The Richmond Hill Garden & Horticultural Society is pleased to announce that Melissa Lin, a graduating student of Thornlea Secondary School, is the winner of the 2025 Willem Schurman Scholarship, and recipient of the $500 bursary.

Melissa has a reputation for problem-solving, as well as a strong work ethic and leadership skills. As the President of the EcoTeam, she led impactful environmental projects such as WWF fundraisers, hydroponics/vertical farming, and raising awareness about sustainability. She also proposed a Green Classrooms initiative, applying for grants to integrate plants within classroom environments to help raise awareness of climate change. These efforts have been successful in encouraging others to actively participate in creating a greener environment.

Melissa is now attending the University of Toronto, where she is studying Computer Engineering with a strong interest in emerging technologies such as automation, sensor networks and artificial intelligence. She aims to explore how these innovations can be leveraged to drive sustainable solutions.

The Willem Schurman Scholarship, named after one of our society's Past Presidents, is made available each year to a student graduating from any Richmond Hill secondary school. For more information, click here.