In summary:
- Ashesi alumnus Daniel Amoshie ‘23 has been selected as a 2024 recipient of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
- Daniel is the only Ghanaian recipient this year, chosen from thousands of international applicants, and will be pursuing a Master's in Mechanical Engineering.
- Recipients were chosen based on exceptional character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength, and intellectual curiosity.
The Scholarships are Canada’s largest leadership-based scholarships for master’s and professional studies, enabled through a landmark gift by John and Marcy McCall MacBain. Awardees pursue a fully funded master’s or professional degree while participating in mentorship, coaching, and a purposeful leadership development program.
“It was a regular day for me at the research lab at Ashesi when I received the call,” said Daniel, who has been working on campus as a research assistant. “I could not contain my excitement, so I immediately rushed to break the news to Ashesi's Provost and called my parents. I then spent some good time in the Ransom Brown Lounge reflecting and sharing my experience with colleagues.”
Selected scholars this year participated in six different interviews over the course of seven months. The top 118 international candidates participated in a first round of regional interviews in October and November, and 37 attended final interviews in Montreal with travel expenses covered. Daniel was one of three Ghanaians named among the 37 finalists in February 2024.
A Researcher and Inventor Committed to Sustainable Agriculture
Daniel, a member of Ashesi’s Electrical and Electronic Engineering Class of 2023, was recognised as one of his class’ most enterprising students. A Jim Ovia Foundation Leaders Scholar at Ashesi, he invented a cocoa pod-breaking machine in his sophomore year that won first prize at an agric hackathon. Daniel also led two student groups, while on campus, and co-created an automated animal feed production machine that won best Engineering project.
During his time as a research assistant on campus, he also co-developed a fully operational solar-powered vehicle with colleague Gabriel Owusu ‘23. Funded by the Automation, Controls and Robotics Lab (ARC-Lab) at Ashesi under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Kofi Armah, the goal of the project is to enable guests to take a self-guided tour through campus.
Daniel with solar car co-researcher Gabriel.
It is this enterprising spirit that Daniel hopes to grow during his time at McGill University. With his scholarship, he will pursue a master's degree in mechanical engineering at McGill with the goal of developing eco-friendly agriculture technology. His ultimate goal is help lead agricultural mechanisation activities in Ghana.
“I see the scholarship as a springboard that will provide me with a roadmap to unparalleled learning experiences and mentorship opportunities to accelerate my dreams,” said Daniel. “I look forward to further sharpening my design skills and gaining unique insights from mentors and advisors at McGill to develop more innovative solutions to help mechanize the agricultural activities of marginalized communities in Ghana and Africa.
“These students inspire us with their compassion and drive,” said Dr. Marcy McCall MacBain, Chair of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill. “Our shared mission is to provide them with an unparalleled graduate education, leadership development opportunities, mentors and lifelong connections. We hope to accelerate their ability to make an impact in communities across Quebec, Canada, and around the world.”
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Applications will open in June 2024 for the 2025 cohort. More information about the McCall MacBain Scholarships can be found at mccallmacbainscholars.org.
