative thinkers, and future leaders, was announced today by Education Minister Kelly Lamrock.
The five-year funding commitment is being made to Shad Valley International. The Waterloo, Ontario based organization offers summer enrichment programs to students currently completing grade 10, 11 or 12. The four week program helps students develop an entrepreneurial mindset; encourages them to consider fields of study that will increase Canada’s innovation capacity; and motivates them to take advantage of their advantage.
“Through our education plan, When kids come first, New Brunswick is focused on the importance of promoting enrichment opportunities to its students, to help them develop a passion for learning and to ensure they are equipped to fully-deliver on their talents and capabilities,” Lamrock said. “Shad Valley is a place where some of our young future leaders can recognize, harness and strengthen their talents, and providing this opportunity is vital to the future of innovation in the province.”
Since 1985, the relationship between New Brunswick and Shad Valley has provided hundreds of Anglophone and Francophone students with the opportunity to benefit from the enrichment program.
This year, approximately 40 students will participate in the Shad Valley program during the month of July at one of 12 host universities across Canada. Students then have the opportunity for a hands-on work experience through student internships during the month of August.
“Achieving self-sufficiency for New Brunswick means that all people have the opportunity to be exemplary workers, leaders and citizens,” said Lamrock. “The leaders of tomorrow will not only be innovators from a local standpoint, but also from a global standpoint.”
For the five-year period of the funding investment, the Department of Education together with the school districts has committed to providing a minimum of 10 internships each summer, with a number of others hosted at top companies throughout the province.
Over the past three years, up to 40 per cent of New Brunswick Shad Valley participants have been introduced to the workplace, obtaining valuable training and skills.
“To prepare students for the national and multi-national business arena, they must be able to communicate their ideas in the expanding world market,” the minister said. “The Shad Valley program has a track record of developing the entrepreneurial skills and unleashing the passion of top students to make a difference in their careers”.
New Brunswick has established itself as being competitive from a national perspective in terms of its vision and foresight in planning for the future by investing in and mentoring its youth. In terms of identifying Shad Valley participants, New Brunswick is in the top third of the country and the top 25 per cent for number of internship placements.
“This five year plan solidifies New Brunswick’s commitment to providing leadership and innovation opportunities for students,” said Barry Bisson, President of Shad Valley International. “As well, it raises other provinces’ awareness and encourages them to provide their youth with the same competitive advantage that New Brunswick students have: the chance to be part of a life-directing, life-changing experience and to take their places as the leaders of tomorrow.”
Shad Valley International is a not-for-profit registered charity. The award-winning Shad Valley program was launched in 1981, and is hosted at 12 leading Canadian universities each summer. Over 600 high-potential students benefit from the Shad Valley experience each summer and Shad currently boasts a network of over 10,000 Shad Valley alumni, including 18 Rhodes Scholars, and countless award winning business and academic leaders.
08/04/04
FREDERICTON NB and WATERLOO ON– Funding of $200,000 to support the development of New Brunswick high school students, who have been identified as top performers, innovative thinkers, and future leaders, was announced today by Education Minister Kelly Lamrock.
The five-year funding commitment is being made to Shad Valley International. The Waterloo, Ontario based organization offers summer enrichment programs to students currently completing grade 10, 11 or 12. The four week program helps students develop an entrepreneurial mindset; encourages them to consider fields of study that will increase Canada’s innovation capacity; and motivates them to take advantage of their advantage.
“Through our education plan, When kids come first, New Brunswick is focused on the importance of promoting enrichment opportunities to its students, to help them develop a passion for learning and to ensure they are equipped to fully-deliver on their talents and capabilities,” Lamrock said. “Shad Valley is a place where some of our young future leaders can recognize, harness and strengthen their talents, and providing this opportunity is vital to the future of innovation in the province.”
Since 1985, the relationship between New Brunswick and Shad Valley has provided hundreds of Anglophone and Francophone students with the opportunity to benefit from the enrichment program.
This year, approximately 40 students will participate in the Shad Valley program during the month of July at one of 12 host universities across Canada. Students then have the opportunity for a hands-on work experience through student internships during the month of August.
“Achieving self-sufficiency for New Brunswick means that all people have the opportunity to be exemplary workers, leaders and citizens,” said Lamrock. “The leaders of tomorrow will not only be innovators from a local standpoint, but also from a global standpoint.”
For the five-year period of the funding investment, the Department of Education together with the school districts has committed to providing a minimum of 10 internships each summer, with a number of others hosted at top companies throughout the province.
Over the past three years, up to 40 per cent of New Brunswick Shad Valley participants have been introduced to the workplace, obtaining valuable training and skills.
“To prepare students for the national and multi-national business arena, they must be able to communicate their ideas in the expanding world market,” the minister said. “The Shad Valley program has a track record of developing the entrepreneurial skills and unleashing the passion of top students to make a difference in their careers”.
New Brunswick has established itself as being competitive from a national perspective in terms of its vision and foresight in planning for the future by investing in and mentoring its youth. In terms of identifying Shad Valley participants, New Brunswick is in the top third of the country and the top 25 per cent for number of internship placements.
“This five year plan solidifies New Brunswick’s commitment to providing leadership and innovation opportunities for students,” said Barry Bisson, President of Shad Valley International. “As well, it raises other provinces’ awareness and encourages them to provide their youth with the same competitive advantage that New Brunswick students have: the chance to be part of a life-directing, life-changing experience and to take their places as the leaders of tomorrow.”
Shad Valley International is a not-for-profit registered charity. The award-winning Shad Valley program was launched in 1981, and is hosted at 12 leading Canadian universities each summer. Over 600 high-potential students benefit from the Shad Valley experience each summer and Shad currently boasts a network of over 10,000 Shad Valley alumni, including 18 Rhodes Scholars, and countless award winning business and academic leaders.
08/04/04
Hello and welcome to the Shad Valley International blog!
As this is our first post, we would like to introduce you to the blog and what we hope it will do. Here members of the Shad community can read about the most recent stories, news releases, updates, and events happening around Shad Valley. You can also contact us directly if you have a good idea that you want written about, and you can reply to different topics to voice your opinion.
Have fun reading about Shad and visit us often!
- The Shad Valley team
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