Supporting the ambitions of women in engineering and inspiring them to build the future
About the scholarship
The Claudette-MacKay-Lassonde Excellence Scholarship is a Canada-wide annual award of $25,000 to support women in their second or third year of undergraduate engineering studies in Canada.
Created thanks to a generous donation from the Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation (CEMF) and in tribute to the memory of CEMF founder Claudette MacKay-Lassonde, this scholarship embodies the values of leadership, academic excellence and community engagement espoused by the CEMF for more than 30 years.
By providing financial support to exceptional female students, this initiative is helping to inspire the next generation of women engineers and encourage the aspirations of exceptional, committed young women.
The Claudette-MacKay-Lassonde Excellence Scholarship will be awarded every year in August during the Folie Technique summer camp, which is designed to give young people opportunities to explore the worlds of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through creative, interactive and accessible activities.
How to apply
Candidates for the Claudette-MacKay-Lassonde Excellence Scholarship must meet the following criteria:
- Identify as a woman;
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
- Be enrolled in the second or third year of an undergraduate engineering program at a Canadian university (for the 2024-2025 academic year);
- Demonstrate leadership, academic excellence and a significant involvement in her community;
- The scholarship winner must agree to return to her high school, or another high school if hers is too far away, to share her story.
The application package (written in French or English) must include, in order, the following elements:
- The application and declaration forms (.pdf)
- The community, athletic/artistic, and other involvement form (.pdf)
- The list of scholarships, awards, and distinctions received (.pdf)
- A curriculum vitae
- All your official transcripts, including details of your university or faculty's grading system
- A cover letter detailing your accomplishments and what this scholarship means to you (maximum 400 words)
- A letter of recommendation from a non-academic sponsor, attesting to your involvement and achievements as a volunteer
- Proof of registration for the upcoming year, if available
- Proof of your status in Canada
- Any other document deemed relevant (2 pages max.)
Your application must be submitted as a single PDF document, titled as follows: 2025_BourseMacKayLassonde_YourName_YourFirstName.
The application must be submitted via the secure online form available by clicking here.
The application form will be available from April 7, 2025 to May 11, 2025 inclusive.
SELECTION CRITERIA
The Claudette-MacKay-Lassonde Excellence Scholarship recognizes a student who demonstrates leadership, academic excellence, and significant community engagement.
Academic Record (40%)
The candidate will be evaluated based on the excellence of their academic record, as well as any scholarships and other support received.
Community Involvement and Leadership (60%)
The candidate must demonstrate participation in various non-academic activities during their university and high school careers. Social and leadership involvement refers to any social, cultural, or athletic activity, as well as any project that promotes communication, leadership, community involvement, and/or involvement with women, as well as openness to the world.
Contact us
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the scholarship or would like to discuss ways of supporting this initiative:
- E-mail: philanthropie-diplomes@polymtl.ca
- Phone: 514 340-5959
Polytechnique Montréal is proud to award the Claudette-MacKay-Lassonde Excellence Scholarship and to perpetuate this extraordinary legacy in support of women in engineering.
Support the Claudette-MacKay-Lassonde Excellence Scholarship
By donating to this scholarship, you are helping to support the next generation of women engineers. Your generosity will help encourage remarkable women to pursue their engineering dreams and build a better world.
Honouring Claudette MacKay-Lassonde
Claudette MacKay-Lassonde was a pioneer and visionary in the field of engineering. A chemical engineering graduate of Polytechnique Montréal (1971), she went on to study nuclear engineering at the University of Utah and administration at the University of Toronto, becoming a trailblazer for diversity in engineering in Canada.
In 1990, following the tragedy at Polytechnique Montréal, Claudette founded the Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation (CEMF) to honour the memory of the 14 murdered women. Although the foundation has now ceased its activities, its impact continues thanks to a generous donation of $300,000 to Polytechnique Montréal to establish the Claudette-MacKay-Lassonde Excellence Scholarship, in tribute to the CEMF’s founder.
Claudette MacKay-Lassonde worked passionately throughout her life to break down barriers and open doors for women in engineering, helping to build a more inclusive future for the profession.
