Feather in student's cap

Photo: Contributed

A Kelowna student surprised her school – and her parents – by being selected to participate in the prestigious SHAD summer university enrichment program.

Maddie Bishop, a Grade 11 student at Studio9 School of the Arts, didn't tell her parents or her teachers about the essays she was writing in hopes of being chosen.

Instead, she surprised them with the announcement she has been accepted.

Maddie stage manages the Studio9 music, dance and theatre performances.

SHAD is a Canadian summer enrichment program for high-achieving high school students that runs every year at 13 participating universities. It is focused on business, science, mathematics and engineering.

The application process is rigorous. Last year, more than 2,000 students applied.