TMU celebrates Gold Medal winners at Spring 2024 Convocation
TMU President and Vice-Chancellor Mohamed Lachemi (left) presents the Gold Medal Award to student Jodie Laborde. The Gold Medal is TMU’s highest honour, awarded to students with outstanding academic achievement and exceptional involvement in the university, their profession, and their community. Photo by Harry Choi.
Each year at convocation, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) celebrates the achievements of its remarkable graduating students by awarding one student from each faculty with TMU’s Gold Medal Award. This spring’s recipients excelled in academics and contributed to the university and their communities through groundbreaking research, fostering inclusive learning environments for their peers and supporting marginalized communities beyond the TMU campus.
Zahra Adelzadeh, Angie Mohamed Awadallah, Renée Benjamin, Vanessa Hoang, Aanya Kumar, Julie Amanda Matheson and Tara Raessi all received Gold Medal Awards.
Jodie Laborde received the Gold Medal Award and the Board of Governors Leadership Award.
This year, three TMU students also received the Governor General’s Academic Silver Medal, which is awarded to university students graduating with the highest average. The recipients are Brendan Patrick Haidamous from the Faculty of Science, Anh Quan Nguyen from Ted Rogers School of Management, and Jane Kim from the Faculty of Community Services.
Learn more about the outstanding Gold Medal winners and their achievements below.
Zahra Adelzadeh, Business Technology Management Co-op, Ted Rogers School of Management
Ted Rogers School of Management Gold Medal winner Zahra Adelzadeh was recognized for being an ambassador for women in technology. Photo by Harry Choi.
Zahra Adelzadeh not only achieved top marks at TMU but she also worked to create a positive environment for her peers and future women in technology.
Adelzadeh participated in mentoring programs at TMU, including the Tri-Mentoring Program and the Toronto Metropolitan Consulting Association (TMCA) as a case advisor, and contributed to inclusive mentoring for her peers. She also represented women in technology by working with her local Rotary club and secondary schools to share her experiences and inspire young women considering a career in information technology.
“Receiving the TMU Gold Medal is both an honour and a challenge. This award is a commitment to set a new benchmark for what I aim to achieve in the future, motivating me to continue on my path and strive for greatness,” said Adelzadeh.
Angie Mohamed Awadallah, Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science
Faculty of Science Gold Medal winner Angie Awadallah (centre), with Chancellor Janice Fukakusa (right), was recognized for her academic accomplishments and contributions to the student community. Photo by Harry Choi.
Angie Awadallah’s time at TMU was full of academic, research and volunteer opportunities that she enthusiastically embraced.
She excelled at academia and research, receiving three research-related rewards, and made notable contributions to the TMU student community. As president of the Biomedical Sciences Course Union, she enhanced the student experience and advocated for student support. Awadallah also led projects to enhance wheelchair accessibility in athletic facilities and advocated for women's safety at the Department of Athletics and Recreation.
“Receiving the gold medal means that I was lucky enough to be placed in an environment that allowed me to thrive,” said Awadallah. “This achievement does not just celebrate my individual efforts; it’s a reminder of the place that nurtured me for the past four years and the family that always has my back.”
Renée Benjamin, Proficiency in French, The Chang School of Continuing Education
The Chang School Gold Medal winner Renée Benjamin was recognized for her contributions to the Francophone community in Peel Region. Photo by Harry Choi.
After completing TMU’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing and becoming a public health nurse with Peel Region, Renée Benjamin wanted to enhance her bilingualism to better serve the Region’s Francophone school communities.
She enrolled in The Chang School’s Proficiency in French certificate and now uses her skills to communicate public health information to French community members in Peel Region’s French School Boards. She also co-created a partnership with Francophone schools in Peel Region to introduce new programs related to mental health and daily physical activity.
“I feel like I’m making a huge difference when it comes to simple things like educating students about healthy eating or more complex issues like coping with stress for their mental well-being,” said Benjamin. “It’s such a privilege to provide my health knowledge and caring personality to different communities.”
Vanessa Hoang, Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science Gold Medal winner Vanessa Hoang was recognized for her contribution to research and environmental stewardship at TMU. Photo by Harry Choi.
Vanessa Hoang is passionate about using engineering to better the world. While pursuing her degree, she channeled that passion, making contributions to research, environmental stewardship and student success as part of several TMU organizations.
Hoang participated in the Leacross Foundation Women in STEM Summer Internship Program in summer 2023 and continued her research part-time at St. Michael’s Hospital during the following school year. As an intern at the Facilities Management and Development department, she spearheaded projects to calculate TMU's annual greenhouse gas emissions. She was also involved with the Metropolitan Undergraduate Engineering Society where she helped students focus on mental health and well-being during the pandemic.
“As a woman in engineering, I am aware of the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields due to the male-dominated environment. This award not only highlights my dedication to academic excellence and strong work ethic over the past five years but it also shows the capabilities of myself and other women alongside our male peers,” said Hoang.
Aanya Kumar, Graphic Communications Management, The Creative School
The Creative School Gold Medal winner Aanya Kumar was recognized for her commitment to student engagement. Photo by Harry Choi.
During her time at TMU, Aanya Kumar achieved academic excellence while demonstrating a commitment to student engagement. One of her contributions involved organizing student conferences focused on uplifting underprivileged voices. She also represented TMU on the international stage at the Interpack trade show in Germany, during a two-week trip with her peers.
“Juggling two jobs, a full course load and a capstone project while trying to maintain my personal life was a big challenge. Having empathetic professors, supervisors and peers helped me when they gave me grace for times I was overwhelmed with my responsibilities,” said Kumar.
Jodie Laborde, Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Community Services
Faculty of Community Services graduate Jodie Laborde (centre), with Board of Governors Vice Chair Catherine Paisley (right), was awarded both the Gold Medal Award and the Board of Governors Leadership Award. Photo by Harry Choi.
Jodie Laborde’s work on anti-Black racism and equity, diversity and inclusion throughout her time at TMU has had a profound impact on the School of Urban and Regional Planning, TMU, Black communities in the GTHA, and the planning field in Ontario.
Inspired by the people and experiences she encountered during her undergraduate degree, Laborde developed a passion for centring urban planning around a racial perspective. Her understanding of and commitment to Black planning has helped her contribute through placements, internships, research assistantships and volunteer positions.
“I feel very proud of all the work I accomplished [at TMU], but I'm most proud of the soft skills I learned — being flexible and adaptable to change, learning conflict resolution skills, and knowing how to truly listen,” said Laborde. “Learning these skills has been critical for me not only as a planner but also as a person navigating the complexities of life.”
Julie Amanda Matheson, Lincoln Alexander School of Law
Lincoln Alexander School of Law Gold Medal winner Julie Matheson was recognized for her contributions to TMU and the community at large. Photo by Harry Choi.
Julie Matheson’s contributions to TMU, the Lincoln Alexander School of Law’s community, and the community at large reflect her commitment to addressing social injustice and supporting underserved communities.
Matheson supported clients through her volunteer work at clinics such as The 519’s Trans ID Clinic, Kensington-Bellwoods Community Legal Services, and the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights. She also helped establish TMU’s Pro-Bone-O Pet Dispute Clinic.
Outside law, she has contributed to the local community by organizing harm reduction training and the distribution of Naloxone kits and by taking on a leadership role within her church community as a feminist, queer-positive, and anti-oppressive sex education facilitator.
“I saw law school as an opportunity to start having a tangible impact on people’s lives immediately, and as an effective tool to intervene in a system that I believe is deeply flawed,” said Matheson. “[The Gold Medal] is an incredible honour that I am grateful to receive, but there are so many folks at Lincoln Alexander Law that inspire me to keep working and keep fighting for the future we need.”
Tara Raessi, Psychology, Faculty of Arts
Faculty of Arts Gold Medal winner Tara Raessi (centre) was recognized for her substantial contribution to research at TMU. Photo by Harry Choi.
Tara Raessi developed an impressive resume during her time at TMU. Her achievements include more than 1000 hours in research assistantships with the Clinical Addictions Research Equity (CARE) Lab and the Science of Music, Auditory Research, and Technology (SMART) Lab, participating in TMU’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities and Showcase and volunteering with the university’s Research Ethics Board.
Raessi has overcome obstacles to make a significant contribution to TMU’s Psychology program and broader research community as a result of her extraordinary work ethic and leadership skills.
“As a female person of colour with a chronic disorder and autism spectrum disorder, I faced some tough challenges and adverse experiences. It has felt great to be able to excel regardless of these identifiers and earn success in academia,” said Raessi.