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Meet the new 2015 Lassonde Scholars


The Lassonde Scholarship is one of the most generous awards available to students who can demonstrate the traits of a future Renaissance Engineer – creativity, passion, ingenuity, rational thinking and confidence – in all aspects of their life including academic pursuits, extracurricular activities and their own interests.

Eligible candidates must demonstrate: 1) exceptional high academic grades and 2) leadership in high school life and community life, and/or evidence of entrepreneurial talent. Meet this year’s Lassonde Scholars, a group of bright young minds whose energy and ideas will enrich life at Lassonde.

Haaniyah Ali

Haaniyah is a first-year Mechanical Engineering student who comes to Lassonde from Holy Name of Mary Catholic Secondary School in Brampton, Ontario. In high school, Haaniyah proved to be a charismatic leader and innovator. In addition to her stellar grades, she co-chaired the Social Justice club, leading events and organizing initiatives.

Haaniyah proved to be a motivated entrepreneur when she founded an annual volunteer fair where non-profitable organizations connected with students to offer volunteer opportunities. Haaniyah doesn’t let naysayers dissuade her when she is determined. Despite discouragement, she successfully painted a replica of van Gogh’s Starry Night in her final year of high school.

Andre Barreto

Andre is a first-year Computer Science student who has an impressive list of leadership and academic accomplishments. As part of the Shad Cup at Queen’s University, Andre developed an app that encourages Canadians to get outdoors.

While a finalist in the Innovation Robotics competition, Andre developed a robot – aesthetics, packaging, and business components – that helps customers park their cars in the garage. In addition to this, he has amassed a roster of prizes including Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll and Business Organization Studies Award.

Cameron Boyce

Cameron is a second-year Electrical Engineering student who has demonstrated both engagement and leadership in the Lassonde community in his first year at the School. He has been working as a peer mentor coordinator, developing various mentor training resources. He is also a member of the peer leadership subcommittee at Bethune College.

Cameron oversees the RaiseYourVoice student initiative through the Lassonde Student Government where he works to ensure student issues are brought to attention of decision-makers. Most recently, he has been part of the team of students establishing an Engineers Without Borders chapter at Lassonde, taking the role of Global Engineering Lead. 

Ryan Clark

Ryan is a second-year Earth and Atmospheric Science student who has been involved in peer tutoring students in math and science courses for many years. He has been a leader in supporting other academically in high school and university.

Ryan’s mentoring and volunteering extends well beyond his mastery of formulas in the classroom. He has practiced Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for years and worked as an instructor, teaching children of age between 5 and 15. Ryan was also part of his school’s wrestling team, and an assistant instructor in Muay Thai, running a weekly class.

Germiel Cacho

Germiel is a first-year Mechanical Engineering student whose passion for tech design and mathematics throughout high school led him to Lassonde. While in school, Germiel participated in various projects including Rube Goldberg Machine and the design of high school floor plans. For a final project, Germiel developed his own quadcopter.

As a leader in his school Germiel tutored fellow students in AutoCAD and volunteered for various charitable events including walkathons, food drives, and clothing drives.

Filipe Gonzalez

Felipe is a first-year Space Engineering student who brings inspiring community and academic leadership initiatives to Lassonde. In high school, Felipe won numerous science and math competitions. Additionally, he was the president of his high school’s ‘Senior Reach for the Top,’ a multi-school academic quiz competition.

Felipe was also a staff writer for school newspaper and a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Toronto Centre. In his community, Felipe was a youth leader and church council representative. He also organized a film festival, ran a charity food drive and canvassed door-to-door for mayoral candidate John Tory.

Sam Guraya

Sam is a first-year Electrical Engineering student who is an award-winning community leader and peer mentor. He devoted his time to tutoring in Camp I Can for students who are struggling academically. He also volunteered at Malton Village Long Term Care Centre, assisting the residents with various activities in events. For his hard work and dedication to his community, Sam won a community service award presented by Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie and Jagmeet Singh, MPP of Bramalea-Gore-Malton.

In high school, Sam was a part of his Student Activity Council (SAC), organizing various school events including a school barbeque, carnival and a semi-formal. He was in his high school band and part of the “Reach for the Top” team.

Sogand Talebi

Sogand is a first-year Space Engineering student. In high school, she was executive member of the Robotics Club, President of Student Outreach Club, President of Prism Interfaith Club and an executive member of Physics Club.

She received the York Secondary Catholic Presidents’ Council breakout award for outstanding leadership, the Trustee Michael Carnovale Award and the Antonia Pinelli Pathfinder Award. In addition to these titles and honours, Sogand volunteered at FIRST Lego League Canada as a tournament director and taught principles of robotics to elementary school children at Richmond Hill Public Library.

Semi Hasaj

Semi is a second-year Space Engineering student. He received Paul Stanbury Award for leadership in mathematics at his graduation and organized tutoring sessions for fellow students in his local library.

Semi was also a part of Antibes Multicultural Festival, an event that hosts hundreds of community members annually. Semi worked as a summer camp leader for the city of Toronto over the past three years, running a variety of interactive learning activities for children including Science with Semi and Haunted House Designing.

Sarah Karam

Sarah is a second-year Electrical Engineering student who has helped to mentor students and build a strong sense of community. This summer she interned at Bombardier Aerospace with the Wiring group.

In high school, Sarah was selected as a Peer Minister for students in grades ten to twelve. There she supported incoming students and helped them get oriented to the life in high school. She worked with students to make sure they adjusted well and organized various events.

Simin Lin

Simin is a second-year Computer Engineering student who has been actively involved in student life at Lassonde since starting last year. Most recently, he worked with a Lassonde professor to design a 2nd year mechanical engineering course. He also served as a class representative for Physics 1800, finishing with top grades.

Simin is currently a peer mentor and student member of PARR (Lassonde Faculty Council Committee). He is also part of a team of entrepreneurs will be competing in the upcoming SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition.

Adib Nasehi

Adib is a first-year Civil Engineering student who has demonstrated leadership skills within an academic environment as well as in the industry. He was instrumental in founding the “Seneca Society of Civil Engineering Technologists” with fellow students at Seneca.

He organized and hosted the national engineering conference at the college to connect employers with students. As a licensed gas technician, Adib gained hands-on experience working in the industry while studying. Adib also volunteers at Toronto’s community gardens and plays soccer as a forward striker for his local adult soccer league team.

Oskar Niburski

Oskar is a second-year Software Engineering student who brings to Lassonde a wide range of life experiences and entrepreneurial initiatives. Oskar has most recently been working at Hockeystick as a full-stack web developer, completely rebuilding the application. He is also also the cofounder for QuickHaps and was a developer for Raiseanaim Inc. and Bitmaker Labs. 

In addition to his impressive portfolio of projects, Oscar is one of the winners for York Engineering Competition and took 4th place in the Web Development contest organized by CS HUB. He is a former 20under20 Thiel Finalist for chemistry research.

In 2014, Oskar was selected to be part of the Lassonde-Technion Intensive Summer Program in Entrepreneurship, where a group of students spent three weeks in Israel learning what it takes to start a new venture.

Alexandre Seguin

Alexandre is a first-year Computer Science student whose artistic interests and community activities complement his commitment to his studies. In high school, Alexandre was a section leader for his high school band and part of the Barbershop quartet.

His passion for environmental science led him to volunteer for EcoExpo and city of Ottawa. Always ready to mentor struggling students, Alexandre was the go-to tutor for physics and mathematics for his peers.


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