Student Profiles

According to Sarah Yun, winner of the Anne Tannenbaum Scholarship in English Literature, what makes U of T special is that “here, if you have initiative, there is nothing stopping you from realizing your dreams.” And from first year, she has made it a point to explore “the myriad opportunities” available at the university. Sarah initially came to U of T to study English, but also decided to take a political science course. That decision set her on a new professional path in policy. “I am interested in the crossover between social policy and law, and I hope to use my education to tackle problems of poverty, social exclusion and gender disparity,” she explains.

While achieving top marks, Sarah also participates extensively in campus life. Now in her third year, she is co-president of the English Students’ Union and Editor-in-Chief of IDIOM, a journal that showcases and promotes excellence in scholarly writing by English undergraduates. She sits on the executive of U of T’s G8 Research Group and, this July, she will attend the G8 meetings in Japan. Inspired by what can be accomplished through teamwork, Sarah is a member of committees and charitable initiatives concerned with social justice, food security and refugee rights.

With respect to the scholarship, Sarah remarks that “receiving recognition from someone outside the university who shares my love of literature is extremely meaningful. We, as U of T students, are fortunate that there are donors who genuinely care about and actively partake in our education.”

Also the recipient of:
Aikins Scholarship in English, Canadian Millennium Foundation Excellence Award, Queen Elizabeth II Aiming for the Top Scholarship, Dean’s List Scholar, U of T Scholars Award, George Gray Falle Scholarship for Academic Excellence and Extra-curricular Involvement, Glen Mawr Old Girls’ Scholarship, U of T Entrance Scholarship, Faculty of Arts and Science Entrance Scholarship, Trinity College Entrance Scholarship

Peter Lenkic

BSc 2007 – Latin & Psychology
Being awarded the Dorothy Ellison Graduating Scholarship in Latin marked the proud culmination of several years of study of Indo-European languages for Peter Lenkic. “I have a deep interest in early civilizations. Taking my first Latin course when I arrived at U of T introduced me to the fascinating world of ancient Roman literature and its influences on modern culture.” Attracted to U of T for its renowned breadth of course offerings, Peter decided to double-major in Latin and psychology.

Peter also chose U of T for its reputation as a leading research institution. “I knew there would be opportunities to participate in labs and be exposed to the latest knowledge with the actual people involved in creating it.” It was through his work in the psychology department’s social cognitive neuroscience lab under the supervision of Dr. William Cunningham that Peter earned a coveted summer spot at Harvard’s health and psychophysiology lab and the chance to collaborate with researchers from all over North America.

Inspired by his family’s experience at Sick Kid’s Hospital when he was a child, Peter plans to become a neurologist. “I have always been captivated by how the brain functions. And the devotion and skill of medical practitioners have made such a difference in my life personally. It would be an honour to apply my knowledge and future training to help save lives.”

Also the recipient of:

Psychology GRADitude Scholarship, St. Michael’s Foundation In-Course Scholarship, Queen Elizabeth II Aiming for the Top Scholarship, U of T Scholar Scholarship

Monir Moniruzzaman

PhD Candidate – Anthropology
For the last six years, Monir Moniruzzaman, an anthropology PhD candidate affiliated with the Comparative Program on Health Safety, has been researching the growing illegal market in human organs. Over a 15-month period in Bangladesh, he secretly interviewed dozens of people involved in the underground trade—from kidney sellers and organ brokers to patients and health personnel. His findings serve as a basis to examine the ethics of purchasing organs and the controversial claim that organ selling is a solution in the fight against poverty.

When Monir first decided to examine the phenomenon of organ commodification within the South Asian context, he discovered there was a dearth of scholarship. Due to a lack of financial resources, he was unable to carry out the necessary basic fieldwork and gather critical ethnographic data.

If it weren’t for the support he has since received, Monir asserts that he
would never have been able to undertake this original research, which has
broader implications for human rights. The Faculty of Arts and Science
Student Award he received last summer allowed him to complete the
project. “It was tremendously difficult gaining access to the people involved in organ trafficking. It took time to gain their trust. Without the fellowships and awards, this work would not be possible.”

Also the recipient of: Canadian Institutes of Health Research Strategic Doctoral Fellowship, Doctoral Completion Grant, Lupina Foundation/Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Healthcare, Technology and Place Doctoral Fellowship, Dipty Chakravarty Bursary for Studies
Related to Bengal/Bengali, SGS Anthropology Fellowship, Lorna Marshall
Doctoral Fellowship, U of T Fellowship, Nuffield Graduate Travel Fellowship

Judging the impact of war crimes trials...

Alumnus & Donor to Geology
Laurie Curtis (PhD 1975) is building a bridge. Or at least, that’s what he’ll say if you ask him why he decided to be the founding donor of the Explorers Fund in the Department of Geology. Laurie set up the Jeff Fawcett & John Gittins Graduate Explorers Fund together with Cameron Allen (MSc 1972) and Teck Cominco Ltd., and gave a lead gift to launch the first of what is anticipated to be many scholarships matched under the Graduate Student Endowment Fund, established at U of T in partnership with the Province of Ontario.

“The exploration mining industry is experiencing what I call the ‘perfect
storm’—an unprecedented growth not before seen in our lifetime,” explains Laurie, who also serves as volunteer chair of the department’s Industry Steering Committee. However, this growth coincides with a shortfall in the number of university graduates of the earth sciences who would form the new generation of qualified professionals. This is the objective of the Explorers Fund: to encourage undergraduate and graduate students to enter the geosciences by providing scholarships to support field education and research.

The founding President and CEO of Intrepid Mines, an international gold and silver production and exploration company, Laurie asserts that if it weren’t for the scholarships he received as a student, he wouldn’t be where he is today. He believes a number of his colleagues in the industry think the same way and are looking for opportunities to contribute. “Many people have benefited from the exploration industry’s successes. Now it is time to give back and support the future geosciences experts for the continued prosperity of our community.”

Ena Cord

Donor to Environmental Studies

Catherine Abreu

4th-Year Undergraduate – Environmental Policy & Practice & Anthropology

“Stan was an environmentalist before it was politically correct,”
muses Ena Cord when asked why she created the Dr. Stanley Allan Cord Award in Environmental Studies in memory of her late husband, who died of cancer in 2002. “Creating an endowment to acknowledge and support students who are committed to the cause of environmental health and sustainability seemed to me the best way to honour his life.”

Stanley (DDS 1963), a successful dentist, and Ena, a psychotherapist,
always encouraged their children to pursue a higher education. However, Ena knows that not everyone who wishes to earn a university degree has access to the necessary finances, which is why she wants to help.
This year’s award recipient is Catherine Abreu, a student of environmental policy and practice and anthropology affiliated with the Centre for Environment. Catherine has had her share of challenges, working part-time while maintaining a good academic standing. At the end of her second year, Catherine was forced to take time off to fight her own
battle with cancer. She has since made a full recovery and is now in her fourth year of studies.

“Having the opportunity to meet Ena and speak with her about her husband’s advocacy efforts has confirmed my belief in good will and remaining open to possibilities, because that is how Ena and Stan have approached life,” says Catherine. “Through their generosity—and their idealism and dedication—they not only have helped me but will
continue to inspire others.”

Also the recipient of:
Sir Daniel Wilson Award in Anthropology, New College Merit
Scholarship

Naïm Mahlab

Alumnus & Donor to Jewish Studies

“I should have been a historian. It’s my passion,” says Naïm Mahlab, who
received his Master of Commerce from U of T in 1950 and decided a few
years ago to contribute to scholarships in Jewish Studies. “I studied business and that is where I made my career, but more and more I have come to realize the importance of having an appreciation of history.”

Taking advantage of provincial government matching incentives, he established the Naïm S. Mahlab/Ontario Graduate Scholarships in Jewish Studies, Naïm S. Mahlab Graduate Scholarship in Jewish-Canadian History, Naïm S. Mahlab Graduate Scholarships in Jewish-Christian Relations and/or Jewish-Muslim Relations, as well as the Terek Heggy Graduate Scholarship in Jewish-Muslim Studies.

Naïm considers knowledge of the history of religion to be particularly critical. Originally from Iraq, he knows first-hand the tragic consequences of inter-religious misunderstandings. For Naïm, education is key to finding a solution. “Education is a vital pursuit and one of the most fundamental ways to effect a positive change in society.”

By creating scholarships that support the study of Jewish-Christian and
Jewish-Muslim relations, Naïm hopes to promote a dialogue based on
tolerance, understanding and an acceptance of diversity. “There is little I
can do about the current situation in my homeland and elsewhere,” he says. “However, helping young people who are pursuing studies in this area is one way I can make a difference—hopefully for the betterment of humankind.”

Alumnus, Professor & Donor to Mathematics

For mathematics professor George Elliott (PhD 1969), supporting education is a matter of social and civic responsibility. “It’s like voting. If you are able to, you should,” says George, who believes that universities are one of the few institutions left through which Canada can create a common culture. By helping our universities, we are helping ourselves.

George has given generously to the university over the years, including
endowing the Margaret Isobel Elliott Graduate Scholarship in the
Department of Mathematics, the OGSST–Lloyd George Elliott
Graduate Scholarship and the OGSST–Israel Halperin Graduate
Scholarship, as well as being the lead donor to the OGSST–Steve Halperin Scholarship. He has leveraged his gifts through matching opportunities made available by the Province of Ontario in partnership with the university.

In addition to being a donor, the Canada Research Chair in Mathematics has earned a reputation as a pioneering mathematician in the field of operator algebras and as a passionate and dedicated educator, known for staying well past the bell to chat with students about their latest theorems. “I value the chance to get to know my students, to discuss what they are working on and to develop ideas which ultimately push forward the frontiers of knowledge. This is, after all, the main goal of higher education.”

For George, his philanthropy and service to the university are all part of his commitment to education and not mere altruism. “Education is vital to the advancement of our society and, therefore, all Canadians have a responsibility to promote and champion their universities. All I can hope for is that my support will stimulate others to see how crucial it is to give to their university and the good that can come of it.”