After several years of virtual award ceremonies due to pandemic restrictions, the University of Toronto once again celebrated recipients of its highest volunteer honour with a festive in-person reception.
Recipients of the 2023 Arbor Awards were honoured in January at the Carlu in Toronto, along with recipients from 2020, 2021, and 2022. The Arbor Awards are presented annually to alumni and friends who have generously given of their time to significantly support the university’s mission and add to the quality of the U of T experience.
“Our vibrant alumni community continued to show up for our students in myriad ways even as the pandemic turned everything upside down,” says EngSci director, Professor Natalie Enright Jerger. “Students benefit immensely from alumni interactions as they envision many successful paths following their EngSci education. We are so grateful for all the ways our alumni stay connected from student mentoring to serving on boards and committees to support our academic mission.”
EngSci’s 2023 recipients honoured at the event are:
Qian (Linda) Liu (EngSci 1T3+PEY)
A dedicated supporter of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, Liu has mentored many undergraduate students through the U of T Engineering Alumni Mentorship Program and through her involvement with several engineering courses. She has also served as an alumni assessor with the Faculty’s broad-based admissions process and with the Engineering Science Summer Research Opportunities Program.
Jeremy Wang (EngSci 1T7+PEY)
As chair of the strategic and technical advisory boards for the U of T Aerospace Team at the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, Wang has guided numerous engineering students working on satellites, rockets and other space systems. He also mentored two teams in the Entrepreneurship Hatchery’s NEST program, helping them develop their ideas toward commercialization, and has contributed his insights as a guest speaker in courses and at events.
In addition, EngSci’s 2020, 2021, and 2022 recipients honoured at the event are:
Naresh Bangia (EngSci 8T7)
Naresh is a passionate supporter of the Entrepreneurship Hatchery at the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. Since 2015, he has mentored startups, advised on pitching methodology, and volunteered as a judge at Hatchery Demo Day. As the former Hatchery Entrepreneur Mentor in Residence, he has shared his insights with hundreds of students.
Donald Cameron (EngSci 7T5)
Don has taught the Patent and Trade Secrets Law course at the Faculty of Law for over 25 years and surveys intellectual property courses at other law schools, to ensure that U of T’s intellectual property curriculum remains unmatched in Canada. Don has written widely on IP topics and has spoken frequently at the Faculty of Law’s annual Patent Colloquium since 2014.
Robert Cherniak (EngSci 7T1)
From 2014 to 2020, Bob was a passionate supporter of U of T student entrepreneurs in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering as a mentor and advisor in the Entrepreneurship Hatchery. His insights, including best methods for pitching, were gained as the founder of a successful software development firm. At U of T, Bob mentored eight student start-ups, helping them develop innovative ways to overcome significant hurdles. He also generously donated a book collection to the Hatchery suite.
James Courtney (EngSci 6T6)
Jim has been an enthusiastic and committed volunteer for Engineering since 2014, and has served in various key roles with the Committee for Skule Lunch and Learn, Alumni Reunion and Faculty Council. He also served as a member of the Hart House 100th Anniversary Advisory Committee.
Yuri Sagalov (EngSci 0T9)
Yuri served as co-chair of the Engineering Alumni Network’s Bay Area chapter for six years and continues to work closely with U of T’s Entrepreneurship Hatchery BizSkule through his engagement with panel discussions, competitions and seminars.
Christine Tovee (EngSci 9T3)
As an aerospace industry leader, Christine has delivered inspiring seminars to hundreds of students in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. Currently serving on the board of advisors for the Engineering Science program, she has also been a mentor with both the Entrepreneurship Hatchery and the Creative Destruction Lab’s space and blockchain streams.
Gary Vivian (EngPhys 5T9)
In Engineering’s Alumni Mentorship Program, Gary encourages his mentees to broaden their education through the lenses of psychology, creativity and our place in the cosmos via curiosity and multi-disciplinary thinking. He is passionate about career and life guidance, and enhancing campus mental-health resources.
Victor Xin (EngSci (0T9)
Victor has been a steadfast volunteer in Engineering’s alumni mentorship program for almost a decade, serving as chair of the program for the last four years, and working tirelessly to create programming to bring students and alumni together.
Read about all U of T Engineering recipients of the Arbor Awards.