A Roland Michener Secondary School student spent part of her summer living on a post-secondary campus and working with students from across Canada through a national program focused on science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics and entrepreneurship.

Khloe Babiy, a Grade 11 student at the High Prairie School Division school, attended the Shad program at Red Deer Polytechnic for four weeks this summer.

According to High Prairie School Division (HPSD), Babiy is the only HPSD student the division is aware of who participated in Shad this summer, although there could have been others because the division is not involved in the application or participation process.

During the program, Babiy worked with other high school students on design projects, went on field trips and heard from guest speakers about opportunities in science and entrepreneurship. Her group designed and coded an app intended to help families make lower-carbon choices while also finding the best deals on groceries.

Babiy also had the opportunity to live in student housing for the four-week program. HPSD says she valued being surrounded by other students with similar interests and says the experience helped her gain confidence and independence.

Shad is a Canadian summer enrichment program that brings Grade 10 and 11 students together for hands-on learning, real-world challenges, entrepreneurship and career exploration. Students live on a post-secondary campus during the live-in program and work alongside peers and mentors.

The program can also provide students from smaller communities such as Slave Lake and High Prairie with an opportunity to meet students from other parts of the country and experience life on a post-secondary campus before graduating from high school.

Red Deer Polytechnic is one of Shad’s host campuses. Shad’s campus availability can vary from year to year, so students are not necessarily placed at the campus closest to home.

For HPSD students interested in applying, the school division’s role is primarily to make students aware of opportunities such as Shad.

“HPSD makes students aware of a variety of career exploration programs, including Shad,” Kyle Nichols, HPSD director of communications, said by email. “The application process is the responsibility of the student and their family.”

The division does not provide financial assistance for Shad, Nichols says, and the program’s cost is the responsibility of students and their families.

However, Shad itself offers financial assistance. For the 2027 program, the organization says it will provide more than $5 million in fee assistance and scholarships, with about one in three participants receiving financial support. Students can apply for assistance as part of the Shad application process.

The 2027 live-in program costs $7,875 before any financial assistance, while Shad also offers a virtual option at $3,975. The live-in fee includes accommodation, meals, instruction, activities and field trips, but travel to and from the assigned campus is not included.

Students currently completing Grade 10 or 11 can apply, and Shad says a school nomination is not required. Applications are assessed based on factors including academic performance, extracurricular involvement, creativity, reflection and a student’s commitment to making an impact. There is no minimum academic average or cut-off required to apply.

Applications for the 2027 program opened Sept. 15. Students who apply by Nov. 8 can receive an early admission decision, while the final application deadline is Jan. 6, 2027.

More information about Shad is available at www.shad.ca, or students can speak with their HPSD Career Coach.

William Hetherington
Lakeside Leader