The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship was created to bring exceptional students from around the world to study at the University of Toronto. We are pleased to announce and welcome these outstanding students as members of the 2018 cohort of award recipients
Angad Singh Arneja
Dhirubhai Ambani International School
India
Faculty of Arts & Science, Rotman Commerce
Trinity College
Angad Arneja is an IB Diploma Student from the Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai, India. Alongside his academics, Angad has deeply pursued his passion in sports as a national-level athlete in 10 metre Air Pistol. Through discipline and tenacity, he won the provincial championship and subsequently captained his provincial team to win gold at the National School Games. An active member of the community, he has been working as a coach at his sports club where he co-authored a guide on 10m Air Pistol alongside the Indian Olympic team coach to help aspiring athletes around the country.
However, his commitment and ability to achieve extends beyond sports. A curious learner, Angad excels in Economics and Mathematics and intends to deepen his knowledge in these subjects through the Rotman Commerce programme. After university, he aspires to become an entrepreneur and disrupt industries by producing innovative technologies that positively impact the people in his community.
Emma Krisztina Brezoczky
Los Gatos High School
California, U.S.A.
Faculty of Arts & Science, Life Sciences
Victoria College
“My name is Emma Brezoczky from Los Gatos High School in California. The last two years I have conducted independent neuroscience research inspired by my grandfather’s Parkinson’s Disease through my high school’s Advanced Science Research program. I was the first student at my high school to use the Caenorhabditis elegans model organism and this past year I mentored a new group of nematode researchers inspired by my work, while continuing to study caffeine’s ability to protect the degenerate dopamine neurons. Beyond scientific pursuits, I combined my seven-year passions for Japanese and ceramics to throw Japanese style pottery and use oxides to mimic the ancient Bizen-Yaki style. I am a seven season Varsity water polo and swimmer and also play for the Stanford Girls Water Polo Club at national tournaments. Whether investigating neuron degeneration and mentoring peers or coaching younger players with my water polo club, I find joy in inspiring and teaching others as I continue to learn. Making connections through research and across cultures is important to me, and the human ability to learn, engage and innovate, inspires me to help others across the world. I am honoured to be selected as a Lester B. Pearson Scholar and I look forward to studying with such a positively diverse group of students at the University of Toronto.”
Antoine Taeyong Finot
Palo Alto High School
California, U.S.A.
Faculty of Arts & Science, Computer Science
Victoria College
“My name is Antoine Finot and I am from Palo Alto, California. My academic interests include learning about subjects related to STEM and being a volunteer tutor. I also speak French, and have been studying Japanese for the past five years. Outside of school, I enjoy camping, skiing, orienteering, ultimate frisbee, soccer, and volunteer work. I plan to study a combination of computer science and economics, and I know that U of T offers the necessary resources, opportunities, and environment to work towards my professional ambitions. I am incredibly honoured to receive the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship, and cannot wait for the fall to join the community at the University of Toronto.”
Akshit Goyal
Jayshree Periwal International School
India
Faculty of Arts & Science, Computer Science
Innis College
“When not doing integration, or fiddling with my Graphics Calculator, one can find me tinkering with the various parts and circuits of an electronic device. Technology and Computers Sciences have long been the two areas to keep me glued to my passion for experimenting and research. Although my feet at writing a research paper happened in the realm of Chemistry, it is Physics and CS merged together, conjuring up Robotics that satiated my thirst for venturing out in the new territories of applied sciences. As an IB student in India, my aim has always been to pursue excellence, and through my hard work emerge successful in whatever task I undertake. Academic challenges especially, have driven me to put my knowledge and skills to test every now and then, because of which, I have been able to convert most of my dreams into reality; the most important one being – becoming a Lester B. Pearson Scholar at the University of Toronto.
Besides technicalities in machines and devices, I also look at technicalities and perfection in my gastronomical delights. Being an avid foodie, not only do I relish eating, I also revere the art of cooking. My desire to experiment also extends to this realm, and thankfully a few successful signature dishes, have become my secret to being popular in my friends’ circle.
With this scholarship at U of T, in these coming four years, I will strive to not only carve a niche for myself, but also make my alma mater proud by achieving the zenith to the best of my capabilities.”
Vamanadev Upendra Hiralall
Saraswati Vidya Niketan School
Guyana
Faculty of Arts & Science, Life Sciences
University College
Vamanadev Hiralall is a dedicated student intending to major in Biochemistry. He has been the Top Academic Achiever in his class for a number of years and a national top performer in both CSEC and CAPE Examinations. His commitment and achievements have earned him awards and commendations from school-based, regional and national bodies. He is mindful of the well-being of communities and has participated in a number of voluntary activities including the SEVAK Health Project and science laboratory design projects. He wants his academic commitment and dedication to be beneficial to not only a group of people, but to humanity as a whole. As such, being mindful of his experience and competencies, he sees basing his studies in biochemistry as a part of a larger, long-term goal of combating disease, which is a threat to us all. He is grateful to be named a U of T Lester B. Pearson Scholar and he intends to keep moving forward with his class on an academic journey in the University of Toronto.
Muplangnan Pankyes Hirse
Jerudong International School
Brunei
Faculty of Arts & Science, Life Sciences
Innis College
“I was born in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria, but had the great opportunity to move to Malaysia when I was 9 years old, and then to Brunei later on. I can honestly say that I have never taken this one-in-a-million opportunity for granted, and I never will because where I come from, a small local government called Mangu, people hardly ever get a chance like this. I owe all my success to my family firstly, to my dad for being the main provider and to my mom for nurturing me into someone that I am proud to be. I also owe my success to Jerudong International School because being in that environment, surrounded by amazing students and even more amazing teachers, is the reason why my secondary school years have been immensely memorable. The opportunity that this scholarship has given me is beyond anything that I would have ever imagined for myself and I am not just grateful but ready to work hard and utilize it to my best ability. Malaysia and Brunei have been home to me for so long, but now I’m ready to turn the page and start the new chapter in my life.”
Wenting Hu
Kingsway College
Chinese student studying in Canada
Faculty of Arts & Science, Rotman Commerce
Woodsworth College
Wenting (Ever) Hu is a Chinese student currently studying in Canada. During her high school years, she has served as the only international student leader on her school’s Student Association. She speaks for the minor voices and advocates the building of an intramural global village. She not only accomplishes excellent academic achievements, but also actively engages herself in various extra-curricular activities, including Debate and Model United Nations, where she has received numerous national and international awards for her great performances. Moreover, her fluency in English, French, and Chinese as well as her strong adaptability to new environments has also allowed her to gain foreign educational experiences in four countries. Through her high school studies in the UK, France, China and Canada, she has built a unique international perspective. Wenting values herself as a global citizen, and she dreams of becoming a world acclaimed economist who could positively reshape the future global community. She is incredibly grateful and honoured for receiving the 2018 Lester B. Pearson international scholarship. She is excited to become a member of the U of T community, and she is confident that her academic journey there will mold her into an interdisciplinary scholar striving for intellectual breakthroughs and a global citizen delving into world challenges.
Sinem Kocamanoglu
Bahçeşehir High School for Science and Technology
Turkey
Faculty of Arts & Science, Life Sciences
University College
“Hello! I am Sinem, a student who moved 800 kilometers away from her family for her high school education at the age of 13. Being a boarding student for five years at one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world, Istanbul, gave me a whole different understanding of education and core values in life. I have always been interested in human psychology and the way our brain shapes our actions. When I started high school, I had the opportunity to participate in robotics tournaments, which helped me find another area that fascinates me: Artificial Intelligence. This is why I decided to pursue my major in Neuroscience. Aside from my academic interests, my main hobby is dancing. In the summer of 2016, I went on a European Tour with my dance group to represent my country at an international folklore festival in Valencia, Spain. I also have been playing tennis for 4 years and playing the flute for 6. It is my greatest honor to continue following my dreams at University of Toronto, as a Lester B. Pearson Scholar. I look forward to not only be inspired by the community that will surround me at Toronto, but hopefully become a source of inspiration for those around me.”
Agnes Priscilla Layarda
St Joseph’s Institution International School
Singapore
Faculty of Arts & Science, Social Sciences
Trinity College
“I’m incredibly honoured and humbled to be selected as the Lester B. Pearson scholar. Having lived in Indonesia and Singapore, I also look forward to traveling, quite literally, across the globe to call Toronto and Trinity College a new home! My IB journey and experience in organizing community service initiatives in Singapore, Thailand, and Cambodia have led to my current passion for development economics. Beyond its sexy intellectual appeals, economics is ultimately about the lives and struggles of real people and this human aspect strongly resonates with me. I plan to further pursue economics alongside international relations at U of T and ultimately contribute towards improving welfare systems in developing countries. Outside of school, I am an adventurous traveler, a keen foodie, a LotR nerd, an amateur flutist and a slightly below average dancer. I also enjoy running and HIIT training, and I very recently started Muay Thai and dragon boat racing!”
Zhiyuan Lu
Hangzhou Foreign Languages School, Cambridge A-level Center
China
Faculty of Arts & Science, Life Sciences
New College
“I am from Hangzhou, China. Science has been my passion, and I have been eager to learn outside the classroom in STEM activities including ISSDC (International Space Settlement Design Competition), iGEM, and other math and biology contests. The Eureka moments, from team discussion and independent thinking, have brought me sheer joy and excitement. With this passion, I am making an impact by facilitating education in my community, as a volunteer narrator at Zhejiang Natural Science Museum, an organizer of science outreach programs, and a speaker at the TEDx conference. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, writing, and watching the soccer games of FC Barcelona. In the long term, I hope to become a physician-scientist as well as a science writer. I am extremely honoured to be nominated as a Pearson Scholar and am looking forward to my new journey at University of Toronto!”
Sara Mostafa
Maadi Narmer School
Egypt
Faculty of Arts & Science, Social Science
Victoria College
“I am beyond excited to be a part of the University of Toronto’s community, one that is regarded among the best. An opportunity like this doesn’t come around often and I can’t wait to make the best out of it. I believe that the cultural diversity in U of T is one of the greatest aspects of the university that will add so much to my personality. One of the greatest problems the whole world is facing now is resource depletion and climate change on the expense of economic growth. Therefore, I hope to make a great contribution to the field of sustainable economic growth in order for us and the next generations to have a cleaner, greener and more beautiful world.”
Patrik Pallagi
Jedlik Ányos Secondary School
Hungary
Faculty of Arts & Science, Math & Physical Sciences
St. Michael’s College
“Growing up in Budapest, the birthplace of the iconic Rubik’s cube, allowed me to experience the city’s unique culture, in which thinking about complex problems is encouraged from a young age. It sure had a great effect on me! I was inspired to start working on various research projects which allowed me to become a Member of the Hungarian Research Student Association.
Thanks to my aspirations I was invited to Geneva, Switzerland to take part in the first international summer research program for high school students organized by CERN, the organization most known for its Nobel prize-winning discoveries in particle physics and the development of the World Wide Web.
Furthermore, my commitment to pursuing and promoting global scientific collaboration was even recognized by the New York Academy of Sciences and I was granted the title Young Member and Ambassador of the New York Academy of Sciences.
I am honoured to receive the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship. I very much look forward to becoming part of the community and meeting the many exceptionally talented people at the University of Toronto!”
Subham Rai
Premier Academy
Kenya
Faculty of Arts & Science, Math & Physical Sciences
Trinity College
“I was born in India and grew up in various regions of Kenya. Living in Kenya, I witnessed poverty on a daily basis and observed how Kenyan farmers often suffered immensely from it. I wish to use my interest in Actuarial Science and the knowledge I will gain from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the University of Toronto in order to devise government and private insurance schemes in order to make their farming businesses (and lives) better. I play chess on an international level, and thoroughly enjoy participating in debates such as those found in Model United Nation programs, in which I was a Senior Chairperson. I am truly grateful for being awarded the Lester Pearson International Scholarship. I look forward to studying in the University of Toronto and being a member of Trinity College and cannot wait to explore the diverse city of Toronto.”
Julia Christine Rapai
Grosse Pointe South High School
Michigan, U.S.A.
Faculty of Arts & Science, Humanities
Victoria College
“I’m Julia, and I am coming to the University of Toronto from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, where I am vice president of my school’s student government, and participate in a diversity centered leadership development program. I am particularly passionate about social inclusion for students with special needs, so I love working as a peer mentor in my school’s special education program. I like anything creative, so I’m involved in both the performing and visual arts, specifically graphic design. I love to laugh more than anything, and try new things! I am so excited for the next four years at Victoria College, where I hope to challenge myself and explore every opportunity I can, and define my personal role as a global citizen.”
Raquel Alegría Serrano
Liceo Internacional
Ecuador
Faculty of Arts & Science, Humanities
Trinity College
“My name is Raquel and I was born and raised in Quito with my two older brothers, by parents who both work in education. Ecuador is a country famous for Darwin and his trip to the Galapagos, but we are also a country trying to improve things for our citizens. I am honoured to be a Lester B. Pearson scholar, and the first Ecuadorean recipient. I know that studying at the University of Toronto will be challenging, but also an incredible experience. I hope to continue participating in the activities I have been involved in at the political youth school here in Quito, volunteering, and as I am the school goalkeeper, I also hope to continue playing football in Toronto.”
Muhammad Wadee Shahid
Lahore Grammar School Defence Phase V
Pakistan
Faculty of Arts & Science, Rotman Commerce
University College
“Hello, my name is Muhammad Wadee Shahid and I’m from Pakistan. I plan on specializing in Finance and Economics via the Rotman Commerce program. Beyond economics, my academic interests range from international relations to environmental sciences. Moreover, I have been part of the public speaking community for over four years, having been fortunate enough to compete at both a national and an international level. Outside the school, I have committed to helping my community’s downtrodden and impoverished, be it through my non-profit NGO or through participation in wide-scale social projects. Moreover, I am an avid participant in outdoor activities such as hiking, soccer and badminton and have had the opportunity to play tournaments across the city. I look forward to pursuing these interests at U of T, while also discovering new ones within this brilliant community of extremely talented and diverse minds.”
Sophie Rebecca Sondhelm
Channing School
United Kingdom
Faculty of Arts & Science, Humanities
Victoria College
“I’m Sophie, and I am so excited to study at the University of Toronto later this year! I hope to specialise or major in philosophy, with an environmental ethics minor – raising awareness about environmental issues is a passion of mine, and something I would like to continue doing through documentary-making. Growing up in London, I have been fortunate enough to be a part of a hub of multiculturalism and innovation, and I can’t wait to experience this again in Toronto. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to beginning my journey at Victoria College!”
Emily Ran Wen
Sharon High School
Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Faculty of Arts & Science, Rotman Commerce
Victoria College
“Thrilled by the opportunity to learn, grow, and meet new people in the lively, cultural epicenter of Toronto, I look forward to the next four years with great excitement. I was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and my upbringing was filled with a variety of experiences, which inspired in me an awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity. Moreover, as president of my school’s National Honor Society, I have worked to reemphasize creativity and passion within the organization, hoping to inspire members to realize the intrinsic benefits of service. I have also played tennis for most of my life and am captain of my school’s varsity team. Some of my other interests also include running, photography, and painting. The University of Toronto’s Rotman Commerce program will help me meld my social interests in culture and service with my academic pursuits in economics. I aspire to implement my studies to one day develop an internationally based organization to promote literacy in developing regions.”