If you have ever been involved in the area of giving back in the city of Calgary, Alberta, chances are you’ve either met or heard of Hui Wen Zheng, a core member of various youth volunteer and leadership initiatives. Hui Wen, a 17-year-old friend and volunteer to many in Calgary, uses her actions to inspire and empower the youth of Youth Central (the largest youth volunteer organization in Calgary), making her a role model not only for youth in her hometown but for all youth who strive to make a difference.
The Loran (pronounced “lo-RAN”) Scholarship, short for “Long-Rage Aid to Navigation “, is the most prestigious scholarship in Canada, granting winners $100, 000 over four years to go towards their University degrees. What differentiates this scholarship from others is primarily the basis which they choose their winners on; while other scholarships look purely at grades, the Loran judges the thousands of applicants on their demonstrations of the three core Loran values: character, service, and leadership.
Leadership is not about numbers and percentages, it’s about the person, and who they are,
The fact that the selectors take such a holistic approach to choosing the finalists is amazing, because it proves that the people who do get the scholarship get it for the right reasons.
Being one of 84 finalists chosen from a pool of 4,400 applicants, Hui Wen  has definitely made it this far for the right reasons. As an active member of the community, she has worked extremely hard and those who have worked with her all agree that she contributes 110% to any cause she puts her mind to.
The standard selection process for the Loran occurs when high schools across the nation submit their nominations, and the Loran committee then chooses amongst those. Being accepted by this method is extraordinary itself, but Hui Wen’s story is even more remarkable.
“I had applied for nomination from my school, but didn’t make it. I then decided to apply in the direct pool of applicants, and I was recognized by the Loran organization through my application. I got the news right before Christmas, and it was the best Christmas gift I ever could have received. I couldn’t believe that with over 4000 applicants I had been chosen. I started crying as soon as I heard the news.”
Although the monetary value of the Loran award is certainly not something to overlook, what excites her the most about this opportunity is in fact the experience.
The Loran offers so much more than just a scholarship; they offer you a program, unlike other scholarships. They are invested in you and supporting you.
The  Loran experience starts from the beginning when the applicants are selected from their hometowns. They then attend regional interviews, where if successful they go on to national interviews in Ontario. Those who make it to nationals are the finalists; the finalists are given the opportunity to network and get to know each other while experiencing Ontario. The 32 selected Loran Scholars not only achieve the $100, 000 towards their education, but also mentorship, funding for summer internshps, a weeklong orientation expedition, scholar retreats, and other scholar gatherings.
I’m really excited to meet the other scholars from across the country because this is such a special opportunity. Â Coast to coast there are so many different types of people, and to meet them and talk to them and see how they live their lives is gonna be really special to me.
Hui wen hopes to share and combine ideas with her fellow scholars about how to better their communities, as well as to learn about what others are doing in their own hometowns. Â She is thrilled that she will be able to network with other young leaders, and would like to form life-long friendships. Â Hui Wen is also extremely grateful for the support this scholarship provides:
“The Loran would alleviate the financial burden of my University degree, and I would therefore be able to pursue my interest with no worry. Â The support from the Loran mentors will also take a lot of the pressure and fear of university off. Â It’s the helping hand the Loran provides along my journey that is crucial and will help me to achieve success. Â No matter where I go, I know that I will carry the Loran values and support alongside me.”
Myself and fellow bloggers have been given the opportunity to get to know Hui Wen not only in a professional context, but a personal one as well. There is no question that she exemplifies every value of the Loran scholarship on a daily basis- character, service and leadership, and as a co-editor and close friend of Hui Wen I cannot think of an individual more deserving of this award than her.  Hui Wen has been an irreplaceable mentor and friend to many of us, and we all will be cheering her on as she embarks on this amazing journey.
