Al Akhawayn University (AUI) is proud to announce that their graduate, Zineb Salma Bahri, has been selected as one of the top 10 global recipients of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill University in Montréal, Canada.
Zineb, who is the first Moroccan student to receive this prestigious award, credits her experience at AUI for instilling the values of community and excellence. " I am forever beholden to my alma mater, not only for equipping me with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to thrive, but also for connecting me with people that inspire me every day to give more of myself to my community." she said.
During her time at Al Akhawayn University, Zineb managed and led the astronomy club, which organizes an annual week-long community festival for about 5,000 people and led the mechatronics team to compete in international robotics competitions. She also managed the operations committee for her university’s national robotics competition, for two years, and worked part-time on campus.
“Zineb’s selection is a tribute to the time and energy she has put into improving the lives of others,” said Natasha Sawh, Dean of the McCall MacBain Scholarships. “Our volunteers looked not only for academic strength, but also for leadership qualities like integrity, kindness, grit, and an ability to motivate a team to address tough challenges.”
For information, Zineb underwent a rigorous seven-month selection process, including a final round of interviews in Montréal. The scholarships are the result of a landmark C$200 million gift (about 1.5 billion MAD) in 2019 by John and Marcy McCall MacBain, the second-largest single donation in Canadian history. Designed to encourage purposeful leadership, the McCall MacBain Scholarships enable students to pursue a fully funded master’s or professional degree at McGill, while participating in mentorship, coaching, and a leadership development program.
Each scholar was chosen based on their character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength, and intellectual curiosity.
By pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at McGill, she hopes to continue her research in fluid dynamics.