Rittal presents the 2021 ‘Women in Tech’ EFC scholarships for STEM careers

The 2021 ‘Women in Tech’ Scholarships from Electro-Federation Canada recognize that women and BIPOC (black, indigenous and people of colour) have a vital contribution to make in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Rittal Systems Ltd. of Mississauga, ON, pioneered this scholarship in 2019, and continues to award them annually, to deserving women to help them to pursue their dreams in the electrical industry.

According to André Bousette, president, Rittal Systems, “Rittal is delighted to present our 2021’Women in Tech’ scholarships to these very talented young ladies — Anqi Xu from University of British Columbia (UBC), and Aliya Dube of University of Manitoba, who are both excelling in their engineering studies, but also taking the time to advocate for women in STEM and in the community.

“We are glad that Rittal can contribute in a small way to the bright futures of these worthy winners, and we congratulate them for their stellar achievements.”

The first scholarship recipient, Anqi Xu, is currently studying Engineering Physics at UBC. Xu is said to be passionate about the intersection of the environment and engineering, as well as theoretical physics research. “I am honoured to receive this scholarship as it motivates me in proving what I do matters and pushes me to continue to explore all avenues of engineering,” says Xu.

“I hope that this helps advocate for women in STEM, especially women of colour, and further educational opportunities in engineering. I want to thank Rittal and EFC for empowering women in STEM and for choosing me to receive this wonderful opportunity.”

Aliya Dube, studying Electrical Engineering at the University of Manitoba, is a recipient of the second scholarship. Dube says, “Although I have fallen in love with the profession, this extra financial freedom will allow me to put more time into developing hard skills through hands-on experiences, providing me with an opportunity to better myself as a student and engineer.

“I hope scholarships like these continue to support diversity in STEM and demonstrate that there is a place for women and BIPOC at the table. I am so grateful for the generosity of EFC and Rittal and am honoured to receive this award.”

Xu adds, “Being a student right now is hard. Not only is it taxing emotionally, but also financially. With this scholarship, I would have more time to pursue engineering in all forms, with increased involvement in my design team and after school activities, alleviating some of the stress that comes with being a student. Thank you very much for affording me this opportunity.”

Watch Anqi Xu video:

https://youtu.be/P_ibnpP3t0o?list=PL8yX_y26I5XuGT6f7pZXl2p9RqfQoZOh4

Dube also says, “I am incredibly grateful to be a recipient of the Rittal Advancing Women in Tech scholarship. By receiving this scholarship, I will be able to allocate more time into my extracurricular educational pursuits and further focus on my studies. I am honoured to be recognized for my hard work and community involvement and will continue to provide mentorship and support throughout my engineering career.”

Watch Aliya Dube video:

https://youtu.be/rLeuqqPngDA