![]() |
Alyssa Georgescu
Alyssa Georgescu is graduating with Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour (PNB), alongside an interdisciplinary minor in community engagement and a concurrent certificate in rehabilitation sciences. Having served as Psynapse’s Editor-In-Chief, Alyssa showcased her leadership within McMaster’s Undergraduate Journal of PNB. She also dedicated herself as a student ambassador for McMaster’s Office of Community Engagement for the past 2.5 years, underscoring her commitment to fostering academic discourse and community involvement. Throughout her undergraduate journey, she has held various mentorship roles to support incoming students with their transition from high school to university. Throughout her undergraduate journey, Alyssa actively contributed to clinical and educational research, spanning various domains within clinical psychology. This summer, she continues her research at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton’s Women’s Health Concerns Clinic and will present her thesis findings at several conferences. With a passion for mental health advocacy, Alyssa aims to pursue higher education in clinical psychology, aspiring to make impactful contributions to mental health research and practice. |
![]() |
Srishti Sharma
Srishti Sharma is interested in the intersection of science, mentorship, and community engagement. Her contributions to McMaster University are multifaceted; she has been a dedicated mentor with Women in STEM, a campus tour guide, a Faculty of Science ambassador, and a community advisor. Through her supportive approach to mentorship, she has helped foster a positive and encouraging environment within the McMaster community, significantly enhancing the university experience for many students. Her research efforts have focused on addressing healthcare challenges, showcasing her commitment to impactful and practical solutions. This work will contribute valuable insights to the medical community and directly improve patient care practices. Srishti’s entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to student life have made her a key figure in fostering a supportive and dynamic campus community, inspiring peers to engage actively and meaningfully in their academic and extracurricular pursuits. Srishti completed her Honours Life Sciences degree at McMaster and will be returning to pursue a Master’s degree in Global Health.
|
![]() |
Elise Shupe
Elise Shupe is a McMaster Kinesiology student who is passionate about harnessing the power of sport and recreation to promote connections and overall well-being. As an athlete for the McMaster swim team as well as the water polo team, Elise served on the women’s athletic leadership council, helping to plan and execute events to promote women’s involvement in sports. Heavily involved in the aquatics community, Elise was the student aquatics coordinator for the McMaster pool and helped to facilitate all programming and special events. Within the greater Hamilton community, Elise is a coach for the Dundas Seahawks – a Special Olympics swim team with over 20 athletes. She has been involved with the Kinesiology community and has served as a welcome week representative for 3 years of her undergraduate career. She has also been involved in research in the Vascular Dynamics Lab, which explores how various stimuli, including exercise, affect peripheral artery function. .
|
![]() |
President’s Award of Excellence in Student Leadership: Luca Bernardini
Luca maintained academic excellence throughout his four years at McMaster graduating Summa Cum Laude and achieving Provost Honour Roll in his final year. While academics have been a focal point, Luca’s most significant impact to McMaster was by serving as the McMaster Science Society (MSS) President for the past two years. His passion for student leadership, creating equitable experiences for students, and advocating for their needs have driven his dedication to the role. He worked alongside his team to build a vision that promoted interdisciplinary collaboration while developing strategic plans to increase digital and in-person engagement, which have now risen beyond pre-pandemic levels. Other priorities of sustainability and mental health advocacy are highlighted by Luca’s role as the co-director of ReCoat, and involvement with Jack.org. Luca is now entering into McMaster’s Master’s Program in Global Health (M.Sc.) to apply his passions in leadership to the subject of global healthcare. |
![]() |
President’s Award of Excellence in Student Leadership: Julia Tikhonov
Throughout her undergraduate journey, Julia Tikhonov consistently demonstrated a dedication to leadership, mentorship, volunteerism, and community engagement. Within the Faculty of Science, she served as a Science Student Ambassador, Student Mentor, Welcome Week Representative Executive, and Teaching Assistant. Through these positions, she profoundly impacted many incoming and current science students, offering them invaluable guidance and support. Beyond her faculty commitments, Julia volunteered at the Student Health Education Centre, providing essential health resources and peer support to many students. Additionally, she served as a Student Volunteer at the Physical Activity Centre of Excellence, where she played a pivotal role in aiding individuals with disabilities on their rehabilitation journeys. Her passion for community service extended to her role as Co-Chair of the McMaster Child Health Conference, where she played a crucial role in organizing an impactful discussion on children’s mental health and media. Engaging further with the Hamilton community, Julia participated in community-engaged learning through the McMaster Child & Youth University, where she had the opportunity to create and facilitate a children’s workshop on financial literacy for elementary school students. |
![]() |
President’s Award for Oustanding Contributions to Teaching and Learning: Nikol Piskuric
Dr. Nikol Piskuric is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour. As her colleagues attest, Dr. Piskuric is “an exceptional teacher, utterly devoted to her students, their learning, and their university experience. She is also a generous mentor to countless junior teaching faculty members, providing feedback on their teaching and sharing opportunities to grow and connect with communities of practice. She is a fierce champion for the Faculty of Science on both internal committees and at events aimed at recruiting, supporting, and celebrating our incredible students.” Dr. Piskuric has championed experiential and community-engaged teaching methods, inspiring her peers to follow suit using her courses and assignments as a model. She has also demonstrated her commitment to continuously improving in her teaching practice, soliciting and applying feedback from students and her peers, engaging in professional development activities, and conducting research on teaching and learning. The impact of this self-reflection and growth mindset is clear: Dr. Piskuric has been recognized by the McMaster Student Union and the Ontario University Student Alliance for her teaching excellence and effectiveness. A former student writes: “Her commitment to transdisciplinary teaching methods, compassion towards her students, and ability to weave engrossing narratives throughout her course materials make her an exceptional educator and leader in the PNB community. I am immensely grateful for the impact she has had on my education and personal growth. |
![]() |
Alyssa Ciampa
Alyssa Ciampa, a graduating student from McMaster Life Science (B.Sc), is grateful and honored to be named as a recipient of this award. She is looking forward to entering the next chapter of her academic journey at the University of Toronto for her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree (DDS). Alyssa extends deep thanks to her mom, dad, brother, and the friends who have supported her along this journey, including one who is on stage with her today and another who deserves to be there just as much. The field of Life Sciences is incredibly exciting and dynamic, offering endless opportunities to explore the fundamental processes that govern the world. Alyssa is captivated by its profound impact on human health and its potential to drive medical advancements. Her studies have allowed her to delve into the intricate mechanisms of biology, from the molecular level to entire ecosystems. She particularly enjoys studying human physiology and chemistry, as these areas provide critical insights into how our bodies function and how we can combat diseases. The interdisciplinary nature of Life Sciences fosters collaboration across various domains, integrating knowledge from genetics, biochemistry, and environmental science. This comprehensive understanding is essential for developing innovative treatments and improving healthcare outcomes. As Alyssa prepares to enter the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry, she is excited to apply her Life Sciences background to clinical practice, directly contributing to enhancing patient care and advancing dental health. |
![]() |
Sara Araz
Alyssa Ciampa, a graduating student from McMaster Life Science (B.Sc), is grateful and honored to be named as a recipient of this award. She is looking forward to entering the next chapter of her academic journey at the University of Toronto for her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree (DDS). Alyssa extends deep thanks to her mom, dad, brother, and the friends who have supported her along this journey, including one who is on stage with her today and another who deserves to be there just as much. The field of Life Sciences is incredibly exciting and dynamic, offering endless opportunities to explore the fundamental processes that govern the world. Alyssa is captivated by its profound impact on human health and its potential to drive medical advancements. Her studies have allowed her to delve into the intricate mechanisms of biology, from the molecular level to entire ecosystems. She particularly enjoys studying human physiology and chemistry, as these areas provide critical insights into how our bodies function and how we can combat diseases. The interdisciplinary nature of Life Sciences fosters collaboration across various domains, integrating knowledge from genetics, biochemistry, and environmental science. This comprehensive understanding is essential for developing innovative treatments and improving healthcare outcomes. As Alyssa prepares to enter the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry, she is excited to apply her Life Sciences background to clinical practice, directly contributing to enhancing patient care and advancing dental health. |
![]() |
Angela Bilic
Angela Bilic has made it her mission to amplify student voices and increase means of accessibility within the McMaster community. She is passionate about integrating student needs within all aspects of wellness and academics. As the Service Coordinator of MSU Macademics, Angela has highlighted a commitment to the recognition of excellence in education by spearheading initiatives which include the annual Student Recognition Awards and the Teaching Awards Ceremony. Angela’s dedication to strong advocacy for inclusive practice was at a forefront throughout her role as president of the McMaster Plastic Surgery and Cosmetic Nursing Society where she has worked to dismantle the persisting societal stigmas within the field. Angela has also been an avid member of McMaster Women in STEM, undertaking the role of mentor for incoming McMaster students. Aside from multiple published research papers in the field of Rehabilitation Science, Angela has also volunteered as a journalist for the McMaster Tackling MisInformation club where she has promoted awareness upon, often misunderstood, scientific topics of interest. Angela holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree and will be pursuing a Master’s degree within the Medical Science program at McMaster University. This summer, Angela is working at the Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute where she is dedicated to forwarding the field of sepsis research. |
![]() |
Catherine McKenna
The Honourable Catherine McKenna grew up in Hamilton, completed her BA in international relations and French at the University of Toronto and earned a graduate degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science followed by a law degree at McGill University. She joined the law firm Stikeman Elliott where she became senior counsel in competition and trade law. She left private practice in 2005 to co-found and serve as executive director of Level Justice, a charitable organization that empowered Indigenous youth and provides law students with internships in social justice fields. She was also executive director of the Banff Forum, taught at the Munk School of Global Affairs, served on the board of the Trudeau Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies and was a legal adviser for the United Nations in East Timor and Indonesia. In 2015, Ms. McKenna was elected in Ottawa-Centre, becoming the riding’s first female Member of Parliament. She was re-elected in 2019 and also created the Run Like A Girl campaign to support girls and young women with aspirations in politics. She became Minister of Environment and Climate Change in 2015. During her four years in that post, she was a lead negotiator of the Paris Agreement, was instrumental in amending the Montréal Protocol, guided the adoption of the Kigali Amendment, helped double the number of protected natural areas in Canada and launched the Indigenous Guardians Pilot Program. In recognition of these achievements and others, Ms. McKenna was the Climate & Clean Air Coalition’s Climate and Clean Air Awards Honoree in 2018. |
![]() |
Dr. Marcy McCall MacBain
Dr. Marcy McCall MacBain is a Founder, Director and the Vice-Chair of the McCall MacBain Foundation. Originally from Huron County, Ontario, Dr. McCall MacBain earned a BKin (Hons) from McMaster University. She worked as a rehabilitation specialist in acquired brain injuries before completing an MSc in International Health Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She then went on to complete her DPhil in Evidence-Based Health Care at the University of Oxford, where she retains an academic affiliation with the Centre for Evidence-based Medicine and the Department of Primary Care Health Sciences. In 2007, Dr. McCall MacBain, together with her husband, Mr. John McCall MacBain, established the McCall MacBain Foundation. The Foundation focuses on initiatives in education, climate change, youth wellbeing and mental health. Marcy and the Foundation make it a priority to provide opportunities for Canadians and students abroad to develop stronger intercultural competencies, for them to take meaningful risks, and to provide programming that accelerates positive leadership. At McMaster, they launched the McCall MacBain International Fellowships in 2018 and the McCall MacBain Postdoctoral Fellows Teaching and Leadership Program in 2019. Also In 2019, the Foundation created the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill, Canada’s first comprehensive, leadership-driven scholarships for master’s and professional degree studies. Dr. McCall MacBain is a founder and the Chair of this scholarship program. Her previous honours include an honorary doctorate from the University of Melbourne Australia, the Bynum Tudor Fellowship at Kellogg College Oxford, and the McMaster Alumni Gallery Award. |
![]() |
Dr. Louise Burke
Louise Burke is a sports dietitian with 40 years of experience educating and counselling elite athletes. Educated at Deakin University in Australia, Dr. Burke established her international reputation during her three-decade career at the legendary Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) where she was head of sports nutrition and then chief of nutrition strategy. She was the head team dietitian for the Australian Olympic teams at the Summer Olympic Games from 1996 to 2012. As a researcher, Dr. Burke, who is an editor of the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, has published more than 350 papers in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters while also authoring or editing several textbooks on sports nutrition. Fourteen of her papers have been cited more than 500 times each, making her the most-published sports nutrition dietitian ever. |
The new verifiable McMaster University e-Diploma is here! On Wednesday, June 19, 2024, spring 2024 graduates will be the first McMaster graduates who can access their new e-Diploma.
Why would you want to download your verifiable McMaster University e-Diploma?
- Instant access
Your diploma is just a click away! You can access and share your credentials anytime, anywhere. Whether you’re at home or on the go, your diploma is always within reach.
- Instant verification
Verifying the authenticity of your qualifications is a breeze. Recruiters, academic institutions, and other interested parties can confirm your achievements online in seconds.
CHECK OUT WHAT’S GOING ON!
![](https://registrar.mcmaster.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Copy-of-Copy-of-Your-guide-to-full-time-OSAP-1.png)
Guide to AwardSpring – Your scholarship and bursary platform
What is AwardSpring? The AwardSpring platform is where McMaster students go to find and apply for internal scholarship and bursary...
![](https://registrar.mcmaster.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/OSAP-Webinar-Email-Header-YouTube-Thumbnail-1-1-768x432.png)
Webinar: Help applying for OSAP
Join Student Services for an online webinar that offers new students and their families, information and guidance on how to...
![](https://registrar.mcmaster.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/OSAP-Applying-768x455.png)
Intro to OSAP
View our video tutorial above for the common practices on applying to OSAP. To calculate your course load, you can...
![](https://registrar.mcmaster.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/OSAP-Extension-Form-768x455.png)
How to complete and submit the OSAP Extension Form
View our video tutorial above on how to complete and submit the OSAP Extension Form. Please note: A fully completed...