Shad Valley 2012 is Creating the Next Generation of Innovators

(July 3 " Thunder Bay, ON)

Most teenagers can't wait for the end of the school year, however this Canada Day weekend a group of 65 enthusiastic high school students converged on Lakehead's Thunder Bay campus for the start of the prestigious Shad Valley program. Lakehead is one of ten Canadian universities hosting Shad Valley 2012.

Shad Valley students break the ice with a game

Shad Valley, which has been nurturing the creativity and ingenuity of future leaders for more than 30 years, is an enrichment program for exceptional grade 10-12 students that focuses on entrepreneurship, science, engineering and technology. Shad President Barry Bisson explains the value of the program, "When I ask our Shad Valley alumni to reflect on their Shad Valley experience, they all say the same things, whether they were in the program one month ago or 25 years ago. They describe it as a life-changing, life-directing experience that opened their eyes to exciting opportunities for their education and career."

Lakehead University is a dedicated supporter of Shad Valley's mission "to provide a transformational experience that unleashes the entrepreneurial and innovative potential of exceptional youth." As a research-intensive institution with an emphasis on technology transfer, Lakehead is the perfect setting for this unique month-long program. Our faculty will enable Shad Valley students to explore beyond standard academic curricula by introducing them to complex ideas and engaging them in challenging projects. Past Lakehead Shad Valley graduates have gone on to become patent holders, Top 20 Under 20 winners and, most importantly, citizens committed to fostering economic and social sustainability.

This year's Shad Valley students in Lakehead's Senate Chamber

Mechanical Engineering Chair Dr. Sultan Siddiqui, who has been running Lakehead's Shad Valley program since 2001, says he enjoys shaping and working with people who are highly-motivated and ambitious. Shad Valley seeks out young people who excel academically, have a strong record of volunteer work and have distinguished themselves in other fields such as sports, the arts and music. "It's a very intense selection process," Dr. Siddiqui explains. "Academic achievement is considered, as well as leadership ability, communications skills and participation in extracurricular activities." This year, students from across Canada as well as two students from Saudi Arabia and one student from India, have been selected are coming to Lakehead to participate in the program.

This year's contingent of Shads will explore new solutions to tackle obesity. Participants will attend fascinating workshops and lectures given by Northwestern Ontario academic and community experts including an orthopedic surgeon, a gerontologist and the Regional Supervising Coroner for Northwestern Ontario. But it won't be all work and no play for these students " they will have the opportunity to discover our region's spectacular natural beauty and rich cultural history when they go tubing on the Stanley River, visit Fort William Historical Park, and travel to Sibley Provincial Park for some canoeing, hiking and overnight camping.

The highlight of Shad Valley 2012 is the exciting Shad Entrepreneurship Cup, an event that encourages students to put their new knowledge and skills into action. Teams of students will compete against one another to invent new products aimed at the prevention and treatment of obesity. Teams will prepare detailed business plans and create prototypes before being judged by a panel of community and business leaders. The winning team will proceed to the national competition.

Members of the public will have the opportunity to meet Shad Valley students at activities throughout the month of July including a musical performance, an open house day, and the Shad Entrepreneurship Cup judging.

Visit the Lakehead University Shad Valley events schedule for weekly program updates.

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Media: For more information, please contact Tracey Skehan, Communications Officer, at (807) 343-8372 or commun@lakeheadu.ca or Dr. Sultan Siddiqui, Mechanical Engineering Chair, at (807) 708-9696 or sultan.siddiqui@lakeheadu.ca.

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for a multidisciplinary teaching approach that emphasizes collaborative learning and independent critical thinking. More 8,700 students and 1,850 faculty and staff learn and work at campuses located in Orillia, and Thunder Bay, Ontario, which is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Lakehead University promotes innovative research that supports local and regional socio-economic needs. In Orillia, development continues on building a campus that meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) standards.