Ohpaho student wired for the future after summer learning experience

A student from Ohpaho Secondary School is even more committed to his future career, thanks to the summer experience he had. Drew Farry, who is Grade 11, attended Shad Canada this summer for a month. 

Shad Canada is a competitive national summer program that brings Grade 10 and 11 students together for a month of hands-on learning in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math), entrepreneurship and leadership. 

“I applied because I plan to go into engineering and thought it would be good to learn more about it,” says Farry. “It was a great experience. I loved living on my own, and also all the people I met from across Canada. I am still in contact with them. Also, I enjoyed all of the hands-on learning.”

Farry was one of almost 70 students living and learning at the Red Deer Polytechnic campus in July, and one of more than 1,700 students attending Shad Canada at a post-secondary institution in Canada this year. Farry received a scholarship to attend Shad Canada through Otipemisiwak Métis Government. He learned about Shad Canada through a newsletter the organization distributed. 

Farry and other Shad learners participated in workshops, design challenges, skilled-trades activities, health and wellness programming, science activities, entrepreneurship sessions as well as some off-campus experiences such as going to Banff and to the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller. 

Farry says one of his favorite experiences was designing a system that would reduce water use by Artificial Intelligence. His group worked on a filter for AI prompts that would recognize and sort simpler prompts from more challenging ones, and then assign simpler prompts to AI systems requiring less water.

“I also really liked trying out electrical work, and wiring systems,” says Farry. He appreciated the chance to work on installing electrical wiring for solar panels. “I had learned about it before, but had never actually worked on it with my hands.”  Farry says his interest in going into electrical engineering has increased because of the Shad experience. Medical science is also on his radar.

Also increased is Farry’s commitment to his school work. “This is already pushing me to do my academics better than I did last year,” says Farry. “I see how working hard will help me.”

Farry, now starting Grade 11, is hoping his academic success this year will open doors for even more learning next summer - and into his post-secondary education. 

Drew Farry, second from left, with some of the friends he met at Shad Canada in July.