Project Pulse Winnipeg
2021-2022 Executive Team
Meet our team!
Katrina Lengsavath
Principal Advisor
Katrina is a second year Arts & Sciences student at Canadian Mennonite University. She serves as Vice President Communications on CMU Student Council, sings with CMU Singers and Women’s Chorus, and was selected as one of the school’s Leader Scholars in 2020. This is her fourth year with Project Pulse - she feels delighted to transition into a mentorship role for the 21/22 season after leading the executive team as President over the past two years and serving as Graphics Designer back in 2019. She is motivated to apply her experiences with the organization to supporting current members of the team as they bring innovative ideas to the table and prepare for yet another year of meaningful online programming.
Aside from her love of studying in sunny libraries and warm cups of tea, Katrina enjoys baking, folding mini paper stars, and spending time with friends. Katrina has always admired the complexity and beauty of interdisciplinary study and career paths. She hopes that PPW will continue to bridge the gaps in accessibility to health sciences resources to equip and inspire students from all backgrounds to discover what they are passionate about, too.
Contact: winnipeg@projectpulsecanada.com
Rhea Gupta
President
Rhea Gupta is a grade 12 student at St. John’s-Ravenscourt School, where she is taking Advanced Placement courses in hopes of pursuing a career in medicine. She is honoured to serve as President for this year’s Project Pulse season—when she joined the team last year as Professional Relations Director, Rhea did not anticipate the profound effect this organization would have on her, as she was able to help increase accessibility to health sciences resources. She hopes to expose more high school students to the purposeful opportunities that Project Pulse offers, and is eager to witness the great things that this year’s Executive Team will accomplish!
Rhea has participated in the Manitoba Schools Science Symposium since Grade 7 and got selected to represent Canada in May at the Canada-Wide Science Fair. Attending Shad this summer, a national STEAM and entrepreneurship program, further strengthened her passion for the sciences. She is an active member of her school community as a leader of the Green Team and Youth in Philanthropy clubs, editor-in-chief of SJR’s newspaper and literary magazine, and a member of Student Council. Rhea is heavily involved in debating and public speaking, attending the Nationals every year since grade 8 and qualifying for the World Individual Debate and Public Speaking Championships in April, where she was a finalist. She also learns Bharatanatyam dancing, an Indian classical dance, which allows her to remain connected to her culture. Rhea has enjoyed organizing Sustaining Strength of Seniors since she started it in January, a group of elderly that she gathers every week for discussions and activities to help them overcome their social isolation. In her free time, she takes pleasure in reading fictional books, watching movies, and spending time with family and friends.
Contact: winnipeg@projectpulsecanada.com
Vicky Xie
Professional Relations Director
Vicky is a grade 12 student at St. John’s-Ravenscourt School, where she takes advanced placement courses and has achieved the Governor’s Honour Roll standing throughout her years in school. She is excited to be serving as the Professional Relations Director for Project Pulse as the health sciences have always been a passion of hers.
In school, Vicky is an active member of her school’s community, from being a student ambassador for eight years to being one of the leaders of her school’s Youth in Philanthropy club. Outside of school, Vicky works as a summer student at the Departments of Pathology and Human Anatomy and Cell Science where she participates in Western Blotting under the Tumor Suppressor Biology, Autophagy and Metabolism Program. She also tutors English to students in China and is an ambassador at the Assiniboine Zoo. In her free time, Vicky enjoys travelling, reading, playing music and cooking.
Contact: panels.winnipeg@projectpulsecanada.com
Kristina Kerkelova
University Relations Director
Kristina’s passion for health science began after her visit to the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg where she saw the huge part that microbiology plays in our daily lives. Biology, physics, and sociology are Kristina’s favourite classes at Vincent Massey Collegiate, where she is a grade 12 student. She is a member of Massey’s debate club, an honour roll student, and holder of the Bronze level Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. In her free time, Kristina enjoys volunteering with kids. She has volunteered at Fort Whyte Alive Day Camp and NEEDS Homework Club where she helped newcomers to Canada with their homework. Kristina likes to bike and hike in summer and cross-country ski in winter. This year, Kristina looks forward to helping students just like her find their passion for health science!
Contact: panels.winnipeg@projectpulsecanada.com
Wisdom Ojo
Events & External Relations Director
Wisdom is a grade 10 student at St. John’s-Ravenscourt School. This year, Wisdom will be the Events and External Relations Director for Project Pulse Winnipeg. In school, Biology has always been one of Wisdom’s favourite subjects because she has always been intrigued by how the human body and brain function. Through Project Pulse, she hopes to be able to expand her knowledge in this area and become more acquainted with the world of health sciences. Apart from academics, Wisdom enjoys a broad range of extracurriculars including her involvement in student council and debate, where she participates in many tournaments. Additionally, Wisdom enjoys playing basketball which she has played for many years, and hopes to play on her school basketball team in the future. In her free time, she loves to hang out with friends, bake, and write her own songs.
Contact: outreach.winnipeg@projectpulsecanada.com
Yulia Zhao
Sponsorships & Finance Director
Yulia is a grade 12 student at St. John’s-Ravenscourt School, and she is extremely excited to be serving as the Sponsorships & Finance Director for the 2021-22 Project Pulse Executive Team.
Yulia enjoys studying the economy and the business world as well as the arts and design. She’s been taking many business courses and is enrolled in multiple business programs as well. She was involved in the Junior Achievement program for many years, and was most recently the company’s vice president of finance. She loves working with numbers and the process of finding the perfect financial balance in a company. She hopes to continue to study business in university and pursue a career in this field in the future as well.
Through Project Pulse, she hopes to create a comfortable and memorable experience for everyone, and she’s super excited for the fun year ahead.
Contact: sponsorships.winnipeg@projectpulsecanada.com
Hella Straub
Marketing & Outreach Director: Community Relations
Hella is a grade twelve student at Ecole Kelvin High school as a part of the International Baccalaureate program. Post high school she plans to engage in a career in health sciences. Outside of school she enjoys nature, hiking and plants. She likes audiobooks and cats. Her favourite foods are lasagna, and black cherries.
As one of the Marketing and Outreach Directors, for the first time, she is happy to be a part of the Project Pulse Winnipeg team. She hopes to contribute positively to the Project Pulse Winnipeg Initiative and is excited for the future of the program.
Contact: outreach.winnipeg@projectpulsecanada.com
Ella Martin
Marketing & Outreach Director: Social Media
Ella Martin is a Grade 11 student at St. John’s-Ravenscourt School. With a passion for all sciences, she takes Advanced Placement courses to help accelerate her growth into the field. A couple of her main interests pertaining to the health sciences are genetics and dermatology, which are what lead her to take great interest in working with Project Pulse Winnipeg this year!
In her free time, Ella enjoys improving her cooking skills, watching classic movies, and hanging out with family and friends. This year, along with volunteering, she plans to become even more active in her school community by participating in different clubs and sports. As for her position as Director of Marketing & Outreach: Social Media, she will use her past experiences as both an entrepreneur and a creative individual to maintain a lively and engaging presence online.
Through Project Pulse, Ella is eager to delve deeper into the health sciences and gain a new perspective from individuals who have experienced the field first-hand. She also looks forward to working with a strong team of like-minded individuals, and creating a positive environment for everyone. Ella is thrilled and honoured to be working with Project Pulse and all of its amazing team members this year!
Contact: outreach.winnipeg@projectpulsecanada.com
Folami Ogundare
Graphics Designer
Folami is a grade 12 student at St. Maurice high school. Her favourite subjects include Mathematics, Biology and Art. In her free time, Folami loves to hang out with friends, draw and play Volleyball. She actively contributes her time and energy to her community. For instance, she volunteers in faith-based organizations to take care of kids. Folami is vastly interested in studying mind and behaviour or mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders. She has always been interested in mental health issues, especially since Covid-19 started. She hopes to pursue a career in psychiatry in the future.
Folami is very excited to be a part of the Project Pulse team as the graphic designer! Folami hopes she can learn a few things from joining this team. She is looking forward to this educating and mind-opening experience!
Komal Saroya
Graphics Designer
Komal is currently enrolled as a grade 12 student at Maples Collegiate. She is an active member of Maples Collegiate Student Council and is involved in planning and preparing for school events throughout the year. In school, she enjoys taking courses such as Biology and Chemistry, and plans to pursue a career in the field of health sciences. Through Project Pulse Winnipeg Komal looks forward to learning more about different professions in the health sciences and meeting new people with similar interests. In her spare time, Komal likes to read, spend time with her friends and go out with family.