FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Amanda Lachapelle, Chief Operating Officer – B4 Networks Inc., 905-228-4809

Fonthill, Ont. – July 12th, 2024 – For the 8th year in a row, B4 Power’s “Women in STEM” bursary has sent a Niagara graduate to her dream school. This year’s winner is prepared to transform the healthcare industry by launching a company focused on developing AI-powered tools. 

B4 Power is a Not-For-Profit charitable organization founded by the owners of B4 Networks, Amanda and Bryan Lachapelle, which was created to encourage young women to pursue their passion in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics). Yu Yeon Kim of Welland Centennial Secondary School was one of many applicants to the bursary. The graduate’s ambition, though, was the reason she was selected as the 2024 winner.  

“There is gender misrepresentation in STEM. According to Statistics Canada, women are 29.8% less likely than men to enter a post-secondary STEM program, among high school graduates. Therefore, I wanted to take initiative to bridge the gender equality gap in various pathways and empower female students by providing them opportunities and resources,” said Kim. “After graduating from the University, I want to start a company that provides an AI voice-scanning, neurological diagnosis tool, that detects subtle symptoms to enable early treatment. Diagnosing any brain disease early is extremely important as it reduces possible disabilities. Therefore, intertwining my passion for exploring the power of AI and entrepreneurial innovation, my goal is to democratize healthcare.”  

Kim will be studying Software Engineering at the University of Waterloo this fall. 

Interested in applying for the 2025 bursary? B4 Power has four requirements which include that the student should: 

  1. Identify as female; 
  1. Be from the Niagara Region; 
  1. Be graduating from High School in June 2025 and; 
  1. Be accepted and attending a Post-Secondary Institution in September 2025 studying in an underrepresented STEM field. 

For more information on the bursary and how to apply next year, visit the B4 Power website!