A Waterloo IB student raising $8,500 to attend Canada’s top STEM innovation program.

I was accepted into one of Canada’s most competitive STEM programs.

Now I need help to make it possible.

Hi, I’m Kacper — a Grade 11 IB student, competitive swimmer, and future STEM student. This summer I was selected for SHAD 2026, a national program that brings together some of the most motivated students in Canada for an intensive, university-based innovation experience.

It’s an incredible opportunity.

But it comes with a big cost.

The Reality

I wanted to fund this myself.

I’ve already paid the first $750 installment.

The total cost is:

$7,500 – SHAD tuition

($3,500 due in April + $3,500 due in May)

~$1,000 – travel expenses

Total goal: $8,500

This is a major investment — and I’m asking for support to help me take this step.

Who I Am

I’m a top-performing IB student at Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute and a competitive swimmer training up to 20 hours per week. Swimming has taught me discipline and resilience — especially when things get hard.

In Grade 10, I co-developed an AI-powered translator called Polyglot to help people without a shared language communicate.

I also design custom T-shirts, create short films, and run my swim club’s Instagram — editing competition videos and building engagement around the sport I love.

I’m constantly building, learning, and pushing myself.

SHAD is the next challenge.

Why This Matters

SHAD isn’t just a summer camp.

It’s a launchpad for future innovators.

It’s a chance to work on real-world problems, collaborate with ambitious students from across Canada, and grow in ways I can’t anywhere else.

I don’t want to miss this opportunity because of finances.

Recognition

To thank everyone who supports this journey, I designed a custom SHAD 2026 hoodie that represents the idea behind this campaign.

On the back it says:

“This journey wasn’t solo.

Huge thanks to:”

It’s a reminder that opportunities like this are rarely achieved alone — they’re made possible by encouragement, mentorship, and community support.

After the program, I’ll share updates about my experience at SHAD, what I learned, and how this opportunity helped shape my path.

Your support — whether through a donation or simply sharing this campaign — truly means a lot.

Ways You Can Help

Every contribution helps move this goal closer.

$25 helps cover materials and daily program costs

$100 contributes toward housing and meals during the program

$250 supports a significant portion of the program tuition

Every donation, no matter the size, moves this journey forward.

This journey isn’t solo.

— Kacper