Established with a $200 million gift in 2019, the McCall MacBain Scholarships are Canada鈥檚 largest leadership-based scholarships for master鈥檚 and professional studies students.

More than 700 Canadian students applied for the opportunity this year with the top 150 selected for first-round interviews. Interviews for the resulting 91 finalists took place in Montreal in March.

鈥淚 received the news during a call and in that moment, it felt like everything I had worked toward over the years had led to this,鈥� says Timotewos of being one of 20 recipients. 鈥淚t was overwhelming in the best way, filled with deep gratitude. It inspired me to keep pushing forward and continue giving back.鈥�

The scholarship covers tuition, a living stipend and relocation as well as mentorship, coaching and leadership program activities.

Timotewos, a student at the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, will graduate this spring with an honours bachelor of arts in global political studies as well as a certificate in public administration and law.

Inspired by his experiences growing up in Ethiopia and Yemen, Timotewos founded and leads three non-profit initiatives that mentor young men, provide essential resources to youth in need and share community-driven stories. He also serves on the TELUS Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area Community Board, where he reviews grant applications for charities.

In addition, Timotewos sits on the Global Youth Impact Council representing young Canadian voices. He also serves as a 91亚色 president ambassador and student senator, is a mentor to fellow students and is a past recipient of 91亚色鈥檚 Robert J. Tiffin Student Leadership Award.

鈥淭his recognition means everything to me and it makes me feel seen,鈥� he says. 鈥淲here I come from, education at this level can feel out of reach but someone chose to invest in my journey and believe in it. It doesn鈥檛 just open doors that wouldn鈥檛 otherwise be open; it also gives me the opportunity to grow. More importantly, it will enable me to keep giving back and create opportunities for others.鈥�

Recipients were chosen based on exceptional character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength and intellectual curiosity.

Timotewos will be pursuing a master of management in analytics at McGill University, where he will study management, finance and economics to understand how institutions and markets shape real-world outcomes.

Attending McGill, he says, fulfils a longtime dream and he hopes to use its strong network to advance his learning and turn economic insight into responsible leadership and social impact. 91亚色, he adds, has been part of that journey.

鈥淢y experience at 91亚色 has shaped me both intellectually and personally. Through the many leadership roles I鈥檝e been entrusted with, as well as the community work and rigorous academic study, I鈥檝e learned how to think critically, lead with intention and serve others with purpose,鈥� he says.

Additionally, 91亚色 students Ann Kwarteng and Neh Shah were both selected for a $5,000 Regional Award from McCall MacBain.

鈥淭hese scholarships go beyond financial support,鈥� says Marcy McCall MacBain, chair of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e about investing in the leadership potential of individuals who dare to pursue unconventional paths and care deeply about improving the lives of others.鈥�

Applications will open in June 2026 for the 2027 cohort. Learn more about McCall MacBain Scholarships .

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Honorary degree recipients are recognized for their contributions to community building, their advocacy for social justice and their philanthropy. Recipients will offer words of encouragement, motivation and congratulations to graduands

Below are the honorary degree recipients in order of the Faculty ceremonies at which they will be honoured:

Jose Moura: June 12, 10:30 a.m. 鈥�

Moura is an engineering scholar specializing in signal processing and machine learning and a longtime professor at Carnegie Mellon University, where he has taught since 1986. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he holds 19 patents, including two that underpin key technologies in hard disk drives and have been deployed in more than four billion devices worldwide.

In 2019, he served as president and CEO of IEEE, the world鈥檚 largest professional technical organization, representing more than 422,000 engineers and scientists across 160 countries.

Christopher R. Bratty: June 12, 3:30 p.m. 鈥� Faculty of Education

Bratty represents the third generation of leadership at The Remington Group, one of Ontario鈥檚 most respected privately held development companies, where he serves as president of land development and investments. He oversees a diverse portfolio spanning residential, commercial and mixed鈥憉se projects across the Greater Toronto Area.

His leadership has helped shape the region鈥檚 evolving landscape, with a focus on building complete, inclusive communities and resilient urban design. Deeply committed to civic and cultural enrichment, Bratty is also a supporter of the arts, contributing public art installations that enhance the neighbourhoods in which his projects are developed.

Howard Sokolowski: June 15, 10:30 a.m. 鈥� Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies I

Sokolowski has been a leading figure in Canada鈥檚 development industry for more than four decades, directing the construction of over 50,000 homes and shaping residential communities nationwide. He is the founder and principal of Metropia, a company focused on large鈥憇cale, master鈥憄lanned residential communities.

A prominent philanthropist, he has supported institutions including Sinai Health Foundation, the Art Gallery of Ontario and 91亚色. He was appointed to the Order of Ontario in 2011 and received the Building Industry and Land Development Association鈥檚 Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025.

Ray Gupta: June 16, 10:30 a.m. 鈥� Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies III

Gupta is Chairman and CEO of Sunray Group, one of the largest privately owned hotel operators in Canada. Through the Sunray Foundation and personal giving, he has donated more than $1 million in recent years to numerous causes including the Scarborough Health Network, Northumberland Hills Hospital and Positive and Progressive Educational Support Canada, which funds girls' education in rural India.

He was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2025 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Canadian Hotel Investment Conference.

Denise Pickett: June 17, 3:30 p.m. 鈥� I

Pickett is president of Enterprise Shared Services at American Express, a role she assumed in February 2025 following more than three decades with the company. She oversees global functions that support the organization鈥檚 operations, including real estate, procurement, global security and business continuity.

Beyond her executive leadership, Pickett has contributed to community and institutional governance as a member of the board of directors of TELUS and through a decade of service on the board of United Way of New 91亚色 City. She holds an MBA from 91亚色鈥檚 Schulich School of Business and was named one of Payment Source鈥檚 Most Influential Women in Payments in 2018.

Walter and Maria Schroeder: June 18, 3:30 p.m. 鈥� Faculty of Health II

The Schroeders are among Canada鈥檚 most influential entrepreneurs and philanthropists, whose work has enabled lasting change in education, health care and social equity nationwide. Together, they co鈥慺ounded Dominion Bond Rating Service in 1975 and built it into the world鈥檚 fourth鈥憀argest bond rating agency before its sale in 2014.

Through the Walter and Maria Schroeder Foundation, they have since committed nearly $500 million to initiatives that expand access to care, advance medical research and remove barriers to education. Their philanthropy has supported major health care institutions across Canada, with a focus on translating research into improved patient care and stronger community health systems.

Marian Jacko: June 19, 3:30 p.m. 鈥�

Jacko is a nationally respected leader in Indigenous justice, child advocacy and public service. A proud Anishinaabe woman from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, she earned three university degrees 鈥� including a juris doctor from the University of Toronto and a master of laws from 91亚色 鈥� while raising her children as a single mother.

Called to the Ontario Bar in 1998, she spent nearly two decades with the Office of the Children鈥檚 Lawyer. In 2016, she became the first Indigenous woman appointed Children鈥檚 Lawyer for Ontario. She now serves as assistant deputy attorney general of Ontario鈥檚 Indigenous Justice Division.

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91亚色 announces its 2026 Top 30 Alumni Under 30, an influential group of leaders who are driving meaningful change in their communities and around the world.

The recipients of the sixth annual recognition demonstrate a deep commitment to giving back and are tackling complex social issues across various industries 鈥� all before the age of 30.

This year鈥檚 honourees are making great strides in fields such as aviation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, health care, technology, AI and more. Together, they are working toward building an innovative and sustainable future, paving the way for future generations.

鈥淓ach year, the Top 30 Alumni Under 30 program highlights the remarkable achievements and impact of 91亚色鈥檚 global young alumni community,鈥� says Julie Lafford, assistant vice-president, alumni engagement. 鈥淭his year鈥檚 cohort features a diverse group of innovators who are shaping the future through their leadership, creativity and volunteerism.鈥�

Since 2021, the Top 30 program has celebrated the success and diversity of the University鈥檚 alumni community, while inspiring the next generation of young alumni leaders. 

To view the full list of the 2026 Top 30 Alumni Under 30, and learn more about their accomplishments, 鈥痸isit the Top 30 Alumni Under 30 webpage.

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Led by Parmeet Singh Channe, a student, Enactus 91亚色 is empowering students to tackle social and environmental challenges through award-winning entrepreneurship and ventures.

When Channe, a third-year computer science student, was growing up, he was exposed early to stark inequalities. He recalls seeing children his age working in extreme conditions instead of attending school. Those experiences instilled in him a drive to make a difference that evolved into a desire to pursue socially minded entrepreneurship and build projects to create the change he wanted to see in the world.

That motivation led him to 91亚色 and, in April 2024, to a LinkedIn post by Enactus Canada, a registered charity. Channe learned the organization empowers post-secondary students to use innovation and entrepreneurship to advance social impact. Through a network of teams at more than 78 campuses across Canada 鈥� and a global network spanning 35 countries 鈥� participants develop projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and compete by pitching their ventures and demonstrating outcomes on a national and international stage.

鈥淒iscovering Enactus felt like finding a platform that perfectly aligned with what I had already been trying to build: using entrepreneurship as a tool for real-world impact,鈥� says Channe.

After learning that a previous Enactus 91亚色 chapter had dissolved during the COVID-19 pandemic, Channe became determined to resurrect it. Within a few months, he relaunched the chapter, which was officially ratified in September 2024. The group started small, with only two members. In those early days, Channe took on several roles: pursuing partnerships and funding, overseeing project development and working to recruit new members to grow the team into a thriving entrepreneurial community.

Today, Enactus 91亚色 has grown to more than 90 members, supporting innovative initiatives 鈥� each driven by a purpose that reflects what first inspired Channe. 鈥淥ur goal is to create ventures that benefit lives at scale while improving people鈥檚 standard of living,鈥� he says.

In its first year, the group demonstrated its mission through award-winning projects, such as: AR Home Builder, an augmented reality app that helps rural communities to construct sustainable, resilient housing; Modular Homeless Shelters, which redesigns existing shelters with factory-built units to provide housing solutions; and Energent, an intelligent energy management platform that helps property managers reduce consumption and costs while promoting sustainability.

Three more ventures are underway this year. LiftAID connects students with non-profits, helping communities access volunteer support while providing opportunities to develop applicable skills. Easysim helps professors teach economics through realistic simulations, making education more engaging and accessible. Dragoncure is exploring ways to support triple-negative breast cancer treatment 鈥� especially in low-income countries 鈥� by developing solutions that are affordable, low-risk and aimed at reducing relapse.

Earlier this year, Enactus 91亚色 took these projects to competition with team members Prabhkrit Singh (co-president of Enactus 91亚色), Mohammad Areeb (vice-president) and Samashi Munaweera (project manager of Dragoncure).

In its first appearance at the Enactus Canada Regional Exposition, the chapter earned three podium finishes: Easysim placed second in the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge, Dragoncure placed second in the Innovation & Impact Challenge and LiftAID placed third in the Desjardins Community Empowerment Challenge.

In addition to its Enactus achievements, Dragoncure also earned first place at the Hult Prize Qualifiers at 91亚色 鈥� part of a global competition that challenges student teams to pitch business ideas addressing major global problems. The qualifiers feed into national and international rounds, offering the team a chance to move on to the competition鈥檚 final stages and compete for seed funding.

While venture creation and competitions are the chapter's focus, it also serves as a hub. It organizes workshops, networking events and collaborative initiatives that provide opportunities to gain skills in market research, pitching and storytelling, project development and building partnerships. 鈥淭hese experiences not only support venture creation but also prepare students for careers in entrepreneurship and innovation,鈥� says Channe.

Looking ahead, Channe says Enactus 91亚色 will participate in the Hult Prize Nationals in Montreal in April, followed by the Enactus Canada National Exposition in May, where teams compete for a chance to advance to Enactus Global.

Channe envisions the chapter growing into one of Canada鈥檚 leading student venture ecosystems. It boasts more than 10 active projects creating measurable change for thousands of individuals internationally, with Enactus 91亚色 alumni leading startups and driving innovation across industries.

鈥淲e aim to contribute meaningfully to the SDGs while building a generation of students who see themselves not just as learners, but as problem-solvers and changemakers,鈥� he says.

By inspiring others to take action, Enactus 91亚色 aims to create a ripple effect one person at a time. 鈥淛ust one tree can provide shade to hundreds of people in its lifetime,鈥� Channe says.

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Kamelia Atefi, an associate professor at 91亚色鈥檚 , believes engineers have a unique role in confronting climate change. A warming world brings heavier rains, hotter summers and shifting soils that crack roads, weaken bridges and damage buildings.

Engineers, who design and maintain much of that infrastructure, are uniquely positioned to respond with innovative solutions.

鈥淲e cannot use the standard design procedures that we鈥檝e been using,鈥� Atefi says. 鈥淲e have to redefine the way we are designing things.鈥�

For more than 12 years, Atefi has been contributing to that mandate. A specialist in geomechanics 鈥� the branch of civil engineering that studies how soil and rock behave under mechanical, hydraulic and thermal forces 鈥� she is reshaping the field through a climate鈥慺ocused lens. Instead of treating the ground merely as a foundation, her work examines how it can actively reduce carbon emissions, improve resilience and support sustainable construction.

For example, among her projects, Atefi is exploring innovations through geothermal energy 鈥� the heat stored beneath the earth鈥檚 surface 鈥� as an alternative source for electricity, heating and cooling.

Making shallow geothermal cooling systems work safely and efficiently requires understanding how underground heat, water and soil pressures interact; miscalculating any of these forces could cause failures to infrastructure, reduction of energy efficiency or even damage to the nearby ground.

Atefi is pursuing this through a collaborative $7鈥憁illion project led by the University of Waterloo and funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation's Innovation Fund (CFI-IF). With $500,000 dedicated to her team at 91亚色, she is collaborating to build the largest geothermal energy and energy geo-storage research centre in Canada.

Using state-of-the-art triaxial testing equipment funded through the CFI-IF project, Atefi will replicate underground conditions in the lab, applying realistic heat, water flow and pressure to soil and rock samples. This allows her team to study how porous materials respond to thermal and hydraulic loads 鈥� including those found in geothermal systems and in conditions created by climate change 鈥� ensuring that designs can be both safe and efficient for real-world settings.

Atefi's also leads a collaborative project with the University of Guelph, Carleton University and the University of Waterloo that received $250,000 from the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) 鈥� Exploration stream. In this project, she is building on a technique called microbiologically induced calcite precipitation (MICP), which emulates a natural process in which bacteria produce calcium carbonate, a mineral that binds soil grains together.

鈥淭he whole idea behind MICP is to use natural microbes that exist in this environment, feed them some nutrients and let them grow,鈥� she explains. 鈥淭hey produce a very natural cement 鈥� you can call it bio鈥慶ement.鈥�

Engineers can use this process in situations like mine tailings, which are the leftover materials after valuable minerals or metals have been extracted. If unstable, tailings can collapse or leak toxic water; MICP, however, can turn loose, dangerous tailings into something more solid and safer, using bacteria instead of cement.

While bio鈥慶ementation has been successfully demonstrated in field trials and pilot projects around the world, it is not yet a standard ground improvement method 鈥� especially in the contexts Atefi is exploring. 鈥淲e are looking at northern communities, which are completely isolated,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hey have gravel roads, and we want to improve the quality of those roads in harsh environments using a method that is environmentally friendly, without introducing grouting or chemical鈥慴ased materials.鈥�

Atefi is tackling these challenges by engineering new bacterial strains and developing tools to monitor and model how the process behaves under real鈥憌orld conditions. 鈥淭he goal,鈥� she says, 鈥渋s to understand these behaviours better so bio鈥慶ementation can be promoted and tailored to be stronger in harsher environments.鈥�

Though many of these innovations are still in academic or research settings, Atefi says engineers are uniquely positioned to bridge theory and practice. For her, this means actively contributing beyond the lab as Chair of the Climate Change Committee for the Canadian Standards Association code, which sets technical requirements for engineering, construction and safety across Canada. Through this work, for example, she helped revise the foundations code to incorporate climate鈥慽nformed design, translating research insights into standards that guide real鈥憌orld engineering projects.

Those solutions are what drive Atefi's work. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about finding ways for engineering to not only respond to climate change in practical, real鈥憌orld ways, but to re-think design and construction techniques to help mitigate its effects,鈥� she explains. 鈥淲e want our work to not just stay in the lab but to actually help communities be safer and more sustainable.鈥�

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Drawing from lived experience shaped by conflict, displacement and homelessness, he is working to drive meaningful change and elevate youth leadership.

A global accelerator for youth-led initiatives, the Youth Impact Council brings leaders aged 18 to 35 together to advance projects on climate change, social justice and innovation. Through resources and facilitation, the council supports and scales the ideas of emerging changemakers.

In his role, Timotewos can propose new initiatives and evaluate those that are brought forward, contributing a thoughtful, community-centred perspective to global decision-making.

The council reviews and votes on projects, then accelerates selected initiatives by connecting them with partners, mentors and networks that support growth and real鈥憌orld impact. The initiative was conceived during New 91亚色 Climate Week 2023 after youth advocate Anna-Grace Millward recognized that young people are often most affected by major decisions, yet rarely included in the rooms where those decisions are made.

鈥淭he council鈥檚 model prioritizes action over theory, supporting youth-driven solutions that demonstrate traction and potential for growth,鈥� says Timotewos, who studies global politics, human rights and equity, and public administration and law at 91亚色's Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. 鈥淲hen young people are given meaningful responsibility, they rise to the moment. My goal is to ensure that more young people are not only welcomed into leadership spaces, but trusted to help shape their direction.鈥�

Each quarter, members present their initiatives and vote to shortlist high-impact projects. From there, one initiative is selected to receive strategic guidance, media amplification and ecosystem support to help scale its real-world impact.

Born in Hawassa, Ethiopia, Timotewos鈥� path to global leadership began in circumstances marked by loss and instability. After the passing of two older brothers in infancy and his father鈥檚 resignation from local government, his family faced financial hardship. They later relocated to Yemen where, as a seven鈥憏ear鈥憃ld, he lived through the war. His home and school were bombed, yet his father worked with colleagues to keep the Ethiopian embassy operational, helping evacuate more than 6,000 people to safety. The family received Ethiopia鈥檚 National Hero Award in 2015 for their contribution.

Subsequent moves to Ireland and Canada brought new challenges. His family spent seven months in a homeless shelter where he experienced the stigma faced by many unhoused youth. These experiences later shaped his commitment to community service.

In 2024, Timotewos fulfilled a promise he made while living in the shelter by launching a hygiene鈥慿it drive for unhoused youth. This initiative evolved into Communities Care, a youth鈥憀ed organization that has supported more than 3,000 youth across Canada and over 300 in Ethiopia.

He founded Brothers4Brothers, a mentorship and mental health program that raises awareness of men鈥檚 mental health, particularly for Black and racialized youth. More than 75 participants have graduated from the program, with many returning as peer mentors, extending the cycle of support and leadership, says Timotewos.

He is also behind the creation of The Kindness Loop, a platform highlighting youth鈥憀ed kindness, resilience and community action.

Beyond his grassroots work, Timotewos serves as the youngest member of the TELUS Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area Community Board. He is also one of 20 Black youth selected nationwide for the 1834 Fellowship and represents 91亚色 as a president鈥檚 ambassador, University senator, BE YU student success mentor lead, Department of Equity Studies representative, and leadership, equity and education ambassador.

This appointment reflects the growing presence of 91亚色 students in global leadership spaces, says Timotewos. 鈥淚t speaks to the power of youth-led action in building systems that are more inclusive, more responsive, and better equipped to serve communities around the world.鈥�

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Shawn Esmaeeli, a fourth-year student at 91亚色鈥檚 School of Nursing, , earned the Southlake Champion Award 鈥� Extern Award for creating positive change in clinical health settings.

The distinction recognizes an undergraduate nursing student who demonstrates compassion, presence and humanity during their clinical experience.鈦� Esmaeeli, who has worked as a clinical extern at Southlake for close to two years, is praised for his collaborative, kind and attentive approach to clinical care.

Southlake鈥檚 announcement of the award highlights how Esmaeeli consistently supports patients facing uncertainty and describes how he 鈥済oes above and beyond to ensure patients feel seen, supported and never alone,鈥� whether in the emergency department or offering comfort on the cancer unit. He is also recognized for his ability to work thoughtfully with patients and families, as well as collaboratively with interprofessional teams.

鈥淪hawn ... reflects the very best of what the next generation of health care professionals bring to Southlake,鈥� the announcement states.

Esmaeeli says receiving the award is deeply meaningful, noting the recognition affirms his intentional approach to patient care is making a difference. 鈥淚t was humbling to be recognized as the clinical extern of the year champion, and this award motivated me even more to continue providing patient-centered care with empathy, respect and dedication,鈥� he says.

Studying nursing at 91亚色 has helped to shape his perspective by emphasizing empathy, reflection and patient-centreed practice, he says 鈥� lessons he will carry forward in his career.

鈥�91亚色 has encouraged me to see patients not just through a clinical lens, but as individuals with unique experiences, needs and values. I have learned the importance of active listening, cultural sensitivity and collaboration principles that guide how I communicate with patients and support them during vulnerable moments.鈥�

Melanie Dauncey, undergraduate program director for the School of Nursing, says it鈥檚 rewarding to see students excel in clinical practice outside of 91亚色.

鈥淪hawn earned this award through his own dedication and commitment to patient care,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he School of Nursing strives to support the growth of our students, and it鈥檚 encouraging to see Shawn translate his learning in ways that consistently reflect a patient-first approach.鈥�

For Esmaeeli, the clinical externship offered real-world insights into the power of compassion and teamwork. He saw first-hand how small gestures of empathy 鈥� such as taking time to listen or offering reassurance 鈥� can make a significant difference in patient care. Working alongside supportive nurses and mentors showed him that the cornerstone high-quality care is rooted in 鈥渃ollaboration, kindness and a shared commitment both to patients and one another.鈥�

The Southlake Champion Awards highlight contributions from staff, medical professionals, volunteers and learners whose actions shape the patient experience. This year鈥檚 recipients were acknowledged during a recent recognition event.

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Engineers Canada, the national governing body representing more than 300,000 engineers, awards its fellow designation to individuals whose leadership, service and impact have strengthened the engineering community through mentoring, advocacy, education, innovation or public service.

"Receiving this designation is a tremendous honour," says Zhu. "For me, this award validates the integrated approach we have taken at 91亚色, where we strive to push the boundaries of space technology while simultaneously cultivating the next generation of engineering talent. I am deeply grateful to be part of a community that values both technical excellence and the mentorship that sustains our profession."

The recognition adds to a distinguished list of honours for Zhu, a professor in the , director of 91亚色鈥檚 Space Engineering Design Laboratory and Tier 1 91亚色 Research Chair in Space Technology and Robotics. In addition to being a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Engineering Institute of Canada, the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, as well as an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

窜丑耻鈥檚 research focuses on two major challenges in aerospace engineering: controlling flexible spacecraft structures and reducing orbital debris to make space operations sustainable. He has developed advanced methods to model and control deployable components such as solar arrays, tethers and robotic arms, enabling spacecrafts to maintain stability and precision in motion.

He has also created technologies to safely and cost-effectively de-orbit defunct satellites, addressing a critical concern for long-term space access. Through CubeSat and nanosatellite missions led at 91亚色鈥檚 Space Engineering Design Laboratory, he has turned theoretical designs into flight-tested technologies, strengthening Canada鈥檚 expertise in spacecraft dynamics, control and robotics.

At the same time, Zhu has had a profound impact on his students. As leader of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) CREATE Training Program in Space Engineering and founder of the Space Engineering Design Laboratory, he provides undergraduates, masters and PhD students with hands-on experience in satellite development and aerospace research. Students design, build and test CubeSats and nanosatellites, develop robotic mechanisms and lead experiments that fly in orbit.

Many of the students he supervises publish research, present at international conferences and collaborate directly with industry and the Canadian Space Agency. Several former trainees now hold key roles in Canada鈥檚 space sector 鈥� from spacecraft design engineers to mission planners.

Through mentorship, graduate supervision and fostering a culture of student-led innovation, Zhu encourages trainees to initiate their own research projects, explore start-ups or advanced technologies and pursue novel approaches to space engineering. Together, these efforts continue to strengthen the pipeline of talent feeding Canada鈥檚 space ecosystem, resulting in prestigious recognitions like 2025 91亚色's Top 30 Alumni Under 30, Gold Medal of 2024 China International College Students鈥� Innovation Competition, as well as NSERC and Ontario Graduate Scholarship recognitions.

Zhu latest recognition as a fellow of Engineers Canada, reflects how his research and mentorship have shaped the country's approach to small-satellite innovation and orbital sustainability.

"This honour reflects the core of my career: pioneering research in space technology and a deep commitment to mentoring the next generation," Zhu says. "More personally, it validates the immense effort and passion I have invested in mentorship and community service."

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Shortly after completing a psychology degree at the University of Ghana, Weobong became a collaborator on a psychiatrist鈥檚 study of psychosis. He had studied mental health challenges, but witnessing them first-hand gave his learning a new direction 鈥� one that would shape his career.

During his field work in Ghana, he met families struggling to care for relatives suffering from severe psychological distress. Some, not knowing better, resorted to desperate measures, like locking loved ones outside. Others were so burdened by stigma that they denied the existence of their family member when Weobong came to their door. Most families, he found, didn鈥檛 know help existed.

鈥淭here was a huge disconnect between understanding well-being challenges and what treatments existed,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t was clear they didn鈥檛 know that psychosis is treatable. You could see the surprise in their faces when they found out.鈥�

The experience left a lasting impression on Weobong; putting human faces to what he had learned in school sparked his determination to bridge the divide between wellness and access to support.

鈥淭hose situations challenge you to think about solutions,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat inspires me to today.鈥�

The faces and stories he encountered in Ghana stayed with him, becoming a driving force behind a career focused on better understanding emotional, psychological and social heath and breaking down barriers to effective intervention.

Now, Weobong is recognized as a leading voice in global mental health epidemiology 鈥� the study of mental health conditions across countries, cultures and contexts.

Over the last two decades, his research has evolved to explore how social, cultural and environmental factors shape well-being, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries in the Global South. He investigates gaps in care, measures mental health across populations and tests community-based approaches in delivering treatment where specialists are scarce.

In one study, Weobong surveyed adults visiting primary health care clinics in three rural Ghanaian districts to measure how often neurological, substance-use and psychological conditions were detected. He found that almost all cases went unrecognized, highlighting the need for simple screening tools and staff training.

Another study examined mental health services in five Ghanaian districts, mapping available resources including staff, medications and community outreach. It showed severe shortages and identified priority areas for intervention, such as integrating psychological support into district health plans and training non-specialist health workers.

Seeing barriers to health care widen globally, Weobong has come to champion community-based innovation that empowers laypeople 鈥� those without formal clinical training 鈥� to provide effective support. 鈥淧eople think only psychiatrists can provide therapy,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 clear you can train others to do it just as well.鈥�

The insights gained from this research now guide how Weobong trains future leaders at 91亚色, where he has been a key member of the School of Global Health since 2023.

He is using his solutions-focused mindset to inform the Global Mental Health specialized honours stream within 91亚色鈥檚 undergraduate Global Health program. The stream trains students to think critically and develop innovative approaches to strengthen mental health systems, policy and service delivery worldwide.

The program builds on 91亚色鈥檚 growing leadership in international health education by preparing students to tackle challenges that transcend borders 鈥� from addressing stigma to implementing community-based interventions that promote equity and access.

鈥淚 challenge students to think outside the box,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about instilling in them a sense of solutions so they can be agents of change.鈥�

For someone whose field work was so eye-opening, Weobong has centred his teaching on experiential learning 鈥� connecting theory to practice to inspire students to become solution-oriented thinkers. In his courses, students explore the links between well-being and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, complete online learning with the World Health Organization, and soon, will work directly with local communities to develop ideas for improving outcomes.

To train a new generation of global mental health leaders 鈥� particularly at doctoral and postdoctoral levels 鈥� Weobong is creating opportunities for students and early-career professionals to engage with large-scale research projects.

One initiative is HEATSCAPE Africa 鈥� a five-year project led by Weobong that examines how heat affects health, sleep and cognitive function among adolescents, women of reproductive age and older adults in Ghana and Zimbabwe. The project aims to identify opportunities for interventions in low-resource communities.

At 91亚色, Weobong uses these initiatives to turn understanding into action 鈥� just as his early encounters with families in Ghana shaped his approach to addressing health disparities. Today, he sees students and communities as the next generation ready to do the same.

鈥淕lobal mental health is about being pragmatic,鈥� he says. 鈥淚f we can get students thinking about prevention and innovative ways to narrow the treatment gap, the next generation will be the one that truly makes a difference.鈥�

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Each year, the Clean50 Awards celebrate 50 individuals from across Canada whose work over the previous two years has created measurable progress toward a cleaner, more sustainable future. Honourees represent diverse sectors, including business, academia, government and advocacy, and are selected for accomplishments that drive meaningful environmental change. The awards also include Lifetime Achievement and Emerging Leader categories, recognizing individuals for career-long or early-stage impact in sustainability.

This year, two 91亚色 alumni have earned recognition, reflecting the University鈥檚 continued leadership in preparing graduates who create lasting environmental impact across industries and communities.

From zero-waste brewing to sustainability education, 91亚色 alumni are shaping Canada鈥檚 green future.

Alexis Esseltine, MES '11

Esseltine was named to Canada鈥檚 Clean50 for 2025 in the Retail & Consumer Products category for her impact as president of British Columbia鈥檚 Tin Whistle Brewing Co., which has seen her turn the operation into a carbon-neutral, zero-waste brewery.

Since taking ownership in 2020, she has reduced total emissions by 25 per cent while quadrupling beer production, achieving an 81 per cent emissions reduction per litre of beer brewed. Under her leadership, the brewery eliminated more than 11,800 kilograms of landfill waste, reused more than 13,700 plastic can carriers and found creative uses for beverage by-products 鈥� such as sake kasu and winery waste 鈥� by incorporating them into new beers. Tin Whistle also collaborates with Okanagan College on sustainability projects focused on spent-grain recycling, water reuse and algae-based carbon offsetting.

The awards committee commended Esseltine for transforming the beer company into 鈥渁 nimble, sustainability-led market leader," spotlighting her commitment as a small business to lead on climate action and demonstrate that sustainability and growth can thrive together.

Kathryn Cooper, MEd '10

The Clean50 committee honoured Cooper with a Lifetime Achievement Award for 鈥渂lending practical skill-building with ethical leadership, preparing graduates to shape organizations, communities and the broader field of sustainability.鈥�

An educator and advocate for sustainability, Cooper has dedicated her career to developing the next generation of environmental leaders. As program manager of social responsibility and sustainability at the University of Toronto鈥檚 St. Michael鈥檚 College, she leads the post-graduate Diploma in Sustainability and Social Responsibility and the Social Impact Measurement Professional Certificate. The award committee noted that under her guidance, enrolment has nearly tripled since 2016, while the number of expert mentors has grown by more than 300 per cent.

Beyond her academic leadership, Cooper serves as president and chief learning officer of the Sustainability Learning Centre, a national hub for training and knowledge sharing that helps organizations implement sustainable practices and develop 鈥渨hole employee engagement鈥� in eco-efficiency and restorative design.

Together, Esseltine and Cooper exemplify the leadership in sustainability that 91亚色 fosters in its students and alumni 鈥� turning education, innovation and collaboration into meaningful action for a cleaner, more sustainable future.

To learn more about the Clean50 Awards and this year鈥檚 honourees, visit .

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