Six Arts & Science students are among this year’s recipients of the University of Toronto’s Student Engagement in the Arts Awards (SEAA). The awards recognize undergraduate and graduate students who have made significant leadership and/or volunteer contributions to co-curricular arts activities at the University of Toronto.
Angela Gu
Angela Gu is a fourth year Trinity College student majoring in Ethics, Society and Law, with minors in French and Environmental Biology. Angela has been involved with the Hart House Literary and Library Committee since her first year at U of T and currently serves as Student Chair. In this capacity Angela nurtures her own, and others, passion for literature by organizing events and workshops to help students learn how to be published, find literary agents, and explore careers in literature. Angela is known for being exemplary student leader and community member. Her nominator says that she is the, “ideal kind of leader, because she is humble and constantly seeking ways to empower her peers to raise them up as leaders as well.”
Shreya Jha
Shreya Jha is a third-year student studying music composition in the Faculty of Music and neuroscience in the Faculty of Arts & Science. Shreya is an active composer, performer, and music director in University of Toronto’s campus theatre. She is an academic director on the Faculty of Music Undergraduate Association. Her original musical “Statistics” about the story of Rosalind Franklin premiered on February 8. Shreya works with Sistema Toronto, which offers free musical education to children in underprivileged communities. In 2018, Shreya started a program that enables Faculty of Music composition students to teach and compose with Sistema students. Shreya is keenly attracted to the intersections between music and biology. She is conducting an independent research project on piano performance and physiology and has given a TedX talk on memory. Shreya has been commissioned for original scores by the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra and has written for the Gryphon Trio as the Trinity College Artists-in-Residence.
Ethan Kim
Ethan Kim is a fourth year Innis College student – completing an Honours Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Cell and Molecular Biology. Ethan has devoted himself to the Innis Choir throughout his undergraduate studies. After serving as the Choir’s Co-social Director, he became the Co-Director and has led the Choir for the last two years. Ethan’s love of music and collaborative nature has also led him to participate in Innis Jamz, be a member of a musical group ‘Jannie and the Jammies’, work on a production of Moby Dick: The Musical, and support a number of solo performances. Most recently, Ethan initiated a podcast to open dialogue with professors so that students can learn more about their research interests and career journeys. Ethan’s nominator praises his commitment to his studies, student government and the arts, saying that students like Ethan are ‘integral to creating a vibrant community at Innis’.
Lindsay Jiaying Liu
Lindsay Liu is a Woodsworth College student studying Economics with minors in Psychology and Spanish. As the vice-president and co-founder of the University of Toronto’s RMB FilmmakingClub, she contributes her time and talent to building a platform for students to gain hands-on filmmaking experiences in the campus. With a mission of producing high-quality entertainments and promoting Chinese film culture, Lindsay works with her peers to produce short films, web series, and variety shows. Her productions were awarded as the Best Drama at the 2017 University of Toronto Film Festival and nominated for the Best Short Film at the 2018 Canada China International Film Festival. Her nominator attests to her, ‘dedication…even-handed attitude, and her devotion to the art, craft, and business of filmmaking’.
Jess Stewart-Lee
Jess Stewart-Lee is a fourth-year student at Innis College, double majoring in Cinema Studies and Diaspora and Transnational Studies. She currently serves as Video Editor for The Varsity and President of the Cinema Studies Student Union (CINSSU). Jess dedicates her time at to cultivating space and opportunities for student artists to discuss and share their work. Jess’ photography work has been featured at the Innis Student Art Gala, part of the Innis Student Art Project, as well as being featured in The Varsity. Outside of these organizations, Jess has also collaborated on a video project for the Dean’s Mental Health Initiative, promoting faculty support and encouragement for first-year students. As an arts leader and art creator at U of T, Jess Stewart-Lee stands out as an exemplar of what the Student Engagement in the Arts Award recognizes.
Chiao Sun
Chiao Sun is an Innis College student double majoring in Cognitive Science and Psychology and minoring in Buddhism, Psychology and mental health. He is a multi-hyphenate artist: a photographer-videographer-web designer-interviewer-storyteller-community builder. His nominator tells us that, “at a time where anyone with a smartphone can be a photographer, Chiao has elevated the art form, reinfusing it with narrative and purpose.” Chiao is also the creator behind the popular Facebook Page, Innis Inspiration, which features photo-stories capturing struggles and paths to success of Innis’s most successful students. Putting down the camera, he also spend his time as a residential house representative, a student council photographer, a peer mentor, and one of the loudest orientation leaders.