Young engineer wins national award
Sabrina Hiefer has become the first Acadia student to win an Undergraduate Women in Engineering Scholarship from CEMF, the .
Across Canada, one female engineering undergraduate is selected in each of five regions 鈥� Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, Prairies, and British Columbia 鈥� as the strongest ambassador for the profession based on her leadership, volunteerism and community involvement. This year鈥檚 $5,000 scholarship included an all-expenses-paid trip to Yellowknife in June for the Engineers Canada annual general meeting and award presentations. CEMF fundraised to pay recipients鈥� travel expenses, and Hiefer鈥檚 sponsors were and the Halifax office of .
For someone who had never even sought employment until after high school, Hiefer鈥檚 resum茅 is impressive. She is co-founder and co-chair of the , coordinator of the Acadia Environment and Sustainability Office, and vice-president executive of the .
Welcoming atmosphere
Currently a second-year student, Hiefer almost didn鈥檛 come to Acadia. She lives in the Windsor Forks area and Acadia was her local university. 鈥淚 guess it鈥檚 a normal high school thing,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou just assume you鈥檙e going to go away.鈥�
After high school, she took a year off to gain work experience and decide what she wanted to study. A conversation with Dr. Andrew Mitchell, dean of Acadia鈥檚 , persuaded her to go into engineering and apply to Acadia.
Although she had applied also to Dalhousie University, what sealed the deal were Acadia鈥檚 welcoming atmosphere and generous scholarship support. 鈥淭he scholarship programs at Acadia are absolutely phenomenal,鈥� she says.
Hiefer鈥檚 engineering classmates are a friendly, competitive group. 鈥淭he majority of us are very, very determined, and it鈥檚 really interesting to have us all in there because we motivate one another,鈥� she says.
For the CEMF award, Hiefer鈥檚 application included a presentation on her perspective as a woman in engineering. As an award recipient, she will visit high schools to raise awareness of engineering and its opportunities for female students.
Volunteering and leadership
In her first year at Acadia, Hiefer approached Jodie Noiles, sustainability coordinator for the .
鈥淪abrina came to me looking for opportunities to get involved in campus environmental activities,鈥� Noiles says. 鈥淚 was immediately impressed with her level of professionalism, and she was very keen. She got involved right away with the Acadia Environmental Sustainability Office (AESO).鈥�
The AESO provides environmental outreach and education to Acadia students and the community. Early on, the group identified what they saw as a 鈥渄isconnect鈥� among regional universities and colleges at the student level. 鈥淲e wanted to help bridge that gap, and to do it with an environmental basis,鈥� she says.
Noiles put Hiefer in touch with Cate May Burton of King鈥檚 College in Halifax; together the two young women co-founded the Atlantic Youth Environmental Council. An inaugural conference, which Hiefer is chairing, is scheduled for October. The keynote speaker will be Elizabeth May, leader of Canada鈥檚 Green Party.
Noiles, who was one of Hiefer鈥檚 referees for the CEMF scholarship, says Hiefer embodies Acadia values. 鈥淓xcellence in academic performance 鈥� she has a very strong GPA 鈥� while being very engaged in the campus and local community. And she also has a very strong commitment to the protection and sustainability of the environment,鈥� Noiles adds. 鈥淭hose three things are very important values here at the institution. She鈥檚 an excellent representative of Acadia and for Acadia students.鈥�
Although many people at Acadia, including Noiles, have influenced Hiefer, her primary mentor is closer to home. Her mother, Christine, has been a 鈥渉uge mentor,鈥� she says. 鈥淪he instilled in me at a young age to always do my best.鈥�
-30-