Megan Rutherford and Taylor Hanson, ©UWinnipeg
Two very accomplished women in science have earned the prestigious Sir William Stephenson Scholarships for this academic year. Taylor Hanson and Megan Rutherford are both in their final year of study at UWinnipeg. Both share a record of achieving academic success and demonstrating extensive community service and volunteerism — which is integral to winning this $7,500 scholarship.
“It is fantastic that two talented female scientists have won this year’s Stephenson award,” shared Dr. Melanie Martin, physics. “Both are dedicated students who have presented their research at many national physics and chemistry conferences and have been recognized for their work.”
To learn more about each scientist please click on their names at Hanson and Rutherford .
These scholarships, established in 1984 by Sir William Stephenson through The Winnipeg Foundation, are awarded annually to one or two students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, superior leadership qualities and the potential to make a valuable contribution to Canada.
BACKGROUND: SIR WILLIAM STEPHENSON
Born on January 23, 1897 in Point Douglas, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sir William Samuel Stephenson, CC, MC, DFC was a Canadian soldier, airman, businessperson, inventor, lightweight boxing champion, and spymaster. In 1916 he volunteered for service in the 101st Overseas Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force and in 1917 was granted a commission in the RFC. By the end of World War I he had achieved the rank of Captain and earned the Military Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Croix de Guerre.
Between the wars, he became a wealthy industrialist, involved in the steel industry, the automobile industry, and aviation. He helped develop the Spitfire airplane and patented a way of sending photographs through wireless telegraph. As Director of British Security Coordination in the Western Hemisphere, he was an indispensable asset to the allies during World War II. In 1941, he set up Camp X at Whitby, Ontario, the first spy training school for clandestine wartime operations for the Allies. He became Churchill’s personal representative to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, with a mandate from both – from his base in New York City – to get public opinion changed to approve the US entering the War. He later became one of the first directors of public relations for the BBC. Stephenson is best known by his wartime intelligence code name “Intrepid” and has been referred to as “the Godfather of the CIA” whose initial members trained at Camp X. Many people consider him to be the real life inspiration for James Bond, and Ian Fleming, who trained at Camp X, once wrote that “James Bond is a highly romanticized version of a true spy. The real thing is…William Stephenson.”
In 1979, Sir William received an honorary doctorate degree from The University of Winnipeg. In 1984, he made a significant gift to The University of Winnipeg for the purpose of establishing the Sir William Stephenson Scholarships. Sir William passed away in Bermuda in 1989.
