March 20, 2025 by
Alyx Dellamonica
The Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Chemistry Department is proud to celebrate the achievements of 27 different students who will be the recipients of 19 different awards for the 2023/24 academic year.
Each year a subcommittee of the departmental Undergraduate Studies Committee (USC) adjudicates the awards, made to Chemistry program students who have demonstrated high academic achievement, as well as deep interest in the study of chemistry. The committee members this year were:
- Andy Dicks (Professor, Teaching Stream & Chair, Undergraduate Studies Committee
- Nicole Treston (Undergraduate Counselor)
- Madeline Gerbig (Departmental Librarian)
- John De Backere (Professor).
“I am very grateful to the professors, staff, and students in the Department of Chemistry for the opportunities they have given me to learn, grow, and develop skills that are reflected in these awards," Sara Ziadat, one of the student awardees. "Their support continues to motivate me to work hard in my courses, research, and leadership roles, and has inspired me to pursue graduate studies in the future. As an executive in the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Student Union (PCSU), I hope I have contributed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for other chemistry students!”
"The USC is very proud to announce the following recipients for the past academic year," said Prof. Dicks. "Many congratulations to everybody!"
| Student Recipients | Award Name | Description of Award |
|---|---|---|
| Jitian Chen | Robert and Jean Hadgraft Scholarship in Chemistry | Specialist in Chemistry, entering fourth year and demonstrating financial need. |
| Patricia Stewart | Xerox Research Centre of Canada Undergraduate Scholarship in Chemistry | Student achieving excellence in CHM 499Y (Introduction to Research in Chemistry) and demonstrating financial need. |
| Ethan Safaei | David L. Coffen Memorial Scholarship in Organic Chemistry | Highest average in 3rd year organic chemistry courses, enrolled in CHM 440H (Synthesis of Modern Pharmaceutical Agents) in Fall 2024 and demonstrating financial need. |
| Zirui Chen, Olivia Allen | The David McLaren Scholarship in Chemistry | Third year student in Chemistry Specialist or Biological Chemistry Specialist program. |
| Kevin Yan | The F. E. Beamish Scholarship in Chemistry | Student completing third year studies having taken a minimum of three 300+-level Chemistry courses. |
| Vincent Xia (first year); Yi Ming Chen, Alistair Platt, Haozhe Zhu, David Sanjaya (second year); Nishaant Jacobus, Sara Ziadat, Jelena Golijanin, Leonard Chen (third year) |
Sarah Cusick Gollop and William George Gollop Memorial Scholarships in Chemistry | Specialist in Chemistry having completed first, second year or third year studies. |
| Florence Ho, Chloe Taylor | The Dorothy Whiting Scholarships in Chemistry | Student completing second year or third year of studies in Biological Chemistry Specialist program. |
| Arko Sarkar | The Henry Myron Marshack Memorial Prize in Chemistry or in Physics and Chemistry | Student completing second year of studies having taken at least three full course equivalents in Chemistry or Chemistry and Physics during second year. |
| Arko Sarkar | The Edward Blake Scholarship in Science | Student completing second year of studies having taken at least three full course equivalents in Chemistry or Chemistry and Physics during second year. |
| Benjamin Rochwerg | The Frank B. Kenrick Scholarship in Chemistry | Student completing third year of studies in Chemistry Specialist or Chemical Physics Specialist program. |
| Guanqi Huang | The Ivan Szak Scholarship (graduating) | Student graduating from a Specialist in Chemistry program. |
| Lea Goutal, Jitian Chen | The Ivan Szak Scholarship (in class) | Student completing third year of studies in a Chemistry Specialist or Chemical Physics specialist program. |
| Martina Lauerova, Chloe Wong, Juliana Matthews | The L. V. Redman Prize in Chemistry | Student completing a 100-level Chemistry course or courses and entering a Chemistry program. |
| Raffaele Dengler | Daniel Wilson Award in Science | Student completing third year of studies in any Chemistry program (specialist, major or minor). |
| Patricia Stewart | The University of Toronto Chemistry Club Prize in Chemistry | Student receiving the highest grade in CHM 499Y (Introduction to Research in Chemistry) during the 2023/24 academic year. |
| Sara Ziadat | David H. Farrar Undergraduate Scholarship in Chemistry | Awarded to an undergraduate in the Department of Chemistry who has distinguished themselves both academically and for their leadership and contribution to the life of the University through student governance, community service or volunteer work. |
| Eun Seo Choi, Patricia Stewart | Royal Society of Chemistry Undergraduate Excellence Award | Presented to a graduating student within the top 5-10% of their class in subject-specific and overall coursework who participates and excels in undergraduate research projects, takes on leadership roles in their department and community, and persevered in their program despite facing significant challenges. |
| Jitian Chen | Chemical Institute of Canada Toronto Section Silver Medal | Presented to the top student entering their final year of a chemical science-related program. |
| Anastasia Leshchik | Chemical Institute of Canada Toronto Section Book Prize | Presented to one student who has demonstrated significant academic improvement over the course of an undergraduate chemistry program. |
| Awardee TBA | Marlene and Erich G. Polzin Scholarship in Chemistry | Awarded to one or more Black or Indigenous (Aboriginal, First Nations, Inuit and Métis) students in the Department of Chemistry on the basis of academic merit and/or financial need. |
The awards will be presented in the Department of Chemistry's annual awards ceremony on May 27th, 2025. Everyone at the department offers their warmest congratulations to all of the recipients.