Fifteen members of the U of T Engineering community are among the recipients of the 2024 Arbor Awards — the University of Toronto’s highest honour in recognition of exceptional and longstanding volunteer service.
“Volunteers are the foundation of our community, driving its success with their generosity and dedication. Their time and energy spark growth, build meaningful connections and open doors to new opportunities,” says Sonia De Buglio (ChemE 9T4, MASc 9T8), Director of Alumni Relations at U of T Engineering.
“These incredible alumni have dedicated their time to mentor students, assess university applications, host events to create community, sit on advisory boards and so much more.”
Established by U of T in 1989, the Arbor Awards are presented annually to alumni and friends whose loyalty, dedication and generosity have added substantially to the quality of the U of T experience.
Among the U of T Engineering recipients are Henry N. Cheung (EngSci 8T5) and Sarah W. Mak (IndE 8T6), who are founding members of the Engineering Alumni Association Hong Kong Chapter, and support alumni in the Hong Kong region through events, lectures and other outreach activities. Also recognized are alumni volunteers from the Iron Dragon team who coach students and promote personal growth through training and consultation.
“Simply put, our achievements wouldn’t be possible without them. They make a huge impact on the entire faculty, and it is an honour to celebrate them,” says De Buglio.
The 2024 U of T Engineering Arbor Award recipients are:
Marion E. Breukelman (GeoE 8T6)
Breukelman has played a key role in developing the Engineering Alumni Applicant Assessor program. Over the past eight years, she has continued to be a dedicated supporter, devoting countless hours to this alumni volunteer experience. Breukelman has also been instrumental in shaping the faculty’s admissions assessment process, providing her valuable insights on how this volunteer opportunity can be improved.
David N. Bowden (IndE 7T9)
Bowden is a long-standing champion of U of T who has served three terms on Governing Council as an Alumni Governor. His service on Council included membership on several boards and committees, including the Audit, Elections, Pension, and Planning and Budget committees. Bowden’s commitment to the wider community includes lending his expertise to the MaRS Discovery District.
Henry N. Cheung (EngSci 8T5)
Cheung is a steadfast champion of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, and the U of T Hong Kong alumni community. He is a founding member of the Engineering Alumni Association Hong Kong Chapter, and served as its president for four years, beginning in 2018. Specific contributions include delivering an online talk during the pandemic and serving as moderator for the Fireside Chat Career Series, hosted by the engineering alumni chapter.
Jacqueline V. Csonka-Peeren (EngSci 8T8, MASc MIE 9T2)
Csonka-Peeren is a champion of Engineering Science who has volunteered many times to judge student competitions. She also led a fundraising campaign to establish the 8T8 Engineering Science Scholarship, in recognition of the 35th reunion of her graduating class. To date, more than $75,000 has been raised for the endowed award, which supports summer research opportunities for one or more students each year.
Ernesto Díaz Lozano Patiño (CivMin 1T5 + PEY, MASc 1T8)
A deeply engaged student who became Engineering Society President, Díaz Lozano Patiño continues to be heavily involved as an alum. He currently completed a four-year term on the College of Electors. His ongoing contributions to U of T Engineering include returning to speak to civil engineering students and rallying his fellow graduates from the class of 1T5 to fund a new scholarship.
Mehran Hydary (ElecE 1T5)
Hydary believes in actively giving back to the engineering community and to the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. He shared his leadership perspectives at the Skule Lunch & Learn, and BizSkule Speaker series where he discussed cryptocurrency. Most recently, he sat on the Engineering Alumni Network board, and chaired the Alumni Engagement subcommittee, which is building out a global ambassador program.
Iron Dragon Alumni Volunteers: Desmond H. Chan (CivMin 1T4), Hannah L. Fletcher (IndE 2T1), Michael Lucky (MechE 1T6), Yca T. Meriel (MSE 1T9), Courtney Siu (BA ‘19)
The Iron Dragon team is one of the top university dragon boat programs in the country, providing access to high-performance athletics for the U of T community. The team’s experienced coaches accommodate people new to the sport as well as those with years of experience, promoting personal growth through individual training and consultation.
Sarah W. Mak (IndE 8T6)
Mak is one of the founding members of the Engineering Alumni Association Hong Kong Chapter, which launched in 2014. She continues to take an active leadership role with the association by helping with the planning, promotion and execution of all chapter events, as well as with administration. Mak is also co-leading the planning and rollout of a quarterly Fireside Chat series.
Salvatore (Sam) Mantenuto (ElecE 8T0)
Mantenuto is a passionate supporter of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. As a member of Faculty Council, he generously offers his time and advice, fostering strong connections within the community and industry. Meanwhile, as Chair of the Electrical & Computer Engineering Industry Advisory Board, Mantenuto provides strategic advice and actively makes introductions to new donors and industry partners.
Herman M. H. Ng (EngSci 0T5)
Ng is an enthusiastic, longtime supporter of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. As an executive in data analytics, he has generously shared his expertise with students since 2007 as a mentor and guest speaker. His other roles include co-chair of a bootcamp on machine intelligence for fellow alumni, and serving as a career and recruitment ambassador for U of T Engineering and the Rotman School of Management.
Maithili Mavinkurve Thambinayagam (CompE 0T3)
Thambinayagam has inspired the next generation of engineering leaders as a committed volunteer at U of T Engineering. She has participated in various panels related to entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence and data, and has provided mentorship, advice and inspiration to female students in The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering. She also generously shared her thoughts as a Convocation Speaker in 2022.
See the full listing of the 2024 Arbor Award recipients.
