Matthew Oh vividly remembers the moment the call came in telling him he’d be receiving a Schulich Leader Scholarship: “I started jumping up and down. I called my mom and dad, then every single one of my friends,” he says with a laugh. “When I told my older brother, he thought I was kidding.”
It was a life-changing moment — one that marked the start of an exciting new chapter for the 18-year-old from Moncton, N.B.
As one of only 100 students across Canada selected each year, Matthew was awarded the prestigiousĚý: $120,000 in financial support to pursue a degree in engineering at HÂţ» University.
An award that changes everything
Schulich Leader Scholarships are awarded to high school graduates pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). Valued at up to $120,000 for engineering students and $100,000 for science and math students, they are among the most competitive and generous undergraduate awards in the country.
“I’ve seen how hard it [university] has been for my brother at McGill,” Matthew explains. “He’s in his fourth year now and has been working full-time while studying. It looks very stressful.”
Thanks to the scholarship, Matthew says he is entering university with a sense of freedom and focus. “I can fully spend my time contributing, leading projects, and exploring internships — even unpaid ones — just to learn as much as I can, without the pressure of needing a part-time job.”
Engineering was a natural choice for Matthew, whose passion for problem-solving is matched by a deep desire to help others. “I’ve always loved math, and I love working with my hands,” he says. “Engineering is all about looking at a problem and finding a way to fix it. That’s something I really enjoy.”
While he hasn’t yet settled on a specific field, Matthew is strongly drawn to biomedical engineering — a discipline that reflects both his technical interests and personal values. His parents, first-generation immigrant doctors from South Korea, are both acupuncturists, and their dedication to care and healing deeply shaped his worldview.
“They taught me to use my skills to do good,” he says. “I want to build things that help people live longer or make health care more accessible.”
Lessons for success and fulfillment
Namesake of HÂţ»â€™s Schulich School of Law and the prestigious Schulich Leader Scholarships, Canadian business leader and philanthropistĚýSeymour Schulich (LLD’13)Ěýcontinues to share his wisdom with a new addendum to his best-selling bookĚýGet Smarter.
Read it now in Dal Magazine.
Leadership starts early
That mindset has long defined Matthew’s approach. In high school, he represented over 20,000 students as a student trustee on his district’s education council, voicing student perspectives on policies and decisions that shaped their experience. He also led school events, fundraisers, and public speaking initiatives.
“I really like leading,” he says. “Bringing people together and making things happn — it just feels natural to me.”
Bringing people together and making things happn — it just feels natural to me.
As he begins his studies at HÂţ», Matthew is eager to get involved beyond the classroom. “I’d love to get involved with anything that gets me closer to real-world experience,” he says. “If someone’s working on something cool and they need help, I’m in.”
From advocating for thousands of students to envisioning health-focused innovations, Matthew is stepping into university with purpose and the backing to dream bigger.
“I just want to help people,” he says. “And this scholarship makes that possible.”
Now read
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- Learn about Dal's other 2025 recipient, Reese Ochitwa: Schulich Leader Scholarship fuels passion to code a brighter tomorrow