Twenty Newfoundland and Labrador students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement were recognized today for the 2026 Research Inspired Student Enrichment (RISE) Awards. The recipients were announced by the Honourable Lin Paddock, Minister of Jobs, Growth and Rural Development, at a ceremony in St. John’s.
RISE Awards are presented to Level II high school students who demonstrate academic excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The winners will attend an enrichment program offered at one of the following locations:
- Research Science Institute located at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Boston Leadership Institute located in Wellesley, Massachusetts
- University of Toronto located in Toronto, Ontario.
Information on the award recipients and the summer programs is included in the backgrounder below.
The Department of Jobs, Growth and Rural Development provides approximately $324,000 for tuition, accommodations and travel stipends for the students to participate in the enrichment programs. The selection process for RISE Award winners includes an assessment of academic achievement, as well as written essays in which applicants must highlight plans for future study, career and research interests and how those interests are relevant to Newfoundland and Labrador.
The RISE Awards support the early development of the talent needed for Newfoundland and Labrador’s future workforce. By introducing students to advanced learning opportunities and real-world research environments, the program encourages youth to pursue post-secondary studies and careers in science and technology-related fields, while celebrating their academic excellence.
Quote
“The RISE Awards recognize some of the brightest young minds in our province and provide them with opportunities to explore their interests at world-class institutions. By investing in these students today, we are helping build a skilled, innovative workforce that will contribute to Newfoundland and Labrador’s economic growth and long-term prosperity.”
Honourable Lin Paddock
Minister of Jobs, Growth and Rural Development
-30-
Le gouvernement provincial reconnaît les titulaires des prix RISE
BACKGROUNDER
The following 20 students have each received a 2026 Rise Award.
- Moroti Adegboyega – St. Bonaventure’s College
- Maira Ahmad – Waterford Valley High
- Kawthar Alakhdar – Waterford Valley High
- Natalie Beh – Roncalli Central High
- Vidya Tanmayi Chedella – Holy Heart of Mary High School
- Cora Clark – Pasadena Academy
- Lucia Chen – Holy Heart of Mary High School
- Anna Corbett – Cape John Collegiate
- Ava Decker – Mount Pearl Senior High
- Alex Fry – Menihek High School
- Joyeeta Goyali – Gonzaga High School
- Allison Gregory – Waterford Valley High
- James Hand – O’Donel High School
- Emily Janes – Holy Heart of Mary High School
- Nandini Kapoor – Menihek High School
- Diana Medan – Holy Heart of Mary High School
- Ella Sooley – Crescent Collegiate
- Melody Tang – Holy Heart of Mary High School
- Ariana White – Holy Heart of Mary High School
- Joseph Ye – Holy Heart of Mary High School
Research Science Institute is a partnership between the Center for Excellence in Education, a not-for-profit organization based in McLean, Virginia, and MIT. The institute offers a six-week summer enrichment program in the Boston, Massachusetts, area, and emphasizes advanced theory and research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. The program introduces students to the entire research process, from literature review to experimental design and analysis.
Boston Leadership Institute is a three-week program held in Wellesley, Massachusetts, offering STEM research programs taught by top educators and researchers. Ranked among the top five summer science enrichment programs in the United States, the program provides students with an opportunity to develop high-level research skills and subject matter expertise through lectures, presentations and hands-on experiments.
The University of Toronto (U of T) offers two streams of programming. Da Vinci Engineering Program (DEEP) is a four-week program, which offers pre-university engineering and science enrichment and research project design opportunities. CREATE, also a four-week program, offers immersive engineering design challenges and engaging research opportunities.