Meet TMU’s fall 2025 Gold Medal winners

Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) awarded its highest honour to seven amazing students.  They received the TMU Gold Medal at their convocation ceremonies on October 16 and 17, 2025. 

Not only did these students achieve outstanding grades, they also made real changes in their communities and pushed forward important research to help others.

The seven Gold Medal recipients are: Abdelrahman (Sammy) Abdou, Azizah Alawusa, Kalysta Makimoto, Katherine McGuire, Julia Menzes, Tiffany Paquin and Christopher Randall.

Three additional university awards were presented at this fall’s convocation:

• Christopher Randall received the Board of Governors Leadership Award.
• Ahmed Diab received the C. Ravi Ravindran Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award.
• Kalysta Makimoto and Dorothy Johns both received the Governor General Gold Medal.

Learn more about the outstanding TMU Gold Medal winners and their achievements below.

Abdelrahman (Sammy) Abdou

PhD in Biomedical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science

Two of Abdelrahman (Sammy) Abdou’s standout memories from his time as a TMU student are participating in a research exchange to Brazil and travelling to New Zealand as a visiting scholar.

“Both trips left a lasting impact on my personal growth. I got to meet different people from around the world and share with others how our work makes an impact,” said Abdou.

Abdou’s work combined groundbreaking research and entrepreneurship. He created a patent-pending handheld infant heart-rate detector with life-saving potential, was an award-winning participant in TMU’s inaugural Lab2Market program (external link)  and published his research in more than a dozen peer reviewed papers.

Beyond his academic work, he inspired students as a teaching assistant and mentor and served with Engineers Without Borders. 

Next up, Abdou will join the AI in Mental Health program at St. Michael’s Hospital as postdoctoral researcher. He also wants to share his experience with life sciences startups to help make Canada a world-class destination for technological innovation.

Learn more about Abdelrahman (Sammy) Abdou.

Azizah Alawusa

Master of Arts in Fashion
The Creative School

Azizah Alawusa generously contributes to every community of which she is part. Her altruism comes from the wish to “win some victory for humanity,” she says. 

As a graduate mentor, she helped create a welcoming and supportive environment for her fellow students. Beyond campus, she’s been deeply involved in African culture and heritage events, including working with Nigerian fashion businesses pursuing sustainable design practices.

“It is the greatest honour of my TMU journey to have been awarded the Gold Medal for The Creative School. My entire experience these past two years has culminated into this humbling accomplishment which highlights the value of having supportive professors, well-meaning classmates and colleagues, and a devoted community,” said Alawusa. 

“My close-knit family and friends also served as constant support systems throughout this phase for which I am forever grateful. Eniyan laso mi! Indeed, people clothe me!” she says.

Learn more about Azizah Alawusa.

Kalysta Makimoto

PhD in Physics
Faculty of Science

Kalysta Makimoto found her passion for research as an undergraduate student at TMU. She then went on to pursue her master’s at the university before reclassifying to the PhD program. 

She says her proudest accomplishment at TMU has been defending her PhD thesis, which focused on improving diagnosis and health outcomes for individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

“It was a milestone that symbolized years of hard work and perseverance. Seeing my research come together and realizing the potential impact was incredibly rewarding,” Makimoto said, who has a personal connection to her work. Her grandmother was diagnosed with COPD and passed away from the disease a few years later. 

Makimoto has been recognized for both her academics and her volunteer work. She was named one of the Ontario Women's Health Scholars in 2024 and earned the competitive CIHR Canadian Graduate Scholarship. 

She represented student interests on the Physics Graduate Student Union and Graduate Program Council. She also shared her knowledge with high school students and the public through Science Rendezvous and SciXchange.

Learn more about Kalysta Makimoto.

Katherine McGuire

Master of Arts in Psychology
Faculty of Arts

After working with mothers and children in Central America for five years, Katherine McGuire knew what she wanted to research: mental health for new and expecting mothers. 

Her master’s research looked at mothers’ experiences across different cultures, their access to support services and the challenges they face.

“I was inspired by the resilience, creativity and strength of these mothers as they navigated daily challenges,” said McGuire. “I hope to strengthen support systems for mothers and children, contribute to evidence-based programs and broaden our knowledge of health and well-being so interventions and policies can better serve diverse populations.”

During her time at TMU, McGuire co-lead international research on perinatal mental health. She presented at more than 10 conferences and mentored fellow students. 

McGuire will continue to research perinatal mental health and trauma during her PhD in clinical psychology at TMU.

Learn more about Katherine McGuire.

Julia Menezes

Master of Planning in Urban Development
Faculty of Community Services

Julia Menezes made history as the first student to achieve a perfect GPA in the School of Urban and Regional Planning’s graduate program. 

But perfect grades are just one reason she won the Gold Medal. 

At TMU, Menezes worked on two major projects: one focused on housing needs among First Nations communities and another on LGBTQIA+ newcomers to Canada. People who worked with her noticed her ability to bring people together and build connections across differences.

In the community, Menezes volunteered with other post-secondary students to develop and deliver urban planning workshops for high school students in the Greater Toronto Area.

She says she’s most proud of the work she’s accomplished with her peers, professors and community partners. 

“Two studio course projects stand out—one focused on improving youth engagement in municipal planning; the second on identifying the housing needs of LGBTQIA+ newcomers,” said Menezes. “Achieving the Gold Medal feels in many ways like a reflection of these experiences, and of the supportive community at TMU’s School of Urban and Regional Planning.”

Learn more about Julia Menezes.

Tiffany Paquin

Master of Science in Management
Ted Rogers School of Management

Tiffany Paquin’s research broke new ground in understanding how leaders’ can create healthier workplaces. 

Her thesis explored how leaders’ emotional regulation fosters empathy and well-being in their teams. The work was nominated for the Distinguished Thesis Award.

“I genuinely loved working on my thesis, not many people get to say that. Researching an interesting topic and creating something out of nothing was such a rewarding process. It almost felt like art,” said Paquin.

As a top-of-class student, Paquin excelled in coursework, research and collaboration and showing generosity toward her peers. Her dedication to advancing knowledge has led her to pursue her PhD in Management at TMU.

“I have many research ideas and projects I’m excited to pursue. Through my work, I aim to contribute to creating healthier workplaces, with the long-term goal of becoming a professor and an organizational psychology consultant focused on employee well-being,” she said.

Learn more about Tiffany Paquin.

Christopher Randall

Master of Applied Science in Environmental Applied Science and Management
Interdisciplinary Studies

Christopher Randall’s research is about helping communities adapt to climate change. 

His work examines how coastal flood risk affects different places and people in Nova Scotia. 

“This work is critical because the cascading effects of climate change must be addressed in ways that are equitable and empowering,” he said.

Throughout his time at TMU, Randall brought students, scholars and industry professionals together to discuss human-environment interactions. He has facilitated national and provincial conferences, published and co-authored research and led student events. 

During the pandemic, he co-organized his student association’s BIPOC Sustainability Changemaker Series to amplify underrepresented voices in environmental discourse. 

Randall will continue the innovative research he began at TMU as a PhD student at Dalhousie University.

“I’m deeply grateful to everyone in my undergraduate and graduate programs who offered support and encouragement,” said Randall. “It’s bittersweet to move on to the next step, but I will always cherish my time at TMU.”

Learn more about Christopher Randall.

Related Stories:

• Meet TMU’s spring 2025 Gold Medal winners