Rachel Prudhomme Establishes Endowed Bursary for Women in Engineering at Laurentian University

September 23, 2026 — At the Laurentian University Women in Engineering Student Networking Mixer on September 17, Laurentian University announced a new gift from alumna, former faculty member, and current Board of Governors member Rachel Prudhomme, P.Eng. The newly established endowed bursary is designed to remove financial barriers for women pursuing engineering degrees while recognizing active student leadership and community involvement.

Prudhomme holds a historic place in Laurentian’s history as the first woman to graduate from the university’s Mining Engineering program and the first woman to teach full-time in its Faculty of Science, Engineering and Architecture. Over her distinguished career, which spans senior roles in municipal engineering, leadership at Collège Boréal, private sector executive roles, and her current position as Council Chair and Executive Committee Chair for Professional Engineers Ontario, she has remained a tireless advocate for women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Reflecting on her four decades of connection to Laurentian, Prudhomme established the bursary to support female students who demonstrate financial need alongside active leadership, particularly through involvement with the Laurentian University Women in Engineering club or broader community volunteering. Unlike traditional academic awards, the criteria intentionally look beyond grade point average to focus on character, resilience, and potential.

"Laurentian University has been an important part of my life for more than four decades, so establishing this endowment feels very much like coming full circle," said Rachel Prudhomme, P.Eng. "We cannot afford to lose talented women from STEM because financial barriers limit their opportunities. My hope is that this endowment will help generations of women complete their engineering education, discover their own potential, and, one day, create opportunities for those who will follow them."

The gift was formally celebrated in the Cliff Fielding Research, Innovation, and Engineering Building during the Laurentian University Women in Engineering mixer, attended by university leadership, members of the Board of Governors, and representatives from the University, alumni and Sudbury communities.