Perseverance, quiet resolve and dogged determination have seen former Drayton area resident, Rachel Keunen, 23, through years of academic excellence. Those qualities have also helped her capture a major academic scholarship.
Keunen attended Norwell District High School and received many academic awards including an Upper Grand Learning Foundation scholarship 2009, an Ontario Scholar award for 2009, the Principal’s award for academic achievement 2009, the Harj Gill Stop 23 Music Award in 2009, the Paul H. Rogers Extracurricular award in 2009, the Canadian Association of Principals’ Certificates of Honour 2009 and the Margaret McCullough Scholarship in 2009. Her final graduating average was over 95 per cent.
In 2013, Keunen was accepted into the Bachelor of Sciences program in Biochemistry and Biotechnoloy at Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU). She received the President’s Centennial Scholarship which was an entrance award given to someone who has a high school average greater than 95%. She was also one of the top four students with the highest graduating averages in the Faculty of Science and as a result, received the Alumni Gold Medal.
At WLU, Keunen was presented with a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) undergraduate student research award. Other honours include the Marjorie H. Brown Scholarship in Chemistry. This is awarded to a full-time student (completing an Honours Chemistry or joint Honours Chemistry program) who has the highest cumulative grade point average in all chemistry courses. Keunen made the Dean’s list all four years.
In the fall of 2014, she finished her Masters in Science in Analytical Chemistry and then immediately joined the Winnik group (http://www.chem.utoronto.ca) and began her research in self-assembly of block copolymers into rigid cylindrical micelles.
With a natural inclination and curiosity for identifying substances of which matter is composed, how it interacts, combines and changes to form new substances, Keunen seemed destined to be a chemistry aficionado. Although she didn’t go into it to receive award after award, she was delighted that her hard work was paying off.
The culmination of Keunen’s efforts came when she learned that she had been selected from 2,000 applicants, to receive a $150,000 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship to pursue her PhD studies and research.
The government of Canada’s intention for awarding the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships for the (VCGS) program is to attract and retain world-class doctoral students and establish Canada as a global centre of excellence in research and higher learning.
The criteria for acceptance and reward are strict and demanding. Vanier Scholars are required to demonstrate leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and/or humanities, natural sciences and/or engineering and health.
Keunen applied for the program, submitting evidence of her research abilities, approach and worthiness. Then she waited. Although the waiting was long, she had strong support from her parents, Brian and Joanne Keunen, and her brothers, Aaron, Benjamin and Daniel.
“It was nerve wracking waiting to hear if I got it,” Keunen said. “When I finally did I was ecstatic and wanted to do a happy dance.”
The first phone call she made was to her mother, Joanne.
“Rachel was very shy growing up,” her mother said, adding she remembers how much her daughter loved school – even on snow days.
“[She] always enjoyed assisting others with their homework, too, and she was a big help with her little brothers.
Determination and dedication to her family has been an integral part of Keunen’s life and her strong will is now serving her well as she perseveres in her studies.
“I always thought she’d go into math,” her mother said. “I never thought she would pursue a Ph.D. in nano-chemistry.”
Keunen conquered her shyness and went on to excel in many areas. Her parents are grateful she has found something she enjoys. Getting the VCGS is like a validation that she has chosen the correct path.
“It was still kind of surreal,” Keunen said, as she considered the road ahead and those who have helped her along the way.
“The journey getting here was hectic and full of extracurricular [demands], work as a research assistant, and a continual stream of assignments and tests for my courses.”
She indicated that, although it has been a lot of hard work, she has thoroughly enjoyed the journey, especially doing her undergraduate work at WLU. She is grateful to her instructors and professors who inspired and motivated her through her undergraduate studies.
As well as her parents, she
has many people to thank who helped her along the way. Dr. Vladimir Kitaev, Keunen’s research supervisor, along with healthy competition from her biochemistry friends helped her become the success that she is. She also confessed to having perfectionist tendencies which probably has translated into attention to great detail – a helpful trait for researchers.
As a recipient of the Vanier scholarship, Keunen is excited about the doors that will open as a result.
“It’s a great thing to have on my resume. It allows me to have more time for research,” Keunen said.
“It will also help to fund my research since my supervisor doesn’t have to give me a stipend.”
One benefit is that it gives Keunen peace of mind financially, “especially with the cost of living in Toronto” she said.
Research and study are serious business for Keunen but she still loves being around friends and family. Her love for figure skating has never diminished and she tries to take time to kick back and enjoy life.
Her passion now, besides academia, is being involved and working in the young adult church ministries, in Drayton, Scarborough and Toronto.
Keunen’s ultimate goal as her journey into the world of research continues, is to design a particle that would deliver drugs to tumours which could then hopefully lead to better treatment options for cancer patients.
Good News for science. Welcome News for those who might just benefit from the hard work of Rachel Keunen BSc., MSc., soon to be a PhD.
