While coming to Canada was a “really big change” for Anish Naidu, he is happy to be settled at The University of Western Ontario.
A native of Jharsuguda, a small town in Eastern India, his parents initially came to Canada in 2004 in search of better job opportunities, settling in Toronto. Naidu stayed in India with his grandparents to complete high school.
Now in his first year in engineering, Naidu was one of 14 students honoured Monday night by President Amit Chakma at Gibbon’s Lodge as a National Scholar.
The National Scholarship Program is Western’s most prestigious award for first-year undergraduate students, designed to recognize all-around excellence. The honorees have achieved an impressive combination of academic work (minimum of 90 per cent on all Grade 12 courses), community involvement and extracurricular activities.
Naidu narrowed his post-secondary choices to the University of Toronto and Western – ultimately choosing Western as his destination.
“I chose Western as I came to know that it provided its students with the best undergrad experience, and I am finding it true so far,” says Naidu, who then found out about the National Scholarship awards. He applied out of interest and was surprised when he was called for the interview.
“I thank them (Western) for recognizing me as worthy,” he says. “This scholarship has been really useful for my family as it greatly cut down the financial burden and also provides me with extra motivation to perform better – and it is working.”
Four months into the Western experience, Naidu, recipient of the E.V. Buchanan Faculty of Engineering Entrance Scholarship, says his schedules are packed – but not stressful – and has made a number of good friends who have been supportive.
“The lectures are interesting and the lecturers really care about the students. The classes are well structured and I like the concept of having TA’s and regular tutorial tests,” he says. He’s also intrigued by the opportunities to get involved outside the classroom through the Undergrad Engineering Society and University Students’ Council.
“I am really amazed by the blend of historic external architecture and advanced internal design and equipments in all of the buildings. All this is an entirely new experience for me.”
Naidu is planning to apply to the Engineering/Ivey dual degree program to receive comprehensive education in technical as well as management fields. Or perhaps even a venture into the area of medicine.
“I am keen on giving back to the community, and developing medicinal technology is one of the best ways to do it. Whatever it may be, I want to devote a major part of my time to research and development.”
First-year students also honoured Monday evening include:
* Marshall Bindseil, Don Wright Faculty of Music, Beryl Ivey Continuing Entrance Award;
* Lauren Cuthbertson, Faculty of Engineering, Dr. D. Carlton Williams President’s Entrance Scholarship;
* Kaiz Alarakyia, Faculty of Engineering, F.K. Ashbaugh President’s Entrance Scholarships;
* Sumedha Arya, Faculty of Science (Scholar’s Electives Program), F.K. Ashbaugh President’s Entrance Scholarships;
* Adrianna Casuccio, Faculty of Science, Faculty Entrance Scholarship
* Samik Doshi, Faculty of Science (Biological and Medical Sciences), Scholar’s Electives Program, Faculty Entrance Scholarship;
* Golden Gao, Faculty of Science (Biological and Medical Sciences), Scholar’s Electives Program, Faculty Entrance Scholarship;
* Cassondra Irwin, Faculty of Arts and Humanities (Scholar’s Electives Program), Faculty Entrance Scholarship;
* Gresthimani Kaltsidis, Faculty of Science (Biological and Medical Sciences), Scholar’s Electives Program, Faculty Entrance Scholarship;
* Siyan (Sarah) Ying, Faculty of Social Science (Scholar’s Electives Program), Faculty Entrance Scholarship;
* Baljiwan Uppal, Faculty of Health Sciences (Scholar’s Electives Program), G. Edward Hall Presidents Entrance Scholarship;
* Andrew Wong, Faculty of Science (Biological and Medical Sciences), Richard and Jean Ivey Family President’s Entrance Scholarship;
* Jessica He, Faculty of Science, (Biological and Medical Sciences), Scholar’s Electives Program W. S. Fyfe Faculty of Science Entrance Scholarship.