Former Saskatoon student honoured with Award of Excellence following near perfect senior year

A former Saskatoon student added to his long list of achievements Monday, receiving Saskatoon Public Schools’ Award of Excellence.

Harkiat Bhullar is currently enrolled at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts in his first year of general studies. Bhullar graduated from Saskatoon’s Evan Hardy Collegiate with an average of 99 per cent last spring.

Bhullar had perfect scores of 100 per cent in Pre-Calculus, Biology, AP Computer Science, Integral Calculus, and AP Calculus, earning him the Canadian Governor General’s Academic Medal, and National AP Scholar status.

On top of the numerous accomplishments, Bhullar was offered scholarships upwards of $500,000 from seven Canadian universities.

Bhullar told 650 CKOM that his decision to head south of the border has been positive so far, and he sees a lot of change in the first few months in Massachusetts.

“There are people from all walks of life, and the faculty is really top-notch. I count my blessings every time I walk through the campus. It really is an amazing experience,” he said.

Bhullar has not declared his major yet at the prestigious institution, but said he’s leaning towards applied mathematics with a focus on economics.

His overall goal though, is still in tact.

“The goal is to do something that outlives me, whatever form that takes, I don’t know,” he said.

“Going into college, maybe I was more sure of what I was going to become, I’m actually more confused now. I don’t know what, necessarily, the future looks like, or what I’ll be doing.”

Bhullar said he hopes to give back to Saskatoon, and the other communities that have helped him along the way.

He is originally from India, moving to Saskatoon with his family in 2014. He finished his elementary schooling in the Bridge City, and moved through into high school at Evan Hardy.

He said the experiences he’s learned along the way have shaped him into what he’s become at Harvard.

“The opportunities I’ve (received) at the school, if those did not exist and consistent support from the principal, from the counselors, this really wouldn’t have been possible,” he said.

During his time in high school, he was a member of the Soul Ambassadors club at Evan Hardy, also initiating “Project Buddy,” a program geared to welcome and support immigrant and refugee youth in the school.

In the Saskatoon community, Bhullar dedicated his time and effort to organizations that include Autism Speaks Canada, Ronald MacDonald House, Youth Advisory Council of Saskatoon, Canadian Orthopedic Foundation, and the Festival of Words.

The Award of Excellence is given out annually to the “most outstanding graduate based on academic excellence, personal qualities, leadership and participation.” Bhullar received a medal, along with a $5,000 cash award.

Bhullar expects the money to be spent directly into his education.