Convocation 2013: U of T grads seizing opportunities

University of Toronto graduates are creating change in fields from business to neuroscience to geography.

When a U of T Facebook post asked students to nominate graduates with outstanding achievements, the responses came in thick and fast – Katherine Chong.

“Meet her during your undergrad and she’ll probably change your life. True testimonial,” one comment read.

The force behind the marketing strategies at Notesolution Inc., Chong is graduating from the Business Administration, Strategic Management Co-op at University of Toronto Scarborough. An online note-sharing platform, Notesolution has gained national momentum since starting at U of T two years ago, and is now available to about 120,000 students from 25 universities across the country.

Chong was the Management Co-op Student of the Year and received the UTSC Letter award for student leadership and her contributions to student life and development.

“I received so much from this community through my education, I feel like it is an obligation for me to give back to the community,” says Chong.

With her next project, The Connext Group, Chong hopes to create a mutual learning environment of marketing skills and strategies, communication, leadership and entrepreneurship by forging partnerships between students and companies in the community.

With his new Master of Science in Physiology, William T.H. To will be leaving U of T to make his mark on the Canadian health system. To is working with a consortium of 18 medical technology associations and government agencies to build a national database to monitor the growth and trends of the Canadian medtech market. His research is through the Health Technology Exchange (HTX), as part of his prestigious six-month Ontario Brain Institute internship.

During his time at U of T, To was actively involved in the Department of Physiology, which he considered his “home away from home”. An executive on the Graduate Association for Students in Physiology, To was an instructor for Let's Talk Science, a judge for the University of Toronto Brain Bee Competition, and was Chair of the Department of Physiology’s weekly neuroscience Journal Club.

To says what he values most about his degree was not just the academic side, but the people with whom he was able to work.

“Networking at conferences and departmental seminars have not only allowed me to share my research work, but enabled me to grow as a young professional,” he says. “U of T provides incredible opportunities for anyone who is fascinated in neuroscience research, who wants to do cutting-edge research, and is eager to work among the best and brightest in Canada.”

For Anna Labetski of Woodsworth College who will be graduating with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Geography, GIS (geographic information systems) and History, a U of T degree opened up new doors.

“U of T has introduced me to the field of GIS,” she says. “I have been able to meet other students who are passionate about GIS and now I have a wonderful network of students and professors who have the same interests as me.”

Labetski won multiple awards while at U of T, including a Cressy Student Leadership Award in 2013, ASSU Graduating Student Award and William G. Dean Scholarship in Geography for Field Research. After completing a GIS contract at the World Wildlife Fund, Labetski plans to continue her studies in the Master of Science in Geospatial Analysis program at University College, England.

For Labetski, the marketability of her degree is something that excites her about her future.

“There are graduate programs and employers that want to work with me," Labestski says. "I’m excited to work in a field that I’m passionate about.”