Rachel Cluett Named University of Manitoba’s Fourth McCall MacBain Scholar
University of Manitoba Bachelor of Arts in Psychology graduate Rachel Cluett (BA’24) is one of 20 Canadians selected to join the fifth cohort of McCall MacBain Scholars at McGill University.
Established with a historic $200 million gift in 2019, the McCall MacBain Scholarships are Canada’s largest leadership-based scholarships for master’s and professional studies. Nearly 700 Canadian students applied for the opportunity, and the top 150 participated in the first round of interviews across the country and online. Afterwards, 88 finalists were invited to attend final interviews in Montreal in March.
“I’m speechless. The amount of gratitude I have for this scholarship and this opportunity is just so inexplicable that I really struggle to find my words,” said Rachel. “Receiving the McCall MacBain Scholarship means the freedom to fully engage in my master’s studies. It allows me to focus on learning, growing, and meaningfully contributing to my new community.”
Recipients were chosen based on exceptional character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength, and intellectual curiosity.
Rachel has worked for and volunteered for several years with the University of Manitoba’s Hearts and Minds Lab. She coordinated projects, determined eligibility for a clinical mental health trial, and contributed to a manuscript on challenges and service barriers for immigrant families. Rachel has also volunteered at Survivor’s Hope Crisis Centre, advocating and supporting survivors of sexual violence. She is developing her photography skills as a volunteer for local events, and she has gained management experience by working at a restaurant.
“My honours degree in Psychology at the University of Manitoba provided strong research, leadership, and communication skills,” Rachel said. “As a lab coordinator and research assistant, I led teams, conducted impactful research, and presented at national conferences. These experiences have prepared me to lead, collaborate, and contribute to the McCall MacBain community.”
Rachel will pursue a Master of Arts in School/Applied Child Psychology at McGill.
“During my master’s studies, I hope to further explore the intersection of mental health, neurophysiology, and community-based interventions,” she said. “I aim to deepen my understanding of how evidence-based programs can address mental health disparities, particularly in underserved rural populations, and develop innovative solutions to improve access to care and outcomes.”
“These scholarships were created out of a belief that our world needs people who aspire to lead with purpose, empathy, integrity, and courage,” said Dr. Marcy McCall MacBain, Chair of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill. “We want to create opportunities for students to dream big, cultivate leadership, and contribute to something greater than themselves.”
“Every McCall MacBain Scholar has participated in six different interviews to earn this opportunity,” said Natasha Sawh, CEO of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill. “They have already demonstrated extraordinary potential for impact, and they’ll join a community of entrepreneurial change-makers from varied fields and walks of life.”
During finalist interviews in montreal, Rachel had an opportunity to share her experience in this video interview.
Applications will open in June 2025 for the 2026 cohort. More information about the McCall MacBain Scholarships can be found at mccallmacbainscholars.org and follow McCall MacBain Sholarships on Instagram and LinkedIn for up-to-date information, bios and more!