Ashesi University graduate Evans Kumi ‘25 has been named a McCall MacBain Scholar, chosen from thousands of applicants worldwide to pursue a funded master’s degree in Electrical Engineering at McGill University in Canada. Evans is the fourth student from Ghana and the third from Ashesi to earn this scholarship since 2023.
Established in 2019 with a historic C$200 million gift, the McCall MacBain Scholarships are Canada’s largest leadership-based scholarships for master’s and professional studies. They cover tuition and fees, living costs, relocation, and summer funding, and support mentorship, coaching, and leadership development programs.
“At McGill, I hope to deepen my training at the intersection of artificial intelligence and biomedical engineering, exploring how data-driven models can improve healthcare access and outcomes,” he added. “I’m especially eager to engage in interdisciplinary research that translates innovation into equitable, real-world impact.”
This year, the top 280 applicants participated in first round of interviews in October and November, and 91 were invited to Montreal in March for final interviews. Recipients were chosen based on exceptional character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength, and intellectual curiosity.
“Every McCall MacBain Scholar has participated in six different interviews to earn this opportunity,” said Natasha Sawh, CEO of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill. “They will join a diverse, interdisciplinary network of graduate students committed to bringing people together and creating meaningful change.”
Evans recently graduated from Ashesi University with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar. For his bachelor’s thesis, Evans designed a neural network and an IoT-based system for early detection of lung disease.
“My university experience has strengthened both my intellectual rigor and leadership capacity,” said Evans. “Balancing demanding coursework with research, student leadership, and community impact initiatives taught me how to collaborate across disciplines, lead with integrity, and translate ideas into real-world solutions.”
“These scholarships go beyond financial support,” said Dr. Marcy McCall MacBain, Chair of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill. “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.”
Applications will open in June 2026 for the 2027 cohort. More information about the McCall MacBain Scholarships can be found at mccallmacbainscholars.org.
