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It was in Grade 10 when Albert Kalayil, now a mechanical engineering student at the , was introduced to something that would shape his future. 

“I saw the Schulich Leader Scholarship trophy and thought, ‘That looks really interesting, I want to be a part of that,’” says Kalayil, a goal that became a reality just a few years later when he was named a Schulich Leader himself in 2023. 

With the $120,000 scholarship under his belt, Kalayil has made an impact through the University of Calgary with a growing resumé that so far includes competing with the UCalgary Solar Car team, raising money for the UCalgary Recovery Community, researching nanotribology (the effect of friction, plasticity and wear at the nano level), volunteering for the Rotary Club’s international convention, and even job-shadowing the CEO of WestJet.

are granted to only 100 entrepreneurial-minded high school graduates pursuing STEM degrees at 20 partner universities across Canada, including the University of Calgary. The scholarship awards $120,000 to students pursuing engineering and $100,000 for those pursuing math and science.

Choosing UCalgary

Kalayil’s vast interests in high school helped him receive the scholarship and drew him to UCalgary. 

“I was a very well-rounded person, not just focused on academics or engineering, but on everything,” he says. Through  such as the UCalgary programming competition, he built a multifaceted profile that strengthened his interest in pursuing engineering at university. 

“I heard (UCalgary is) one of the top entrepreneurial universities in Canada. That’s what really drew me here,” Kalayil says. “Calgary is such an innovating city. It’s moving fast, and it’s exciting to be here.”

Schulich Leaders program fuels entrepreneurship and hands-on experience 

Wanting to focus on the intersections of entrepreneurship, engineering and, as he puts it, “creating a positive impact on the community,” Kalayil joined the Schulich Leaders Entrepreneurship Program. The program, exclusive to Schulich Leaders, includes a national pitch competition where students collaborate with peers and receive guidance from business leaders across Canada to develop ventures rooted in STEM and entrepreneurship. 

His team placed second out of eight, pitching a venture that combined engineering innovation with an entrepreneurial approach to real-world challenges, such as environmental disasters. He notes how the experience strengthened his ability to turn technical ideas into impactful, scalable solutions, strengthening his overall business skills.

Campus involvement

As an executive of the , which focuses on leadership and humanitarian service projects, Kalayil helped organize a fundraiser for the UCalgary Recovery Community that raised more than $11,000 and served as a guide at the 2025 this past June in Calgary, helping welcome and host international delegates.

Kalayil blends his passion for engineering with hands-on experience as a member of the . While the team prepares to travel to Minnesota for a race this summer, he is contributing to building the car’s suspension and designing parts for manufacturing. “It’s amazing to see how engineering applies outside of the classroom. Being part of that (Solar Car) team … it’s a real-world-use scenario,” he says.

His dedication to entrepreneurship, community involvement and STEM also led to his selection for the competitive program, where he was partnered with WestJet. , Kalayil gained a behind-the-scenes look at how engineering, operations and business strategy intersect.

“It was really eye-opening to see how much knowledge they had across every part of the operation, from technical processes to business strategy,” he says.

He has also pursued research in the Nanotribology Lab in the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, co-authoring a on lubrication and the behaviour of sustainable lubricant additives under stress. 

Reflecting on the experience, he says, “Just seeing that whole facility (the Nanotribology Lab) at UCalgary is something amazing. You see these huge machines and equipment, and it's something exciting to be a part of.”

Beyond these experiences, Kalayil enjoys being involved in the campus community through volunteering as a student mentor, and at ��ɫֱ�� convocation ceremonies. Kalayil says the scholarship has allowed him to explore his interests while opening doors to “many opportunities just to be involved and give back to the community.”

Looking ahead

Kalayil is looking forward to his fourth-year engineering capstone course, where students apply their learning to a real-world project and present their work at the annual . With entrepreneurship and leadership at the centre of his goals, his long-term vision is to pursue his Professional Engineer designation and build his own positive-impact business.

“I’m really honoured and grateful to be selected for the Schulich Leader Scholarship,” he says. “It means so much to me and has given me opportunities that would have otherwise been unthinkable.” He adds that the experience has been “nothing short of surreal,” continuing to shape both his academic journey and his commitment to making a meaningful impact. 

Students interested in the Schulich Leader Scholarships program can learn more about the nomination and application process by visiting the official .