Meet the 2022 Gold Medal recipients
From left, the 2022 Gold Medal recipients are Erica Attard (Mechanical and Industrial Engineering), Julia Caputo (Criminology), Karen Huang (Occupational & Public Health), Allison Mackenzie (Graphics Communication Management), Grejdi Meta (Business Management), Maha Naqi (Mental Health and Addictions) and Julia Pellegrino (Chemistry and Biology)
Faculty of Architectural Science and Engineering - Erica Attard (Mechanical and Industrial Engineering)
As FEAS’ Gold Medal recipient for 2022, Attard also earned a program-wide Dennis Mock Leadership Award, an Aileen Clark Lambie Award and an Ontario Professional Engineers Foundation (OPEF) for Education Scholarship Award.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishment was working with the TMU Formula Racing team to design, manufacture and compete with our first electric vehicle. This endeavour brought on many challenges that forced us to build strong relationships and problem solve as a team. We competed in June 2022 and placed first in Ontario and first in the Business Presentation Event and 15th out of 55 overall. Watching all the engineering students I trained grow into confident and knowledgeable leads has been a big inspiration and motivation for me.
What advice would you give students entering their first year?
Try something new and get out of your comfort zone. There are so many incredible groups at TMU that can help you explore new passions and learn new skills. This time is the best opportunity to grow as an engineer and a person. When I began university, I had no engineering or car experience, I had never used tools or machines, and I wasn't sure what the difference was between the various engineering programs. Five years later, I am the Team Captain of an engineering design team that builds electric race cars.
What does receiving the Gold Medal Award mean to you?
As a female in mechanical engineering, receiving the Gold Medal Award shows that women can deal with all the challenges associated with studying engineering and being a woman in a male-dominated field, while further developing their technical and personal skills and striving for academic excellence. It’s a statement on how women belong in leadership positions and have so much to offer this incredible profession.
Learn more about Attard’s achievements.
Faculty of Arts - Julia Caputo (Criminology)
For Julia Caputo, social justice isn’t just something learned in the classroom, it’s a way of life. That commitment powered her exceptional academic performance and community activism.
“I really enjoy all of the work that I’m doing, because these are issues that are deeply important to me,” said Caputo. “I want to make a worthwhile contribution, even in the smallest way possible, to make our community a better place.”
As part of a team of students working with Criminology professor Anne-Marie Singh, Caputo investigated Egerton Ryerson’s role in residential and Black segregated schools in what is now Ontario. She helped develop an annotated bibliography on Black segregated schools, which is included on the Library’s Black Studies Research Guide. Caputo also assisted in the production of the Know Your Place (external link) infographic, which examined Egerton Ryerson’s role in anti-Indigenous and anti-Black racism in public education in Ontario.
“If we want a future that’s more equitable and inclusive, we actually need to know this history,” Caputo said. “Everyone should know the history behind names, people and places. They all tell a story that is different from the one we know.”
Learn more about Caputo’s achievements.
Faculty of Community Services - Karen Huang (Occupational & Public Health)
What does receiving the Gold Medal mean to you?
To start off, it was an honour to be nominated by faculty members in the School of Occupational and Public Health. When I first started as an undergraduate student, I was eager to be involved in the program and around the university. My main goal was to help students in our program and learn more ways to be involved in the community. I was fortunate enough to work with great student leaders and supportive faculty members who motivated me to step into leadership roles and accomplish my goals.
As I reflect on this award, I would have never thought that I could accomplish this much five years ago. But I am grateful and appreciative to be recognized for my involvement in my academic career and community involvement at TMU.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishment academically was finishing my research project at the end of the year. There were a couple of limitations with my research study at first, but I was happy with the results. But I would say seeing the next students step up into new leadership roles in the course union has made me very proud as well. I fulfilled my role as the president of the Public Health and Safety Course Union for three years.
Many final year students know that the final push to finish university is the hardest, but seeing everything wrap up in my last year with my co-op terms, research project, and my time on the course union has made me very content with my university experience.
What advice would you give students entering their first year?
It takes time to adjust to university, so it’s perfectly normal to take time to find what works for you. It is also okay to not know what you want to do yet; odds are a lot of people are in the same boat. Find your interests in your program and what the university has to offer outside of classes. I was pretty shy in my first year and did not step out of my comfort zone until the beginning of second year. After I started joining student groups and intramurals, I started enjoying my time a lot more.
Learn more about Huang’s achievements.
The Creative School - Allison Mackenzie (Graphics Communication Management)
What has been the most rewarding or enjoyable part of your university experience?
From the moment I moved here, I have been connecting with incredible people. It seems that from every corner of the university, there are humans impacting my journey. In residence, other programs within The Creative School, through the Consent Comes First office, through Print Wisdom Program, and of course, my own family at Graphics Communications Management and in Colloquium. I feel so lucky to have met the people in my life through these opportunities, and hope that I have impacted their journey as well.
I feel well connected to mentors, faculty, peers, friends and family having gone through the academic, professional and personal growth of the last few years. I am so grateful for those who have been tied to every memory and such a rewarding part of my degree.
What experiences have helped prepare you for your future career?
Everything we do helps us prepare for our next step. You never know what’s going to happen exactly, but if you set yourself up for success, something great can happen. It is so exciting to be a part of something bigger than yourself, and discover what’s possible when you work alongside other curious, dedicated peers and incredible faculty.
I am incredibly grateful for the Graphic Communications Management program at TMU, where I developed technical proficiency, leadership, creativity, project management and business skills that I will continue to carry with me through everything I do.
What advice do you have for current or future students?
Beyond any of the other ideas and cliches I’ve already mentioned, I wholeheartedly believe that you should do everything in your power to do everything in your power. We are capable of impacting, empowering, changing the world around us. Get involved, and don’t forget that there are people there to help you and support you when you need it. Follow your gut, find what you love and chase it.
Learn more about Mackenzie’s accomplishments.
Ted Rogers School of Management - Grejdi Meta (Business Management)
What does receiving the gold medal mean to you?
This award is individual, but the work it took to get here has been nothing but collaborative. I owe a lot of my success to the peers, colleagues and friends I’ve learned from in the last five years. I am honoured to have been surrounded by motivated individuals who had the best interest of everyone, myself included, at heart. Shared knowledge is what guided me on the right path forward, and I want to thank everyone who has enriched my university experience with their diverse backgrounds, critical thoughts and constructive feedback.
The gold medal represents the multitude of experiences that contributed to my growth. The award itself enforces my belief that stepping out of your comfort zone is what sets you aside, and that is what I strived to do during my undergraduate journey at Toronto Metropolitan University.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishment was managing a balanced social life, academic focus and professional development. As an undergraduate student, it is important to evaluate what experiences contribute to your growth – and for everyone, they are different. I was able to prioritize academics while planning ahead for social events or extracurricular involvement opportunities. Contrary to popular belief, I learned that keeping myself busy in many ways, such as work, student organizations or volunteering, kept me motivated and on-track to reach my academic and professional goals.
What are your future plans?
My career will kick off at CPP Investments as a Rotational Analyst in the Finance, Analytics and Risk department. The organization is a global management firm that invests the assets of the Canada Pension Plan to earn the best possible investment return to create retirement security for Canadians. I aspire to advance professionally in the investments field by creating value in sustainable business opportunities.
I will continue my volunteering endeavors in local organizations while maintaining strong ties to the Toronto Met community. I am most excited to give back to student organizations by directly helping students explore their career paths and create connections in the industry. As a proud TMU alumnus, I look forward to creating relationships with upcoming student leaders and staying in touch with folks in my graduating class.
Learn more about Meta’s accomplishments.
Chang School of Continuing Education - Maha Naqi (Mental Health and Addictions)
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Truthfully, one of my proudest accomplishments is simply finishing this certificate program while working full-time. Continuing education is as challenging as it is rewarding. I have also struggled quite acutely with my mental health throughout my 20s, which has, at points, interrupted my studies (I am 28, going on 29 now). There have definitely been moments in my life, and in the past few years, when I wanted to give up on myself. I am very proud I did not, and grateful to all of those who have supported me in getting to this point.
What has been your most rewarding experience at The Chang School?
My most rewarding experience at The Chang School actually came after the transition to remote learning. I ended up facilitating study groups for two of my online courses. We met outside of class hours via Zoom to discuss course content and study for exams. Many of us became friends through this experience, and are still in touch to this day! In the odd and sometimes alienating landscape of remote learning and the pandemic, this was a bright spot, and something I’m very proud of.
What advice would you give to students who are considering continuing education or have just started this journey?
For anyone considering continuing education, I would tell them that there is never a perfect time to go back to school, but it is always worth making the investment in yourself – whether it be to enhance your career prospects or for personal growth and edification. If you’re intimidated by the prospect of going back to school, that’s normal! I was too. I’d advise them to just start somewhere; take one course that interests you and go from there.
To those who have just started, I would offer my congratulations. I would advise them to stick with it, even when it’s difficult. I would also remind them not to compare themselves to anyone else – continuing education is a personal journey, and they shouldn’t feel pressured to complete it on any particular timeline. I would also encourage them to form connections with their classmates, instructors, etc., and to make use of the many resources that TMU and The Chang School offer.
Faculty of Science - Julia Pellegrino (Chemistry and Biology)
What does receiving the gold medal mean to you?
Receiving the gold medal was a great personal accomplishment. I am appreciative that this award acknowledges my hard work and perseverance throughout my university experience. This award symbolizes overcoming numerous setbacks and difficulties along the way, which I am also appreciative of. Thank you to the incredible classmates who have worked so hard and who have supported me; I feel incredibly proud to have won this award! The two hour commute for many 8 a.m. classes feels all worth it now.
What advice would you give students entering their first year?
The best advice I would give to students entering first year is to get involved! As cliché as it sounds, the best memories of my university experience involve my extracurricular activities and socializing with friends. Many people warned me prior to entering first year that there is little free time in university and that high grades are difficult to obtain. This worried me and I solely focused on my studies.
In my first years, I commuted to school, attended my classes, then went home to study and regretted not making some time to do other activities. However, once I started prioritizing things that were important and made a schedule for myself I was able to make more time for extracurriculars and friends. It is important to look back on your university years with fond memories that include experiences outside of the classroom.
What has been your proudest accomplishment at TMU?
My proudest accomplishment of university was leading the RyiSciMatch course during the pandemic. My friend, Stefania, and I created a certificate program for over 80 undergraduate TMU science students interested in research, professional school, and other careers. We recruited weekly mentors, including professors and career advisors to share experiences, both failures and successes, with students and to help inspire them. This is something that I am proud of because of the positive feedback we received and providing students with the opportunity to network, something that was taken away from them due to COVID.
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