The Jacob Hillerby Memorial Bursary

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When Jake was a baby, he was always fascinated with the way objects moved and worked. Jake tested out the world with a determination that made us all think he would be an engineer, just like his father and grandfather. He was such a sweet boy, that we knew he would make the world a better place – possibly through engineering.

After he died, we grieved for our loss. But we also felt that the world had lost out on all the good he would have done throughout his life. We decided to help Jake make a difference still. The biggest barrier to potential engineers is money. A year’s tuition is $14,000, not including books and housing. When students are stressed about money, they can’t concentrate; Their grades drop, they lose out on their education, and the world misses out on the things they could contribute. My sister, a professor at Renison University College at the University of Waterloo (my alma mater), created a bursary in his honour.

Every year, first year engineering students in financial need, submit applications telling us how they will make the world a better place, using their degree. The most worthy candidate receives $2,000 from the bursary. But that is not all. We also take the recipients out to dinner (COVID permitting), keep in touch with them, and offer any support we can to help them be successful.

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Aleksi Luoma (2018)

“Thank you for choosing me in honour of Jacob. Like Jacob, from a very young age, I think I was destined to become an engineer. For as long as I can remember, I have always sought to understand how different pieces of technology and processes work and how I can create my own working versions.

Although Canada is renowned for vast amounts of fresh water throughout the country, access to clean water is cut off when it comes to the First Nations. I have educated myself on this issue and given serious thought on what I can do to facilitate change. This issue has inspired me to study chemical engineering with a focus on water resources. I hope to contribute to the solution and improve the communities and lives of First Nations people. I cannot thank you enough for this scholarship. I am extremely grateful. “

Samuel Diaz Sevillano (2019/2020)

Samuel came to the University of Waterloo on a scholarship from Ecuador. When the university raised tuition, he had no money to cover the additional amount. If he dropped out of school, he would be obligated to pay his government back all the money they had already spent on him, which he had no way of doing. Our bursary allowed him to stay in school until co-op positions started, allowing him to earn extra money.

“Since I was a little kid, I always was passionate for robots and technology. I always wanted to create technology that could change people’s lives. When I grew, I realized the way I could help people with my knowledge and passion. 

Now I am passionate for creating and improving prostheses for people who have lost certain parts of their bodies, so that they can recover their ability to perform activities and improve their daily lives. As a Mechatronics Engineer, once I obtain my degree, I plan to focus primarily on prostheses field. I know there is still a lot of research to do, but if I can have a significant contribution to this field, I know I will feel really good with myself. I believe that helping others is what brings real happiness to your life.

I would like to thank you and your family for choosing me for the award. It is a great blessing for me. I am really sorry for what happened to your son Jake, and I hope I can attain my dream to help people with prostheses to honor him.”

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Renee Reyes (2021)

On the path to becoming an engineer, my ultimate goal has been oriented around gaining the assets required to support others. I would love to use my architectural engineering education to design and construct buildings for those that do not have access to a safe place to study, work, or call “home.” I am also very passionate about environmental sustainability. The architecture industry can be very harmful for the earth, so I would like to apply my studies to create solutions to more sustainable practices related to constructing buildings.

I will know that my career as an engineer is successful if others’ lives are made better in some way through the application of my architectural engineering education and experience.

I am beyond grateful to have been chosen as the recipient of your award and I am glad to be able to use the award as a factor that will help me achieve my goals in making social and environmental impacts in the world. Please send my deepest thanks and appreciation to your family and friends that have made contributions towards the award. I will make sure to use this opportunity to honour Jacob’s memory and the values the award holds.

Ian MacPherson (2022)

As someone with learning disabilities myself, I understand that the tools and systems we have in place are as efficient as we can make them with current technology. I also understand that people with disabilities have major struggles that their care providers will never be able to fully grasp. Learning to use technology is a natural barrier to education and quality of life. My goal is to make the world a safer place, where everyone, regardless of heritage or ability, has an opportunity to be as successful as they can. I plan to use my degree to work for biomechatronic and healthcare-oriented companies to manufacture new technologies to help people suffering from disabilities and their healthcare providers.

Thank you so much for this support. It means a lot to me that you feel this way about my application. The scholarship truly helps lower my worries if I will be able to stay in engineering and I thank both your family and Friends for this monumental gift.