Second-year engineering student Masa Damdoum holding her Sonepar Women's Scholarship award with Jen Sagat, marketing specialist at ElectroZad. (Courtesy Masa Damdoum)
By Lindsay Charlton
At just 16, Masa Damdoum started university. Now a second-year electrical engineering student, she has been awarded a national scholarship recognizing women in technical fields.
Damdoum was named one of two recipients of the 2025/2026 Sonepar Women’s Scholarship for her excellence in the electrical field.
“Knowing that Sonepar recognizes my work, research and commitment to lifelong learning is very rewarding. It motivates me even more to continue contributing to research through a master’s or PhD program,” she said.
Sonepar, an electrical, industrial and safety product distributor, developed the scholarship in partnership with Electro Federation Canada (EFC). It provides post-secondary students interested in pursuing a career in the electrical industry with funding to support their studies.
The award, granted to two female students in Canada who have completed at least two years in a college or university program, is worth $1,750 each.
Damdoum’s journey in engineering began early. In her first year, she received the Elevate Scholarship and joined Dr. Jalal Ahamed’s MicroNano Mechatronics Lab, where she worked with MEMS and MEMS sensors alongside her twin sister, Misk Damdoum.
She said these experiences helped her gain confidence and sparked her passion for research.
“From walking into my first engineering class, very shy and timid, to now being able to conduct research at the IEEE level feels incredibly rewarding. It’s something that once felt out of reach,” she said.
Her commitment to learning runs in the family.
“My mom has always emphasized pursuing advanced learning opportunities, and she now has five degrees,” Damdoum shared. “She always instilled in me that education matters — not just pursuing it, but also exploring research, contributing to knowledge and giving back to the community.”
That type of dedication is exactly what the Sonepar Scholarship looks for.
“Grades aren’t the only thing that’s considered. They also look at how committed you are to research and your academic journey overall,” she explained.
Damdoum noted that engineering can be an intimidating and demanding field, but having support from a company like Sonepar demonstrates the importance of women’s representation.
“As a female in a male-dominated field, it can often feel like you’re constantly having to prove yourself to be seen as credible and competent,” she said. “So, having a company that acknowledges your work and research overall is very rewarding.”
In addition to receiving the scholarship, Damdoum will also be considered for summer or permanent employment with one of Sonepar’s operating companies in Canada.