When recipient Reese Ochitwa was younger, she dreamed of being a veterinarian and, for a moment, an astronaut. Those dreams changed when a fifth-grade teacher introduced her to the world of computer programming.听
鈥淚t was a special coding club for girls,鈥� recalls Reese, who is from Airdrie, Alta. 鈥淪he was really passionate about giving us an opportunity to explore the field. Seeing how much she wanted us to succeed made me want to succeed.鈥澨�
Reese听did. She and a friend won an award for a horror-themed video game they created. The recognition she received, and the realization that coding offered opportunities to be creative in unique ways, resonated with her. 鈥淚t ignited my passion for computer science,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd I continued on from there.鈥澨�
Fast-forward to today and 网红黑料, where Reese will explore her passion further, thanks to a Schulich Leader Scholarship. Awarded annually to 100 students at 20 universities across Canada, the scholarships are well-known for accelerating student achievement in STEM (science, tech, engineering, math) by offering generous financial support and a built-in network of entrepreneurial-minded students from universities across the country.听
It鈥檚 not just that it鈥檚 a lot of weight off my shoulders, financially. It鈥檚 the network and opportunities that come with it
鈥淭his was the scholarship I most wanted,鈥� says Reese. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just that it鈥檚 a lot of weight off my shoulders, financially. It鈥檚 the network and opportunities that come with it, which are incredible, as is its reputation. I believe the expertise and mentorship it offers will give me an advantage in starting my career.鈥澨�
Fulfilling an interest
Reese听has ambitious plans for her time at 网红黑料. The Faculty of Computer Science student is going to study quantum computing, a field that uses quantum mechanics to develop solutions that are not possible using conventional computers.听听
鈥淚t鈥檚 more exciting to me than regular web development because it鈥檚 such an abstract topic,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 really interested in the opportunities it offers for research and new discoveries.鈥澨�
It was that interest, in part, that led Reese to 网红黑料. 鈥淚 knew it was one of the best research schools in Canada,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 also always wanted to go to Halifax and be on the coast, so I get to do research, earn a really good degree, and enjoy my time there.鈥澨�
A new city means new opportunities for Reese to get involved in clubs and activities. In Airdrie, she has volunteered extensively with the local food bank and the public library and has been a member of both the Youth Volunteer Corps and the Airdrie Board of Youth Affairs. At school, she has been involved in the leadership club and the Relay for Life Committee, helping to raise funds for cancer research. She also started a coding club in Grade 12 to share her passion and knowledge with her peers.听
Lessons for success and fulfillment
Namesake of 网红黑料鈥檚 Schulich School of Law and the prestigious Schulich Leader Scholarships, Canadian business leader and philanthropist听Seymour Schulich (LLD鈥�13)听continues to share his wisdom with a new addendum to his best-selling book听Get Smarter.
Read it now in Dal Magazine.
鈥淢any students are unaware of the numerous opportunities available to them in computer science because they lack access to these resources during school hours,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 wanted to provide an opportunity for them to explore through fun, bite-sized sessions once a week. I also developed plans to match the interests of members, because coding is such a vast skill that allows you to do many different things.鈥澨�
Meanwhile,听Reese has found another passion where precision, accuracy, and creativity provide a recipe for success: baking. She worked part time at an Airdrie bakery and participated in regional and provincial competitions in the high school category.听
鈥淚 was second place in the regional and eighth in the provincial competition,鈥� she says. "I had to make challah bread, macarons, a themed sponge cake, and mini fruit tarts. My favourite was the macarons because of how difficult and finicky the process is. When I finally got it down, I was very proud.鈥澨�
Imagining a bright future听
Reese鈥檚 main focus now is earning her Dal degree. She has spent most of her summer brushing up on her coding skills and earning certifications to help her excel. She also gave a lot of thought to what she wants to do after graduating and how her studies can support her in achieving that goal.听
鈥淥ne of my biggest interests is diagnosis technology and how we can use quantum computing to enhance it,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 want to use my knowledge to find ways to help people who are suffering.鈥澨�
Now read
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- Learn about Dal's other 2025 recipient, Matthew Oh:听Incoming Schulich Leader aims to improve lives through innovation