Cape Broyle student off to university with $100-K Loran scholarship
Cape Broyle teenager Liam O’brien has his bags packed and he’s said his goodbyes — he’s heading to the University of Ottawa tomorrow as a Loran Scholar.
The 17-year-old is pursuing a joint honours degree in economics and political science.
More than 5,000 students from across the country applied for the prestigious award which includes $100,000 over four years, one-on-one mentorship with a leader in their field of study, annual retreats and summer internships.
O’brien was among 34 students selected this year, based on integrity, courage, compassion, grit and a high level of personal autonomy. Consideration is given to applicants’ character, commitment to serving their communities, and long-term leadership potential.
Applicants undergo an extensive application and selection process which includes regional and national interviews.
During high school at Baltimore School in Ferryland, Liam was vice-chair of a committee that organized community events, he helped establish and run a local radio station, played in the school band and served as the church choir organist. He was actively involved in leadership with 4-H and was a senior member of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets. He also worked at a convenience store and service station.
“From an early age, it was evident to me that Liam was going to go places with his life, he was an ideal candidate for the Loran Scholarship,” said his assistant principal at Baltimore School, Jacinta Mcgrath via email. “Liam was an exceptional student at Baltimore School and we are so proud of everything he has accomplished to date. Liam is a leader, a real go-getter. In his final year of high school, he maintained an excellent academic average and was highly involved in school life - all the while travelling nationally and internationally attending conferences and gaining skills to prepare him for post-secondary life.”
Despite his accomplishments, Liam said the Loran Award is less an award for past achievements and more an investment in Canada’s future leaders.
“It’s very exciting and comes with a lot of work,” he said.
Outside of his school work, he plans to get involved in a number of initiatives but is already a volunteer with Liberal MP Ken Mcdonald – Liam will do volunteer work out of Mcdonald’s office on Parliament Hill this fall and winter. He also considering joining the Young Liberals in Ottawa. Liam said the experience of being a Loran Scholar really kicked off during a week-long orientation expedition in Algonquin Park between Aug. 10-16.
All of the incoming scholars left all technology behind – including
cell phones— to canoe and portage through seven lakes in the park.
said it was hard but inspirational work.
“At the end of it, I think we all learned that physical limits and mental limits are not the same, and what stopped me in the three-kilometre portage we did one day wasn’t the fact that I physically couldn’t carry on – it was the mental roadblock that I had.
“It was fun as the days went on for all of us to understand what it is that can bog you down and how you can learn to open up your mind to new experiences.”
Scholars also spent one 24hour stretch alone during the expedition.
“It was very different not being able to speak to anyone in that amount of time but the reflection in 24 hours, I think that kind of drove home the point of ‘get out, look in, challenge yourself, do things you’re not comfortable with’, but at the end of the day, a mind that is stretched by new experience cannot go back to the way it was.”
After the expedition, scholars attended a three-day retreat where they engaged in conference-style programming about a range of issues, such as consent on campus and anti-oppression training.
Although his experience as a Loran Scholar is just beginning, Liam has already learned alot and encourages other young people to apply.
“I wasn’t going to apply to Loran. My guidance counsellor said it to me in December, and I was like, ‘No’, like, ‘What? A $100,000 scholarship? What do I do?’ I didn’t really think that I had what it takes, and I don’t think many people – most of the scholars that I was talking to kind of thought the same thing. It seems so prestigious.”
He said it’s normal to think perhaps you’re not exceptional enough to apply, but that other students should learn from him and apply anyway. High school students considering applying for a Loran Award can reach out to him on social media because he’d love to share his experience and answer any questions they might have.