IODE Ontario Lois Laughren Award for Women in STEM
The IODE Ontario Lois Laughren Award for Women in STEM has donated $25,000 that was matched through Ryerson University’s PACE (President’s Awards to Champion Excellence) fund, giving a total of $50,000. The Award is offered to five women at $2,000 each ($10,000 annually) for a period of 5 years.
The Ryerson University chose the following recipients for the first STEM awards in September 2019:
- Tehreem Mahmood, Chemistry, Faculty of Science
- Sheila Mehvar, Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Architectural Science
- Fernanda Ortega, Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Architectural Science
- Cassidy Rose, Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Architectural Science
- Mihal Shalamov, Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science
Tehreem Mahmood, Chemistry, Faculty of Science
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My name is Tehreem and I am a fourth-year undergraduate student in the Chemistry Program at Ryerson. My home is in Etobicoke North and my main goal is to empower young girls and women who have domestic problems or restrictions for attending a post-secondary institute. I have been a mentor, a tutor and a friend to a number of people who needed my help. Furthermore, I have worked tirelessly to keep my grades up and have managed to stay on the Dean’s List for three years consecutively.
I chose Ryerson because it portrays success and development right in the middle of downtown Toronto. Within these four years, I have found that Ryerson has provided a positive, safe, inclusive and creative space for everyone who attends this school. Chemistry has been my passion since a very young age. I simply love chemistry and also mathematics. I plan to be a forensics scientist in chemistry in the near future. I would like to solve some of the mysteries of our environmental crisis. This award has given me so much confidence and has boosted my courage to keep doing what I am doing and to continue being a positive person for myself and for others around me. I would like to thank IODE Ontario for this generous support. This gift will help alleviate some of my financial pressure so that I can better perform at school and within my community. |
Sheila Mehvar, Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Architectural Science
Throughout my time at Ryerson I have been involved in various groups to ensure that many other females choose to pursue careers in STEM. I have worked closely with the Women in Engineering group ever since first year where we put on various events to promote STEM to young girls including GoEngGirl, GoCodeGirl, Girl Guides Badge Day and many more. Being a woman in a male dominated field, I understand the importance of having a diverse group of individuals working together and would like to encourage more females to enter the field.
I chose to attend Ryerson because when I was in Grade 12, I attended a Women in Engineering brunch where current Ryerson female engineering students spoke about their many positive experiences in the field and I knew I wanted to follow in their footsteps.
Some of my personal career goals and ambitions are to begin a Masters program in September 2020 and work in a fulfilling job in the Industrial Engineering field, preferably in manufacturing, with room for growth and a positive work culture that embraces diversity. Thank you for this recognition and support.
I chose to attend Ryerson because when I was in Grade 12, I attended a Women in Engineering brunch where current Ryerson female engineering students spoke about their many positive experiences in the field and I knew I wanted to follow in their footsteps.
Some of my personal career goals and ambitions are to begin a Masters program in September 2020 and work in a fulfilling job in the Industrial Engineering field, preferably in manufacturing, with room for growth and a positive work culture that embraces diversity. Thank you for this recognition and support.
Fernanda Ortega, Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Architectural Science
My name is Maria Fernanda Ortega and I was born in Nicaragua but moved to Canada with my parents at a very young age. My parents, who came to Canada with few resources, always encouraged me to get a good education and pursue my passions.
Science was my favourite subject in elementary school and high school. I was especially drawn to biology and the human body because of the intricacies of the organ systems which are still mind-blowing to me. I immersed myself in science by taking biology, chemistry, and physics throughout high school.
The biomedical science program at Ryerson seemed like the perfect fit for me. I was interested in the courses I would take as part of my program and would be close to home. I was also to drawn to Ryerson because of the support that the Ryerson community offered their students.
As I near the end of my undergraduate degree, I have decided to continue with my initial plan of pursuing medical school. I am currently completing my undergraduate thesis and have enjoyed research so far. While becoming a physician is my end goal, I am also considering completing a master's degree.
Ryerson has helped me discover my passion for science outreach and communication as well. As a result, going to graduate school and/or medical school in the future will allow me to continue doing research and to communicate that with the public.
I would like to thank IODE their generous support. I am incredibly thankful for the financial help that will allow me to continue pursing higher education and move one step closer to where I want to be professionally. Your contributions mean the world to me and have encouraged me to continue excelling and working hard. Thank you for believing in women in STEM.
Science was my favourite subject in elementary school and high school. I was especially drawn to biology and the human body because of the intricacies of the organ systems which are still mind-blowing to me. I immersed myself in science by taking biology, chemistry, and physics throughout high school.
The biomedical science program at Ryerson seemed like the perfect fit for me. I was interested in the courses I would take as part of my program and would be close to home. I was also to drawn to Ryerson because of the support that the Ryerson community offered their students.
As I near the end of my undergraduate degree, I have decided to continue with my initial plan of pursuing medical school. I am currently completing my undergraduate thesis and have enjoyed research so far. While becoming a physician is my end goal, I am also considering completing a master's degree.
Ryerson has helped me discover my passion for science outreach and communication as well. As a result, going to graduate school and/or medical school in the future will allow me to continue doing research and to communicate that with the public.
I would like to thank IODE their generous support. I am incredibly thankful for the financial help that will allow me to continue pursing higher education and move one step closer to where I want to be professionally. Your contributions mean the world to me and have encouraged me to continue excelling and working hard. Thank you for believing in women in STEM.
Cassidy Rose, Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Architectural Science
My name is Cassidy Rose and I was born and raised in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and transferred to Ryerson after studying chemistry for a year at Memorial University of Newfoundland. I was an active volunteer in my community in Mount Pearl and especially enjoy volunteering for organizations fighting for social justice and animal rights. I am currently the Academic Link for the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science on Ryerson’s Residence Life Team.
I have always had a strong interest in STEM and fell in love with the field of biomedical engineering during the 2016 SHAD Summer Enrichment Program. Two biomedical engineering students at SHAD shared their experiences developing a device to treat certain heart diseases in a less invasive manner. This technology could enable hospitals lacking the resources necessary for major surgeries to treat patients more cost-efficiently and with less risk of complications. Their creativity and compassion sparked the realization that biomedical engineering was the perfect field for me, in which I could combine my interests in STEM with my passions for human rights and helping those in need.
In my future career, I want to especially help those in underserved populations receive the healthcare they need and deserve. Ryerson's Biomedical Engineering Program provides an exciting opportunity for me to accomplish this goal, while also allowing me to be close to my family in Ontario.
I attended my local university in my first year because I was financially unable to study biomedical engineering. However, after my first semester, I felt dissatisfied in my program and still dreamed of becoming a biomedical engineer. After saving for a year and applying for loans, I transferred to Ryerson to pursue this passion. I am honored to receive this scholarship, which supports me in pursuing my dreams, recognizes my commitment to learning, and helps women in STEM succeed. I would like to sincerely thank IODE Ontario for their generosity and for motivating me to strive for even greater success in my studies.
I have always had a strong interest in STEM and fell in love with the field of biomedical engineering during the 2016 SHAD Summer Enrichment Program. Two biomedical engineering students at SHAD shared their experiences developing a device to treat certain heart diseases in a less invasive manner. This technology could enable hospitals lacking the resources necessary for major surgeries to treat patients more cost-efficiently and with less risk of complications. Their creativity and compassion sparked the realization that biomedical engineering was the perfect field for me, in which I could combine my interests in STEM with my passions for human rights and helping those in need.
In my future career, I want to especially help those in underserved populations receive the healthcare they need and deserve. Ryerson's Biomedical Engineering Program provides an exciting opportunity for me to accomplish this goal, while also allowing me to be close to my family in Ontario.
I attended my local university in my first year because I was financially unable to study biomedical engineering. However, after my first semester, I felt dissatisfied in my program and still dreamed of becoming a biomedical engineer. After saving for a year and applying for loans, I transferred to Ryerson to pursue this passion. I am honored to receive this scholarship, which supports me in pursuing my dreams, recognizes my commitment to learning, and helps women in STEM succeed. I would like to sincerely thank IODE Ontario for their generosity and for motivating me to strive for even greater success in my studies.
Mihal Shalamov, Biomedical Sciences Faculty of Science
I am in my fourth year of the Biomedical Science program. I decided to undertake this degree because of my passion for the sciences which I have had since a young age.
I am very involved in the university and faculty communities, holding various executive and volunteer positions with the objective of advocating for the needs and concerns of students. As well, my involvement in off-campus volunteering and engagement activities and programs have helped me to develop strong interpersonal skills.
I strive to attain a medical education in order to combine my predisposition for helpfulness with my passion for the field of medicine and healing.
I hope to further my academic, research and professional experiences by pursuing graduate and professional programs of study.
This award allows me to focus more of my time and attention working to create a diverse, safe and well-represented Ryerson science community. Thank you for this incredible support.
I am very involved in the university and faculty communities, holding various executive and volunteer positions with the objective of advocating for the needs and concerns of students. As well, my involvement in off-campus volunteering and engagement activities and programs have helped me to develop strong interpersonal skills.
I strive to attain a medical education in order to combine my predisposition for helpfulness with my passion for the field of medicine and healing.
I hope to further my academic, research and professional experiences by pursuing graduate and professional programs of study.
This award allows me to focus more of my time and attention working to create a diverse, safe and well-represented Ryerson science community. Thank you for this incredible support.