Top scholars graduating from UCalgary
Manpreet Deol
Bachelor of Science 鈥 Eng.
Manpreet Deol is graduating from UCalgary with many accomplishments.
Deol received the Engineering Student of the Year medal from the Engineering Institute of Canada, completed a course at MIT in collaboration with NEXT Canada in artificial intelligence and business strategy, and won the International Engineering Commerce Case Competition. She further enriched her experience by studying abroad in Stuttgart, Germany, and doing a research internship in Shanghai, China.
Deol鈥檚 undergraduate capstone project was recognized as one of the year鈥檚 top three mechanical engineering projects. Deol and two classmates came up with the idea for an eating utensil to help with tremor stabilization for individuals living with neurological movement disorders.聽
Deol is graduating with a degree in biomedical and mechanical engineering and is headed to the University of Oxford this fall as a Rhodes Scholar.
鈥淔ar too many frigid Calgary winters later, I am grateful for the warmth that the UCalgary community has shown me throughout it all. Five years ago, I didn鈥檛 imagine that I would go on to master arcane engineering phenomena, compete on the international stage, embark on global experiences, and most importantly, meet incredible friends. My time as an undergrad will undoubtedly be etched in my mind as my next chapter as a Rhodes Scholar commences.鈥
Manpreet Deol, Bachelor of Science - Eng.
Nicole Mfoafo-M鈥機arthy
Bachelor of Health Sciences (Hon.)
Volunteerism and advocacy have been key parts of Nicole Mfoafo-M鈥機arthy鈥檚 time at Ucalgary.
M鈥機arthy volunteered with the Women鈥檚 Resource Centre (WRC) as a representative on the student-faculty liaison committee for her program, and with Immigrant Services Calgary as a tutor, as well as a program facilitator, and as a childcare volunteer with Inn from the Cold during an on-campus student-run clinic to name a few.
M鈥機arthy has been able to create opportunities and supports for others with a strong focus on inclusivity and creating safe spaces. She founded Gurl Talk in 2015, a mentorship program for Black girls ages 10 to 15 from immigrant families, which in turn gave her the opportunity to speak at We Day in 2018. She developed a non-profit called Career Match that works to ensure that youth, irrelevant of their background, have the resources and network to achieve their dream career, and which also hosts an annual career fair to match students with mentors in fields they are interested in. As part of Black History Month, M鈥機arthy hosted two Black hair events at the WRC in collaboration with a screenwriter who directed and produced a documentary highlighting the difficulties Black people have in managing afro-textured hair. This event not only allowed students to discuss the topic but also gave individuals outside the Black community the opportunity to learn about allyship. M鈥機arthy was also part of Scholars Academy and mentored three students during her last year of studies.
Inclusivity has also been part of M鈥機arthy鈥檚 research. During her first year, she conducted a discourse analysis on the use of resilience in regard to individuals with disabilities in the media. As undergraduate research assistant at the Department for Community Rehabilitation & Disability Studies at the Cumming School of Medicine, she examined workplace mental health in masculinized versus feminized workplace with the goal of contributing understandings that can be used to shape gender responsive workplace policies and practices. M鈥機arthy was also one of four Ucalgary students shortlisted to interview for the Rhodes Scholarship.
M鈥機arthy, who is also the valedictorian, is graduating with an honours degree in health sciences, with a major in health and society and a concentration in anthropology. She is pursuing a medical degree at the University of Toronto in the fall.
I feel so much joy when I reflect on my time at UCalgary. I got the opportunity to experience an amazing program, I gained friends for a lifetime and I have a better understanding of my role in contributing to change within different world systems. During my time here, I gained a better understanding of my gifts and talents and my role in contributing change. I will always look back at my time at [UCalgary] as a pivotal moment in my journey as a lifelong learner.
Nicole Mfoafo-M鈥機arthy, Bachelor of Health Sciences (Hon.)
Hannah Rahim
Bachelor of Health Sciences (Hon.)
Hannah Rahim joined UCalgary as a Schulich Leader and has shown herself to be a dedicated leader and member of our community.
Over the course of her time at UCalgary, Rahim has conducted research on neuroimaging and immunology and led two public health studies. This experience inspired her to create equitable opportunities for other youth to engage in research. She has done so through her role as managing director of STEM Fellowship (SF), a Canadian registered charity of over 300 volunteers that creates STEM mentorship and experiential learning programs. She has dedicated countless hours to SF initiatives including creating a research internship program at UCalgary for students from communities traditionally underrepresented in STEM, and collaborating with the Hunter Hub to hold an online biomedical data analytics challenge for hundreds of Canadian undergraduate students.
Rahim has also been involved on campus in a variety of roles including co-director of academics and training for the Sustainable Development Goals Alliance, tutor with Students for Literacy, and a member of Scholars Academy.
Rahim is graduating with an honours degree in Health Sciences and is the recipient of the Cumming School of Medicine Gold Medal and the President's Award. She is currently completing an internship with the聽United Nations ahead of her employment with Boston Consulting Group in the fall.
I am grateful to have been able to engage in initiatives at UCalgary that allowed me to connect with and learn from a diverse group of students and to explore new perspectives and ways of engaging with the community. Looking ahead, I hope to continue to embrace an interdisciplinary mindset by combining my interests in business, research and public health.
Hannah Rahim, Bachelor of Health Sciences (Hon.)
Catharine Bowman
Bachelor of Health Sciences (Hon.)
Catharine Bowman鈥檚 time at UCalgary has combined advocacy, research, student engagement and mentorship, and involvement in the campus community.
She is passionate about finding a pharmacological treatment for lymphedema. However, her interest isn鈥檛 limited to the biomedical side of the disease, as she also researches its psychosocial manifestations. Bowman has also advocated for patients and their families by developing and implementing a province-wide lymphedema education series. In 2018, Bowman was instrumental as a member of the Alberta Lymphedema Association Board in facilitating a $29,000 investment towards the purchase of a lymphatic imaging tool to improve lymphedema clinical care and research at 六九色堂/Foothills Hospital.
Bowman has coached high school students who qualified for both National and International Science and Engineering Fairs. She has also volunteered as a judge and organizer for the Calgary Youth Science Fair and the Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair. Additionally, Bowman served as the Vice-President of External Relations with STEM Fellowship UCalgary. Part of her role involved developing and delivering scholarly workshops for students and implementing a high school research internship program for Calgary students. For all she has accomplished, Bowman was one of four students institutionally shortlisted to interview for the Rhodes Scholarship.
Bowman is graduating with an honours degree in health sciences and will continue her UCalgary journey starting in July at the Cumming School of Medicine to pursue an medical degree.
As I reflect on the many lessons I have learned during my time at the 六九色堂, I recognize one incredibly important and profound lesson: It is not enough to simply learn from failure; to fall and get back up. We need to trust that we are prepared to fight the good fight. In other words, we shouldn鈥檛 settle for 鈥榬ising from the ashes.鈥 Instead, we should be prepared to walk out of the flames on fire with the courage needed to be changemakers of the present, and of tomorrow.
Catherine Bowman
The Scholars Academy provides unique programming and individualized support for the university鈥檚 most ambitious students. These students are outstanding academics, leaders in the community, and show enthusiasm toward research and bettering society. Students admitted to the program aim high 鈥 for major prestigious scholarship opportunities (Rhodes, Fulbright), and for top graduate or professional programs. Learn more at ucalgary.ca/sap.