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Smith Engineering students Sabrina Button (BASc'26) and Michael Jones (BASc'26) have been named McCall MacBain Scholars. They are two of 20 Canadians selected from more than 700 applicants to pursue a funded master’s degree at McGill University. They are part of the sixth cohort of the McCall MacBain Scholarships, Canada’s largest leadership-based scholarships for master’s and professional studies.

“Each year, Queen’s students distinguish themselves through their curiosity, leadership, and commitment to making a meaningful impact,” says Principal Patrick Deane. “We are delighted to see members of our community recognized by the McCall MacBain Scholarships, and we congratulate Sabrina and Michael on this remarkable achievement. We look forward to following their continued success at McGill and in the years ahead.”

The scholarships cover tuition, living stipends, relocation, and mentorship, coaching, and leadership program activities. Recipients are chosen based on exceptional character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength, and intellectual curiosity.

Sabrina Button is completing a Bachelor of Applied Science in mechatronics and robotics engineering at Queen’s as a Schulich Leader Scholar. During her studies, she has gained experience through several internships, including with NVIDIA. Inspired by her family’s ties to Newfoundland, she developed a strong interest in water conservation. At Queen’s, she co-founded and co-led a design team developing an autonomous robotic boat for environmental monitoring on Lake Ontario, raising $30,000 and launching two water-quality initiatives. She has also led the Queen’s delegation to the 2023 Conference on Sustainability in Engineering, and served as vice-president, technology, for the 2024 Ontario Engineering Competition. At McGill, she will pursue a Master of Science in mechanical engineering, with a focus on marine robotics.

“I’m amongst the first cohort of a very demanding and specialized program at Queen’s University—Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering—and it has pushed me to my limits, building my resilience and self-confidence,” says Button. “It has also taught me the importance of balance, community, and uplifting your peers.”  

Michael Jones is completing a Bachelor of Applied Science in chemical engineering at Queen’s. A recipient of the Chernoff Family Scholarship, he has balanced his studies with two part-time jobs. While growing up on a farm in central Ontario, he developed an interest in community-building and bioscience. At Queen’s, he has been actively involved in Engineering orientation week and the biomedical innovation team, co-chaired a conference on non-traditional career pathways, and participated in a charity comedy show. He has also completed research internships in Toronto and Braunschweig, Germany, supported by Amgen Scholars and DAAD. At McGill, he will pursue a Master of Science in biological and biomedical engineering, where he hopes to contribute to developing treatments for chronic conditions.

“My roles in campus leadership at Queen's taught me to communicate effectively across different communities. These experiences, combined with my research in Canada and abroad, have prepared me to collaborate and tackle complex challenges within regenerative medicine,” says Jones. “As a type I diabetic myself, I'm excited to explore how tissue engineering can be applied to treat and cure chronic illnesses.”

The achievement reflects the strength of the learning environment within Smith Engineering at Queen’s, where students are encouraged to pair technical excellence with leadership and community engagement. “Sabrina and Michael exemplify the kind of engineers we strive to develop who are thoughtful leaders driven to apply their skills to real-world challenges,” says Kevin Deluzio, Dean of Smith Engineering. “Their accomplishments speak to their talents and determination, and to a community that supports innovation and collaboration.”

McCall MacBain Scholarships

Established with a historic $200 million gift in 2019, more than 700 Canadian students applied for the opportunity this year. From this group, 150 were selected for interviews across the country and online, with 91 finalists advancing to a final round of interviews in Montreal in March.  

“These scholarships go beyond financial support. They’re about investing in the leadership potential of individuals who dare to pursue unconventional paths and care deeply about improving the lives of others,” said Dr. Marcy McCall MacBain, Chair of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill.

Applications will open in June 2026 for the 2027 cohort. More information about the McCall MacBain Scholarships can be found on their.