Four UCalgary students named McCall MacBain Scholarship finalists

Four University of Calgary students have been recognized for their leadership, community involvement, and academic excellence through the prestigious McCall MacBain Scholarships. Yuvraj Agnihotri, Faculty of Kinesiology; Erik Barrett, Schulich School of Engineering; Oyinda Obigbesan, Cumming School of Medicine; and Jasmine Parhar, Faculty of Science have been named finalists for Canada’s top leadership-based master’s and professional degree scholarship at McGill University.  

This year, they’re among 52 Canadian finalists selected from nearly 700 applicants, highlighting their exceptional dedication to community and leadership. Finalists will travel to Montréal for the final round of interviews, taking place between March 20 –22, 2025. competing for fully funded scholarships covering tuition, living expenses, and mentorship opportunities. Finalists will receive either: 

• A fully funded master’s or professional degree at McGill, including tuition and a living stipend; or 
• A $10,000 finalist award to support their studies at McGill 

McCall MacBain regional award winners

In addition to the finalists, two UCalgary students— Howard Leong, Faculty of Arts and Thomas Tri, Faculty of Social Work — have earned McCall MacBain Regional Awards, valued at $10,000 and $5,000 respectively. The regional award may be applied to eligible studies at any public university in Canada. 

Erik, Oyinda, Howard and Thomas are all members of the Scholars Academy program, which provides individualized support and mentorship to high-achieving students who are leaders in their communities and are driven by intellectual curiosity. The program encourages students to think bigger, push their boundaries and create a lasting impact locally and globally.  

The final results of the McCall MacBain Scholarship will be announced in April. 

Meet the finalists 

Yuvraj Agnihotri

Faculty of Kinesiology  

For Yuvraj, movement isn’t just about fitness, it’s a way to bring people together. As a kinesiology student, he has worked to improve accessibility to sports and rehabilitation, both on campus and beyond. His passion for community-building led him to co-found UCalgary’s Bhangra Club, creating a space for students to celebrate culture through dance. As the club’s VP Finance, he secured funding and sponsorships for the club, and his contributions to student life earned him the 2024 Students’ Union Campus Involvement Award. 

Outside the university, Yuvraj researches pediatric epilepsy comorbidities at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, contributing to studies presented at the American Epilepsy Society. He also volunteers with Adapted Physical Activity for Kids and Alberta Health Services, working to expand sports access for children. Now applying to master’s programs in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at McGill, Yuvraj hopes to bridge research and hands-on rehabilitation to create meaningful change. 

Reflecting on his university journey, he says, “don’t wait for the perfect time to start something new. The most important thing is to just start taking steps forward.” 

Erik Barrett 

Schulich School of Engineering  

To Erik, great leadership means empowering others, a mindset that’s helped him build more engaged and creative teams. As the president of UCalgary’s Energy and Environmental Engineering Students’ Association, he helps students connect with the industry and navigate their career paths. His leadership extends beyond engineering; he is also the president of Running is Our Therapy, a student club that promotes mental and physical well-being through activity.  

During his time as a member of Scholars Academy, Erik engaged with researchers, city leaders, and industry executives, contributing to UCalgary’s Institutional Sustainability Plan and helping organize the Canadian conference for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Other notable projects include developing a biodiesel reactor that turns campus cooking oil into fuel; a hands-on lesson in teamwork, perseverance, and innovation. 

Looking ahead, he hopes to apply his skills towards sustainable development, particularly in developing technologies to promote clean water access, sustainable agriculture practices, and accelerate decarbonization. His advice to students is, "find what excites you and chase it."

Oyinda Obigbesan 

Cumming School of Medicine  

“Leadership isn’t about being the loudest, it’s about taking action and lifting others along the way,” says Oyinda Obigbesan. A fourth-year biomedical sciences student, Oyinda advocates for equity in STEM as vice-president (internal) of Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), creating opportunities for underrepresented groups. In 2024, she co-led a high school research program through WISE, securing funding and mentorship for students; the same support that first sparked her passion for science. Her impact earned her the Alberta Women in STEM award.  

Oyinda believes that science should be inclusive, and that the health-care system should be accessible for everyone. She researches maternal-infant health, HIV/AIDS, and health care software, using scientific discovery to address real-world issues.   

As she nears the end of her undergraduate studies, Oyinda plans to tackle health disparities through epidemiology in graduate school, focusing on medicine and health sciences. 

Jasmine Parhar

Faculty of Science 

Jasmine’s journey into science started with her love for Alberta’s plant life. Growing up in Calgary and now living in Lethbridge, she spent summers volunteering in conservation efforts, which led her to study plant biology. Her research focuses on biotechnology solutions to global challenges like food insecurity and health-care inequality. 

On campus, she serves as the communications team lead for the Science Ambassadors program, ensuring that academic and professional opportunities are accessible to all students. Her leadership, shaped by resilience and collaboration, has earned her the Wild and Pine Environmental Leadership Award and the Dr. Gary McPherson Leadership Scholarship. 

Her impact extends beyond research. She founded and chairs the ConnecTeen Wellness Committee at Distress Centre Calgary, improving mental health literacy and crisis support for youth.  

“[I believe] university is a time for exploration—an opportunity to take risks, try new things, and learn through experiences,” says Jasmine. What’s next for Jasmine to explore? She plans to pursue graduate studies, where she hopes to bridge biotechnology with her passion for advocacy to develop sustainable, community-informed solutions in medicine and agriculture. 

Regional award recipients 

Howard Leong

Faculty of Arts, $10,000 International Regional Award recipient 

As a first-generation Canadian immigrant from Malaysia, Howard Leong has always been fascinated by how economics shapes society. Pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in economics with a minor in data science, he combines research, leadership and innovation to drive meaningful change. 

As founder of The JA Institute, he drives education and economic development research in 118 countries, bringing together experts from the Brookings Institution, World Bank, Microsoft Research and UNESCO. Inspired by Good Economics for Hard Times, he uses economics and AI to tackle big societal challenges. His research has earned recognition from the Canadian Economics Association and a Top 10 Undergraduate Research Paper Award from the Bank of Canada. 

Outside of research, Howard helped grow Calgary’s data community, securing 34 corporate sponsors for YYC DataCon and bringing in 2,000+ attendees. He attributes much of his success to Scholars Academy mentors, who helped him develop leadership skills and land a graduate school offer from the University of Oxford, studying AI. 

Howard’s advice to students? “Start now. Build something. Take ownership. The best way to learn leadership is by doing.” 

Thomas Tri 

Faculty of Social Work, $5,000 Canadian Regional Award recipient 

Coming from a Vietnamese family, Thomas has spent six years working in the settlement sector, tackling barriers newcomers face. He is a passionate advocate for social justice, global development, and gender equity. A fifth-year social work student, he also minors in global development and gender and sexuality studies while earning an embedded certificate in pluralism and global citizenship. 

 His research on immigration, gender, and LGBTQ2S+ rights includes a PURE-funded study on LGBTQ2S+ newcomers’ safety in Calgary, published in the Diversity and Inclusion Research Journal. For Thomas, “passion fuels impact, finding what excites you makes the work truly meaningful”.  

Beyond research, he co-led the Global Development Society, advises Plan International Canada, volunteers with the Canadian Council of Young Feminists and serves on the Equalearn Foundation board. His contributions earned him the SU Pride Scholarship and the Graydon and Dorothy Morrison Social Work Award.