One of the most rewarding traditions at West Island College is welcoming our broader community back to campus to connect with our students. This year’s annual Innovation Fair did just that, blending real-world expertise with classroom creativity. We were proud to host 12 guest judges, including accomplished alums and parents, representing a diverse range of professional backgrounds. These mentors engaged deeply with students, discussing their problem-solving approaches, inspirations, and learning journeys.
The Innovation Fair is a vibrant showcase of student innovation and creativity, featuring personal projects from students in Secondary 3, 4, and 5 enrolled in STEAM option courses, alongside members of the WIC Robotics Club. Spanning engineering, robotics, computer science, sustainable development, and the arts, the event provides students with an opportunity to present their projects to professionals within the WIC community. In doing so, they not only showcased their learning and creativity, but also strengthened their communication skills, received valuable feedback, and gained a deeper understanding of how classroom concepts connect to real-world applications.
This incredible event was spearheaded by two dedicated WIC science teachers, Mr. Moustafa Al Hilli and Ms. Mahjouba Baqadir, whose hard work and vision provided the ultimate platform for our students to shine.
The projects evaluated at the fair were to receive the Joseph Kruger Awards, which were established in memory of a beloved community member, dedicated tinkerer, and longtime volunteer judge at WIC science fairs. The fund honours Mr. Kruger’s legacy by celebrating student curiosity and recognizing outstanding creativity and achievement.
We are thrilled to congratulate this year’s Joseph Kruger Award recipients:
- Dean Cuplowsky received the Mechanical Engineering award for his Motorcycle Project.
- Zachary Stewart and Adih Verma took home the Robotics Engineering award for their CRC Robot Project.
- Brody Lemcovitch, Jonah Gurevitch, Chase Engel, and Tsz Yuet Eunice Liang won in Computer Science for their Batman Project.
- Zoe Chandler and Maya Reinblatt earned the Arts and Science award for their Guitar Project.
- Bella Quan, Elizabeth Selinsky, and Moira Serniuk were recognized in Sustainable Development for their Greenhouse Project.
Reflecting on the experience, Secondary 4 student Elizabeth shared:
Presenting at the Innovation Fair was both exciting and nerve-wracking, but it felt very rewarding to share my project and explain the process behind it to others who were interested in my ideas. Receiving an award made the experience even more special because it showed that my effort, creativity, and dedication were recognized.
Among the returning community members serving as judges was Maria Bayder ’23, who shared how meaningful it was to return to her roots:
WIC’s Innovation Fair proved to be an impressive showcase of the students’ talents! I was honoured and happy to serve as a judge, giving back to the community that helped foster my interest in science and supporting current students in STEAM.
An event of this scale is only possible thanks to the dedication of our volunteers. We extend our warmest thanks to the incredible panel of judges who brought their expertise and encouragement to our students. Thank you to our dedicated parents, Stephane Manos and Jimmy Fourtounis, Kelly Pike (Class of 1994), as well as Dr. James Lee (Class of 1999 and incoming WIC parent).
We are equally grateful to our returning alums who continue to pave the way for current students: Karen Bloom (’86), Dr. Sean Yaphe (’06), Julian Nasielski (’11), Arielle Dascal (’14), Kaela O’Connor (’14), Josh Tabatchnick (’14), Sean Selinsky (’20), and Maria Bayder (’23). Your participation truly reflects the strength of the WIC community and our shared commitment to fostering curiosity, creativity, and innovation. We look forward to many more Innovation Fairs to come!
