June 18, 2009

Fourth-Year EngSci student David Ruggerio has been selected as one of three recipients graduating from U of T with a bachelor’s degree for the 2009 Governor General’s Silver Medal Award. The medal is awarded for academic excellence.

Since 1997, the medal has been awarded to 12 Engineering students. Last year’s recipient, Adam Kirsh, was a CivE student. 

Lord Dufferin, Canada’s third Governor General after Confederation, created the Academic Medals in 1873 to encourage academic excellence across the nation. Over the years, they have become the most prestigious award that students in Canadian schools can receive.

For more than 125 years, the Governor General’s Academic Medals have recognized the outstanding scholastic achievements of students in Canada. They are awarded to the student graduating with the highest average from a high school, as well as from approved college or university programs. Pierre Trudeau, Tommy Douglas, Kim Campbell, Robert Bourassa, Robert Stanfield and Gabrielle Roy are just some of the more than 50,000 people who have received the Governor General’s Academic Medal as the start of a life of accomplishment.

Today, the Governor General’s Academic Medals are awarded at four distinct levels: Bronze at the secondary school level; Collegiate Bronze at the post-secondary, diploma level; Silver at the undergraduate level; and Gold at the graduate level. Medals are presented on behalf of the Governor General by participating educational institutions, along with personalized certificates signed by the Governor General. There is no monetary award associated with the Medal.

Q & A | David Ruggerio | Engineering Science – Infrastructure Option, Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Science

1. Can you tell us a little bit about this award and why it’s important to its recipients?

All undergraduate students at the University of Toronto are eligible for the award. A total of 3 silver medals are awarded each year at U of T, and they are awarded based cumulative GPA. It’s a great honour to be recognized not only among my classmates in Engineering, but within the entire university; I know that my fellow undergraduates are of the highest calibre, which makes the award all the more significant.  

2. Why did you decide to take Engineering at U of T?

I’ve always been fascinated by the structures around us, and after originally planning to study architecture, I realized that I was more attracted by the science of how buildings stand up. U of T seemed a natural choice as the best place to study Structural Engineering. I chose Engineering Science specifically for the Infrastructure Option (as opposed to going into Civil Engineering) because I liked the idea of a challenge, as well as the interdisciplinary nature of EngSci. Additionally, my parents are both Engineering Science graduates themselves, so they provided encouragement.

3. Relevant educational/work/research background. Did you participate in any Skule™ programs?

After my first year at U of T, I received an ESROP bursary to do summer research with Professor Evan Bentz of Civil Engineering. My work was focused on developing a new nonlinear finite element formulation for reinforced concrete structures; essentially, we developed a more computationally feasible way to analyze large concrete structures. I was awarded an NSERC research grant the next summer and continued the project with Professor Bentz.

I did participate in PEY. My work term was spent at Halsall Associates Ltd., an Engineering consulting firm in Toronto. I worked in the Structures department. During my time at Halsall, I helped perform structural analysis and design of several large structures (a new hospital, a new university building, a community centre, and a winery, to name a few), and contributed to research initiatives in the company; this included devising new procedures for the use of Engineering software, creating spreadsheets for office use, and performing some computer programming tasks when required.

Outside of academic life, I have been involved with various extracurricular activities within the Skule™ community. I have been a member of the Skule™ Engineering Stage Band since 2004, a member of the Skule™ Nite orchestra since 2007, and a member of the Concrete Canoe Team since 2005.

4. Future plans

I deliberated a bit about this one, but I have decided to pursue a PhD at U of T, in the Department of Civil Engineering under supervision of Professor Bentz and University Professor M.P. Collins. If all goes according to plan, I will also eventually take a yearlong master’s program at the ROSE School in Pavia, Italy.

I’m trying to remain involved in Skule™ activities in the coming year; I will be the musical director for Skule™ Nite, and an officer on the planning committee for the 2010 Canadian National Concrete Canoe Competition (which will be held in Toronto).

5. Last words?

I’m very grateful to my friends and family for their constant support.