On April 1, U of T Engineering students were recognized for their outstanding leadership and service at a celebration hosted by the U of T Engineering Office of Advancement, the Engineering Society (EngSoc), and the offices of the Vice-Dean Undergraduate and Vice-Dean Graduate.
The annual event honours student leaders who dedicate their time to enhancing the engineering student experience — whether through clubs and design teams, conferences, mentoring, school leadership, outreach initiatives or community-building events.
Their collective efforts strengthen academic support, promote mental wellness and inclusion and help sustain a vibrant Skule™ community.
This year, 18 students received the prestigious University of Toronto Student Leadership Awards (UTSLA). Established in 1994 by the University of Toronto Alumni Association in honour of Gordon Cressy, former vice-president, development and university relations, the awards recognize students whose volunteer service has made a meaningful and lasting impact on their peers and the university.
Also at the event, members of EngSoc and the Graduate Engineering Council of Students (GECoS) celebrated their outgoing student leaders, and recognized the contributions made to student life with the EngSoc Awards.
“Student leaders are so important to the U of T Engineering experience,” says Chris Yip, Dean of U of T Engineering.
“Their dedication powers the clubs, teams and co-curricular activities where students connect with their peers in pursuit of their passions. These experiences spark life-long friendships, as well as innovative new ideas that lead to new technologies, products and business ventures.”
“We are so proud of our student leaders who have stepped up to enhance the educational experience, not only for themselves, but for those who will come after,” says Julie Audet, Vice Dean, Graduate.
“We know they will continue this work even after graduation, acting as key nodes in our vibrant, global network of more than 60,000 alumni.”
The UTSLA recipients for 2026 are:
- Mai Ali
- Lauren Altomare
- Zeineb Ben Rejeb
- Ruonan Cao
- Matthew Du
- Olivia Fredrickson
- Vedant Gupta
- Kenneth Hilton
- Ava Jakob
- Harvi Karatha
- Shaba Khan
- Lincoln Macdonald
- Ainsley Ross-Howe
- Sharini Sam Chee
- Tess Seip
- Aryan Singh
- Kenneth Sulimro
- Michelle Sun
Outgoing EngSoc Leadership
- Kenneth Lloyd Hilton, President
- Kenneth Sulimro, Vice-President of Finance
- Ethan Mao, Vice-President of Communications
- Jim Xu, Vice-President of Academics
- Shosh Lebo, Vice-President of Student Life
Outgoing GECoS Leadership
- Sharini Sam Chee, Co-President
- Aryan Singh, Co-President
- Chaitanya Ahuja, Vice President of Finance
- Anna Nguyen, Vice President of Communications
- Mymoon Bhuiyan, Vice President of Student Life
- Uyen Hua, Vice President of Professional Development
EngSoc Award Winners
- Engineering Society Centennial Award: Ammar Hasham and Ryan Hammer
- Engineering Society Semi-Centennial Award: Justin Fang
- Engineering Society Award: Kenneth Lloyd Hilton
- Skule™ Cannon Award: Shosh Lebo
- Discipline Club of the Year: Indy Club
- Affiliated Club of the Year: University of Toronto Nuclear Energy Association
- Director of the Year: Christina Pizzonia (Cannon Editor), Michael Atkinson (Design Team Association Director), Justin Fang (Hi-SkuleTM Director)
- Representative of the Year: Firdaus Ansari and Justin Fang
- Joe Club Award: Hayden Groer
- L.E. Jones Award for Arts in Engineering: Liam Krestow
- Valedictorian: Abdullah Fawzy
