������

Queen’s student Justin Sandrasagra (BASc'25) and recent graduate Nafanta Fadiga (BSc'21) have been named McCall MacBain Scholars. They are two of 20 Canadians selected from nearly 700 applicants to pursue a funded master’s degree at McGill University. They are part of the fifth cohort of the McCall MacBain Scholarships, Canada’s largest leadership-based scholarships for master’s and professional studies.

“Queen’s students continue to inspire and impress me with their ambition and dedication,” says Principal Patrick Deane. “It is wonderful to see the McCall MacBain Scholarships recognize a student and a graduate from our community with this opportunity. We are all very proud of Justin and Nafanta and are excited to see what they will accomplish at McGill and beyond.”

Recipients were chosen based on exceptional character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength, and intellectual curiosity.

Sandrasagra is in his final year of the mechanical and materials engineering program in Smith Engineering. Throughout his time at Queen’s, he has been involved in a variety of extracurricular activities and research projects. He has volunteered as a notetaker for Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS), participated in science case competitions, and co-authored two research publications about the application of asphalt to build longer-lasting roads in Northern climates. At McGill, he will pursue a Master of Science in mechanical engineering.

“I am excited to continue my studies and to develop the skills necessary to contribute to solutions in the energy sector,” says Sandrasagra. “At Queen's, I was fortunate to learn from outstanding supervisors and professors who have prepared me to take this next step. Their mentorship was invaluable and has motivated me to explore how mentorship can be used more broadly across engineering education.”

Fadiga graduated from the life sciences program at Queen’s. During her time at the university, she helped run the Black Premedical Association and served as a residence don. She is especially committed to sickle cell disease (SCD) research and currently volunteers with two organizations dedicated to improving outcomes for the disease. She has also co-authored several research publications on SCD and hopes to continue this work at McGill, where she will pursue a Master of Science in family medicine with a focus on global health. She is currently completing a second bachelor's degree at York University.

“Receiving the McCall MacBain Scholarship means the world to me,” says Fadiga. “Coming from a low-income background, this opportunity not only alleviates financial barriers but also allows me to grow as a leader and continue my advocacy work. Being at an institution like Queen’s that encourages student leadership pushed me to address the gaps and barriers I observed in my community, and to create space for underrepresented voices. I’m excited to carry that passion forward at McGill, surrounded by a community of scholars committed to make meaningful change.”

McCall MacBain Scholarships

Established with a historic $200 million gift in 2019, the McCall MacBain Scholarships give recipients the chance to pursue funded study in a master’s or professional program while participating in an interdisciplinary leadership training program. Of the nearly 700 applicants, the top 150 participated in the first round of interviews across the country and online. Afterwards, 88 finalists were invited to attend final interviews in Montreal in March.

“These scholarships were created out of a belief that our world needs people who aspire to lead with purpose, empathy, integrity, and courage,” says Marcy McCall MacBain, Chair of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill. “We want to create opportunities for students to dream big, cultivate leadership, and contribute to something greater than themselves.”

The McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill also offered 95 entrance awards ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 each to top candidates not selected for the cohort.

The following Queen’s University students and recent graduates earned entrance awards:

• Noah Chalifoux - McCall MacBain Finalist Award
• Rabab Azeem -  McCall MacBain Regional Award
• Eileen Danaee - McCall MacBain Regional Award
• Taryn Keenan - McCall MacBain Regional Award
• George Melika-Abusefien - McCall MacBain Regional Award

Applications will open in June 2025 for the 2026 cohort. More information about the McCall MacBain Scholarships can be found on their .