Shaping the Future: Spotlight on the newest Lassonde Scholars

On March 24, the 2025 Lassonde Scholars were recognized for their outstanding achievements at a special reception with Dean Jane Goodyer. The Lassonde Scholarship, generously supported by the Lassonde Family Foundation, recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, creative thinking, and a deep commitment to community impact.

The total number of Lassonde Scholars since the program’s inception is now over 165, a testament to 15 years of transformative investment by Pierre and Julie Lassonde in the next generation of STEM leaders.

“These students represent the very best of what Lassonde strives to nurture,” said Dean Jane Goodyer. “Students who are not only talented, but curious, generous with their time, and committed to using engineering and science to improve the world around them.”

The reception brought together family members and faculty to celebrate the recipients of the 2025 Lassonde Scholarship:

Aaditya Karamchandani, second-year Computer Science, is a two-time Lassonde Undergraduate Research Award recipient who has spent over eight months developing disease modeling systems using large language models. As a member of the AI and Data Society, he organizes AI-focused workshops and hackathons and plans to pursue graduate studies at York in machine learning applied to security and public health.

Alice Luong, fourth-year Computer Science, is a supplemental instruction leader for a first-year computer science course who aspires to become a teacher. The scholarship affirmed her belief that her unique path, one rooted in mentorship and education, is making a meaningful difference.

Ammar Abouelmaati, fourth-year Computer Science, served as a Peer-Assisted Study Session (PASS) leader for Discrete Mathematics and was VP Academic of CSHub, where he ran weekly interview preparation sessions. He also co-developed a platform to help students find empty classrooms for studying, which has reached over 5,000 students to date.

Antonella Walton, first-year Engineering, joined the STEM Fellowship, performing research alongside supportive professors. She plans to become a civil engineer focused on helping communities live safely and sustainably.

Bani Pahwa, second-year Computer Science, is the first in her family to pursue a STEM career. As an Outreach Specialist for Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE), she connects peers with resources and organizes events, while nurturing a passion for AI and machine learning applications that address real-world challenges.

Bohina Manochehrzadeh, fourth-year Computer Science, is a first-generation student and program mentor at k2i academy, where she creates and delivers STEM content for elementary and high school students. She has also held leadership roles with Ellehacks, a hackathon for women and gender-diverse students at York and plans to work at the intersection of healthcare and technology.

Carmella Setiabudi, third-year Computer Science, led a machine learning research project on heart disease prediction that was presented at the National Indicium Conference. As a PASS Program Coordinator and executive with the AI and Data Science Society, she is deeply committed to community and hopes to build platforms that improve access to education and healthcare.

George Dobric, fourth-year Electrical Engineering, built an accessibility glove that translates text to Braille haptically in his very first semester at York. Inspired by volunteer work with the elderly, he aspires to work on power systems to protect Canada’s critical infrastructure and ensure all Canadians have access to safe and reliable energy.

Ibrahim Rfifi, third-year Mechanical Engineering, serves as President of Lassonde Motorsports, where he co-led the creation of York University’s first-ever Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE) vehicle, set to compete in Michigan. He is also part of York’s inaugural team for the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge and conducts research with the Thermofluids Research Laboratory.

Ilham Fahim, second-year Mechanical Engineering, is an international student who has represented Lassonde at provincial engineering conferences and advocated for students through the Lassonde Student Congress. He helped elevate the York University Steel Bridge team at national competitions and aspires to pursue graduate studies in biomedical engineering.

Madison Siy, second-year Computer Engineering, is an international student who joined the Robotics Society Software Team and serves as the academic board at-large with the Lassonde Engineering Society. She is also a Peer Mentor for first-year students and plans to pursue a master’s degree, developing innovative technologies for pressing global challenges.

Marriam Iqbal, third-year Mechanical Engineering, pursued academic research early in her studies, deepening her understanding of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics. The scholarship reinforced her drive to pursue graduate school and pass the spirit of inquiry and service to future generations of engineers.

Olusanya Todd, second-year Mechanical Engineering, is supported by a single mother who worked three jobs to provide him with opportunity. A problem solver at heart, he holds accolades in academics, photography, music, and dragon boating, and aspires to build technologies that serve communities.

Shitij Aggarwal, fourth-year Software Engineering, is an international student who aspired to join the ranks of Lassonde Scholars since his orientation. Now a Peer Mentor and PASS Leader, he dreams of launching a business that humanizes automation and builds sustainable technology for global impact.

Simone Ferrara, fourth-year Mechanical Engineering, is a research assistant at York University’s Advanced Thermofluids and Heat Transfer Laboratory, contributing to the testing of low-global-warming-potential refrigerants. She is also involved with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Student Branch at York and is committed to sharing her journey with future Lassonde students.

Check out the full event gallery.