Past Recipients
All those who applied for these awards have been active in serving the community of students, but more importantly they have been stretching themselves on behalf of others, making a difference, risking, daring, and contributing to this great educational enterprise. They have been testing themselves and emerging as leaders. We could enumerate the many clubs, organizations, events, and working groups in which they participate, but these are just the details. Instead, we will try to capture the leadership lessons the awardees have expressed and the transformations they have experienced in their own leadership learning.
2011
2011
Second Year - The Professor James W. Smith Leaders of Tomorrow Award
Winner: Nikita Desai
Runner-up: Bo Zhang
The winner of the Professor James W. Smith Leaders of Tomorrow Award is Nikita Desai. Nikita is passionate about serving others and making a difference. From reading Oliver Twist at 8 years old she was activated and, in time, came to have an understanding of the need for compassion and social justice.
The Runner-up is Bo Zhang. Bo is excited about basketball and sees in the game an opportunity to help others to be the best they can be. Everyone has a responsibility to be a leader for the success of the team.
Third Year - The Class of 5T9 Leaders of Tomorrow Award
Winner: Albert Huynh
Runner-up: Arjang Tajbakhsh, Stephane De Vuyst
The winner of the Class of 5T9 Leaders of Tomorrow Award is Albert Huynh. Albert sees leadership as the culmination of all the little things a person can do to make a difference in somebody else’s life. Push the boundaries of what you think you can do. Take a risk.
The Runners-up are Arjang Tajbakhsh and Stephane De Vuyst. Arjang sees leadership as not just coming from the top down. It is vital for people to push ideas up from the bottom and the middle, and for leaders at the top to respond by getting out of the way. Stephane says leadership is the ability to motivate a group of people to get a job done. Simple. Critical to doing this is knowing the people in the group and being responsive to the style with which they operate.
Fourth Year - The Troost Family Leaders of Tomorrow Award
Winners: Rosanna Kronfli, Saeed Kaddoura, Mercedeh Modir Shanechi, Nicolle Go
We had a very tough decision on this one. So, we got creative. The The Troost Family Leaders of Tomorrow Award will be shared by the four worthy finalists: Rosanna Kronfli, Saeed Kaddoura, Mercedeh Modir Shanechi, and Nicolle Go.
Rosanna said that through LOT she came to realize that leadership was not some special thing out there, but something that is for every day. She said that for her, LOT gave language to leadership. Saaed never saw himself as a leader and thought that leadership was about personality. He came to see that leadership is a learnable skill set. If his idea is not getting through to people, he says he needs to look inside and do his job better. Mercedeh came to realize that leadership is not someone telling you what to do, it is about empowering others and being a catalyst for action. Speaking of taking a risk, in her volunteer work at Bloorview Kids Rehab, she said she “had eight year-olds teach me a thing or two about bravery”. Nicolle recognizes that to imagine the future you must reflect on the past. She saw that leadership was not only done by the leader. She wrote: “It is time to now use the knowledge and skills I have attained over the last five years to make the Department proud.” They all make us proud.
2010
Second Year - The Professor James W. Smith Leaders of Tomorrow Award
Winner: Samoil Vohra
Third Year -The Class of 5T9 Leaders of Tomorrow Award
Winner: Kelly Bryck
Fourth Year - The Troost Family Leaders of Tomorrow Award
Winners: Murray Pinto, Angelina Tan
2009
Second Year - The Professor James W. Smith Leaders of Tomorrow Award
Winner: Parnian Jadidian
Runner-up: Sami Kahn
Third Year - The Class of 5T9 Leaders of Tomorrow Award
Winner: Mohan Pandit
2008
Second Year - The Professor James W. Smith Leaders of Tomorrow Award
Winner: Amanda Sistilli
Runner-up: Nicolle Go
Third Year - The Class of 5T9 Leaders of Tomorrow Award
Winner: Peter Maka
2007
Second Year - The Professor James W. Smith Leaders of Tomorrow Award
Winner: Jeffrey Castrucci
Third Year - The Class of 5T9 Leaders of Tomorrow Award
Winner: Liane Catalfo
2006
Second Year - The Professor James W. Smith Leaders of Tomorrow Award
Winner: Jennifer Sauks
Runner up: Kerolyn Shairsingh
Third Year - The Class of 5T9 Leaders of Tomorrow Award
Winner: Stephanie McTague
Runner-up: Mimi George