Kayla Okada, 18, will study at UBC this fall in its engineering program, with future goals of joining the space exploration industry. She was one of 34 recipients this year of the prestigious Loran Scholar Award. (Image Credit: Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

make it so

‘Just be yourself:’ aspiring Nanaimo engineer earns prestigious scholarship

Mar 26, 2026 | 5:27 AM

NANAIMO — When Kayla Okada heard the news she’d been selected for the prestigious Loran Scholar Award, she’d already mentally prepared herself for disappointment.

“I was so shocked, I started crying on the floor, and my parents were outside of the room seeing me crying and they weren’t sure whether (it was good news or bad news), but it was good tears. I was just so incredibly happy, just incredibly shocked.”

The 18-year-old, grade 12 student at Nanaimo District Secondary School was one of 34 students nationwide selected through a gruelling application process to receive tuition assistance, networking, and a leadership-enrichment program valued at over $100,000.

Bound for the University of British Columbia in the fall, Okada told NanaimoNewsNOW she’s envisioning a career amongst the stars.

“My goal is to do mechanical engineering. I think that’s where I’m focused on right now, because I want to work in the space exploration industry. I’ve always been so fascinated with that field, listening to podcasts and reading Chris Hadfield’s autobiography…and I’m a big Trekkie.”

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Born and raised in Nanaimo, Okada applied at the start of her grade 12 year, compiling reference letters and writing essays for review, one of around 5,400 students doing the same.

She was then selected to perform video interviews, where she filmed herself answering a number of questions.

The semi-final stage saw her take part in a day-long Zoom call with panel interviews and one-on-one interviews with judges from Loran Scholars.

Finally, Okada was invited on a trip to Toronto for three days of in-person interviews and testing to be part of the final 34 from across Canada.

She’s not sure what set her apart from thousands of others.

“The only advice they give you at every stage is to just be yourself and be authentic. I did a lot of reflection on this for months, and writing the essays really helped. I really think I know who I am, I know what my values are, and I was able to articulate that, and that came across really authentically, and I think that helped me in the end.”

Attending UBC was her first choice from the outset, although she applied elsewhere.

Okada plans to take her first year of studies, which contains a more general engineering theme, to really focus on what she wants to do.

“I love this idea of collaboration and problem-solving in a very high-level field of space and STEM and science. I find the math I’m learning now and the potential knowledge I could gain as an engineer, the way they problem solve, and the way they think, just learning those skills makes you an incredibly versatile person.”

A future at NASA, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), or counterparts in Europe is all on her horizon.

“Every time I look up at the stars, it’s so calming, and I want to know what’s out there, I want to understand it, understand what we already know, and learn as much as I can, so I’m going to focus on the learning and focus on building the connections and building up those experiences, and then I’ll go from there.”

Okada runs a book club out of the Hammond Bay branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library and is an accomplished soccer player, singer, and dancer.

She said her experiences at NDSS were instrumental in helping shape her into the person she is today.

Teachers, classmates, coaches, and more made the experience at one of the largest schools in the region, one where she could thrive.

“You’ve got to advocate for yourself, and you’ve got to try to find your opportunities and make the best of every classroom experience you have. That was my mindset going in, and it helped me find so many amazing communities within NDSS and a lot of my good friends. There are some amazing teachers there who have supported me and believed in me and really helped me grow and just become a better person.”

Okana is the second Nanaimo-area student to be selected for the Loran program in the last two years.

Rocky Sloan, a former Dover Bay Secondary student, earned the honour to help with his medical school goals in 2025.

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