McGill’s newest Loran Scholars committed to service 

Hailing from Newfoundland and British Columbia, the two are winners of Canada’s largest and most comprehensive undergraduate merit-based undergraduate award   

First-year McGill students Sadie MacDonnell and Olivia Mendes grew up about as far apart as two Canadians could: Mendes in West Vancouver on the Pacific Ocean, and MacDonnell, in Corner Brook, a continent away on the Atlantic.  

Both travelled to Montreal to pursue their academic careers as the University’s newest Loran Scholars. Winners of the award receive a tuition waver and annual living stipend at one of 25 Canadian universities, and participate in a four-year leadership enrichment program consisting of summer work experiences, mentorship and gatherings with fellow scholars.

The idea is to help them build critical skills and leadership capacity for leadership by taking on new challenges and exploring diverse experiences. They join a community of purpose-driven peers who are committed to leaving the world better than they found it. 

Although they come from opposite coasts, when it comes to helping their communities, MacDonnell and Mendes are on the same page. 

Olivia Mendes, Faculty of Arts 

Olivia Mendes isn’t the kind of person who looks the other way when confronted by injustice.  

Shocked by the discovery of what appear to be hundreds of unmarked graves on the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School in 2021, Mendes helped found her high school’s Truth and Reconciliation Committee.  

Olivia Mendes

“In my years working on the Committee, connecting with elders and involving myself in local events, I was able to explore different facets of truth and reconciliation and delve further into these topics,” she said. “I look forward to continuing this work through volunteering with The Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal and McGill’s Indigenous Alliance.” 

At the time, there was an increase in LGBTQ+ hate incidents at her school. Mendes addressed the issue head on.  

“As someone who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, queer rights have always been very important to me. I involved myself in advocacy work; I spent time speaking on a school panel, discussing my experiences as an LGBTQ+ student,” she said. “Through this, I started working in my school through the Gender and Sexuality Alliance.  

Now, I hope to continue exploring the subjects of gender and sexuality through taking courses in the Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies Program here at McGill. 

Mendes said McGill was an obvious choice.

McGill has always been my dream school. Studying in an environment that is both academic and focused on social responsibility has always been important to me,” she said, listing youth issues, mental health, reproductive rights and education among her long-term interests.  

I hope to pursue a career path that allows me to use my skills to help others practically through hands-on work.

Sadie MacDonnell, Faculty of Science 

Sadie MacDonnell was introduced to McGill in July 2023, through SHAD Canada, a non-profit organization that fosters entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership among Canadian high school students. Over the course of the month-long program, MacDonnell fell in love with both the University and Montreal. 

Sadie MacDonnell

“I knew this was where I wanted to spend the next four years of my life,” she said. “I’m from a small town in Newfoundland, which – don’t get me wrong – I love, but I’ve also loved experiencing the vibrant community here at McGill. Each new experience I’ve had here so far has just reinforced my decision to come to Montreal and to McGill.” 

A singer, dancer and pianist, MacDonnell produced and directed a concert in Corner Brook to raise funds and awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women. She was also one of the coordinators of a virtual fundraising concert supporting COVID-19 vaccination efforts.  

MacDonnell is in her first year in the Faculty of Science, in the Biological, Biomedical and Life Sciences stream. While she wants to major in Psychology, the plan is to pursue her many interests. 

“I’d like to minor or double minor in subjects that interest me,” she said. “I’m interested in chemistry, Indigenous Studies, music, French and much more. I really can’t say for certain what I’d like to study until I have a chance to explore different subjects.” 

While MacDonnell has set her sights on becoming a clinical neuropsychologist, she does admit she’d love the opportunity to work professionally in music or theatre.  

“But whatever I do in the future, I want to continue to give back to the communities that I’m a part of.”