2024 LGBTQ2S+ Scholarship Awarded
Strike’s scholarship program is part of our commitment to helping break through barriers and create a positive impact on the community at large. We firmly believe that everyone has a right to education and are dedicated to providing financial aid to people from historically underrepresented groups.
Annually we are offering a $2,000 scholarship for a LGBTQ2S+ student who is pursuing education to work in the skilled trades or the energy sector. The 2024 LGBTQ2S+ Scholarship was awarded to Jung Yi Cau.
Jung Yi is currently a fourth-year mechanical engineering student at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He is the first in his family to pursue post-secondary education and is passionately committed to a career in the mining industry, with a focus on social justice and sustainability.
Our team was particularly impressed with Mr. Cau’s community involvement and dedication to engineering. His notable achievements include:
- Leadership in Renewable Energy: Jung Yi joined the UBC Solar Design Team, where he led a 12-person team in building a solar-powered race car.
- Community Service: He is a dedicated member of UBC Community Eats, a non-profit initiative that provides accessible, nourishing, and sustainable food to students. Jung Yi has devoted several hours each week to this program, undertaking responsibilities such as meal preparation, service, and sourcing locally produced ingredients to combat hunger and malnutrition, particularly among LGBTQ2S+ students impacted by rising living costs and tuition fees.
- Mentorship and Youth Engagement: In his hometown, Jung Yi volunteers at Big Brothers and Sisters, a local family center. As a supervisor, he plays games and facilitates activities with underprivileged youth to foster positive relationships. He serves as a role model, teaching older kids how to generate income and support themselves, and helping them find local job opportunities.
- Support for LGBTQ2S+ Community: Jung Yi is a member of UBC Gear and Queers, where he helps build a safe community for LGBTQ2S+ engineers. He provides mentorship and actively participates in initiatives aimed at increasing the visibility and representation of LGBTQ2S+ individuals in engineering.
Looking ahead, Jung Yi plans to enroll in a course at UBC that explores the historical context of Indigenous peoples’ interactions with the development of mineral resources in Canada. His goal is to learn about current best practices and systems that support Indigenous peoples’ effective management and involvement in developing mines and mineral resources. He envisions mining as a catalyst for positive change, demonstrating that responsible resource extraction and environmental protection can coexist.
Strike wishes Jung Yi all the best with his educational journey and future endeavors!