Leaders, scholars and changemakers: McMaster Engineering grads to watch at Spring Convocation 2025

As McMaster Engineering marks another Convocation, we celebrate not only the accomplishments of the graduating students, but also the impact they are set to make. 

On June 17, students will be graduating from McMaster Engineering programs, and among them, 15 “grads to watch”.

These exceptional individuals include the recipient of the prestigious McCall MacBain Scholarship; the winners of the esteemed Governor General’s Academic Medal; the President of the National Society of Black Engineers; the recipient of the Albert Lager Prize; and leaders who organized Welcome Week, launched events celebrating women in engineering and inspired youth through STEM outreach. Their achievements highlight the resilience and dedication that define McMaster Engineering.  

Get to know Annika Culhane, Emily Nobes, Paris Liu, Sheel Ayachi, Anthony Turco, Taylor Wilson, Mariyam Arief, Alexander Greengrass, Gertrude Henneh, Mackenzie Keeler, Samuel Khzym, Ansh Kuckreja, Mohamed (Fikry) Morad, Abigail Richardson and Sarah Woods below. 

Proudest Mac Eng moment: My proudest moment was in my 4G03 optimization course this year, taught by Dr. Nease, where we had total freedom in our final project. My project partner and I formulated a match scheduling system to help facilitate a .22 rifle match between 5 Ontario universities, considering safety guidelines, equipment needs, resources, competitor preferences, and experience levels. This optimization program, uniquely applied in real life, led to a fantastic and exciting event that ran flawlessly. Mac Eng learning is broadly applicable, coming in handy when you least expect it. McMaster also took home the trophy, followed closely by RMC! 

How do you hope to contribute to engineering a brighter future?: I hope to contribute to sustainability initiatives in the cement industry, like SCMs, alternative fuels, and carbon capture. 

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Currently: I will be starting a Master of Science degree in Physics at McGill University in the fall! I am lucky to be a part of the 2025 cohort of the McCall MacBain Scholars program and hope to keep up my interests in the Arts and Humanities as I go through my graduate studies.

Proudest Mac Eng moment: Picking up and trying on my Red Suit for the first time! It was in summer 2021 and I had just gone through my first year online due to COVID-19. Getting to be part of the welcome week team after not getting a welcome week myself and spending the year away from my peers was so exciting, it kept me going as we slowly transitioned back into in-person classes in the coming year.

How do you hope to contribute to engineering a brighter future?: I hope to contribute to engineering a brighter future by continually evaluating my work in an attempt to remain focused on advancing critical areas of human wellbeing. I believe it is our responsibility to engineer what we need rather than what we want in a sustainable and maintainable way, and I hope to keep that ethos in my work throughout my career.

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Currently: This summer I am working full-time at ICLEI Canada, where I am supporting a project funded by Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities Canada to accelerate climate change mitigation and adaptation for infrastructure. In September, I’ll be moving to France to start a Master of Environmental Policy at Sciences Po within the Paris School of International Affairs, supported by the CARE Scholarship. 

Proudest Mac Eng moment: The many moments where I saw compassion for people and planet result in lasting change.

Ecosia implemented at Mills Library which funded the planting of over 1000 trees, and over 600 lbs of coffee grounds diverted from landfill thanks to the ingenuity of the Zero Waste McMaster team. Meals shared and friendships formed at the Pinky Lewis Community Food Program, thanks to the weekly dedication of the volunteers at LIFT Church. A grassroots student-led campaign that culminated in the creation of Canada’s most affordable student bike-share pass with a 94.5% vote in favour, made possible through the determination and hard work of the McMaster Students for Bike Share team.

I am proud to have been part of these teams – teams of passionate individuals who worked relentlessly for a brighter future.

How do you hope to contribute to engineering a brighter future?: I am passionate about leveraging my civil engineering background to explore how low-carbon, resilient solutions can address both the climate and housing crises. I hope to bridge civil engineering, climate change, and policy by creating technically sound policies that mitigate further global warming and protect the livelihoods of households around the world. As part of this vision, I hope to continue working on curriculum reform to ensure that the next generation of engineers can be taught about climate change and consequently lead with sustainable solutions, contributing to a safer and more livable future for all.

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Proudest Mac Eng Moment: I’ve always enjoyed planning events, whether for the Chemical Engineering Society, research socials and poster fairs, or Welcome Week. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the community come together and enjoy them.

How do you hope to contribute to engineering a brighter future?: I hope to continue to use engineering ideas and ways of thinking while in graduate school. 

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How do you hope to contribute to engineering a brighter future?: I want to continue learning throughout my life the wonderful science and engineering behind the complicated technologies we take for granted every day, and those that we soon will. There are many promising frontiers in my field in the way of AI, medicine, and communications. I hope to continue advancing these technologies for the betterment of society. I am also passionate about teaching, and believe that the best way to contribute to a brighter future is by passing along my knowledge and beliefs to others who may go farther than I ever could.

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Currently: I’m currently working as the Technical Lead – Energy and Carbon Management at Aladaco Consulting, where I help industrial, commercial and municipal clients use energy more efficiently, manage energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I’m also pursuing my Professional Engineering designation.

Proudest Mac Eng moment: Finishing my degree while working full-time was a major personal achievement, especially as I was able to apply what I was learning directly to real-world energy and sustainability challenges. I’m also proud that I could support some friends and classmates along the way – whether it was sharing study tips or just helping each other stay motivated. That mutual support created a real sense of camaraderie, and being part of a group that pushed through challenges together made the journey that much more rewarding.

How do you hope to contribute to engineering a brighter future?: I want to help bridge the gap between technical solutions and real-world implementation, especially when it comes to how organizations use energy and manage their emissions. A lot of the challenges we face aren’t due to a lack of technology, rather they come from complexity, inertia, or uncertainty about what steps to take. My goal is to help clients make informed, practical decisions that balance performance, cost, and sustainability. By focusing on clear data, realistic planning, and ongoing collaboration, I hope to make energy efficiency and emissions reduction less of a buzzword and more of a default approach in everyday operations.

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Proudest Mac Eng moment: Leading McMaster Start Coding and seeing our team inspire hundreds of K–12 students to explore STEM and coding. Watching kids get excited about tech and knowing we helped spark that curiosity was incredibly rewarding.

How do you hope to contribute to engineering a brighter future?: I want to help build a brighter future by creating products that solve real problems and make everyday life easier. With my passion for tech and leadership experience, I’m excited to make STEM more fun and accessible, inspiring others to lead and bring their own creativity to the table.

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Proudest Mac Eng moment: I will always be proud to look back on the capstone project I completed with my group. Working with industry partners at Patriot Forge, my team and I were able to use all of the technical knowledge and lab experiences that we gained throughout our degree to help solve a real industry problem. Presenting our findings at the Mac Eng Capstone Expo was the perfect way to close my undergraduate journey at Mac, and it is something I will never forget.

How do you hope to contribute to engineering a brighter future?: Materials manufacturing and metallurgy are such large industries in Canada. Like many large industries, there is an immense amount of research and work being done to make them more sustainable and efficient for future generations, and I am very excited to be a part of this. I was fortunate enough to spend 16 months on a co-op at Arcelor Mittal Dofasco’s Global Research and Development department, and the experiences that I had there gave me amazing insight on what kinds of innovative things I can do with my degree. I am very thankful for these experiences, and hope to take everything that I learned from this and the rest of my education to help push this innovation.

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I’m excited about trying new cuisines, seeing breathtaking sights, and building new friendships. In the fall, I’ll be starting my career as an engineering consultant at a boutique consulting firm in Toronto. I’m eager to apply all the skills and knowledge I gained at Mac to make a meaningful impact in my professional journey.

Proudest Mac Eng moment: My proudest moment came at the end of this year as I concluded my term as President of the National Society of Black Engineers. While conducting interviews for the incoming executive team, I was blown away by the stories applicants shared about how NSBE—and this year in particular—had impacted their lives. We received a record number of applications to join the team, with students sharing powerful testimonials about finding community, mentorship, and belonging. It was incredibly fulfilling to know that the love and support we fostered had made such a meaningful impact on the lives of students at McMaster.

How do you hope to contribute to engineering a brighter future?: The future of engineering lies in creating innovative solutions to problems we once thought were solved, continuously seeking improvements to build a healthier, safer, and more efficient global society. I believe the best way for me to contribute is by remaining a curious learner and making space for everyone’s voices to be heard. Throughout my career, I plan to challenge conventional thinking while ensuring that diverse perspectives shape our solutions. I believe engineering’s brightest future is one where technical excellence meets social responsibility.

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Dr. Kyla Sask – She took a chance on me in first year by hiring me into her lab, and that opportunity helped open so many doors for me.

Dr. Colin McDonald – He believed in me in my final year and offered me the chance to be a TA, and his support meant a lot.

Holly Johnson – She mentored me through my early years of university and helped me get my first industry position at MDA Space.

Currently: I am starting a position as an Engineer In Training at Electronic Innovation in July 2025. My work will focus on new product development, including circuit board design and layout, firmware development, and 3D modeling for enclosure design. I will also be supporting internal robotic automation projects aimed at optimizing the manufacturing and testing of the circuit boards. I’m excited to gain hands-on experience in robotic system design while working toward my P.Eng designation. This opportunity offers a strong balance of technical challenge and creative engineering, and I look forward to growing in a dynamic, innovation-driven environment. 

Proudest Mac Eng moment: Presenting my capstone project to first-year students I had the privilege of teaching as a TA, as well as to my younger sister, who is also a student at McMaster, was one of the most meaningful moments of my degree. The capstone project took an immense amount of time and effort, and brought together the full range of technical skills I had developed over my six years in the program. It was a challenging and rewarding process, and seeing the project come to life was something I took great pride in. Sharing that achievement with both students I taught and my sister made the experience feel especially fulfilling. Presenting my work was not only a reflection of how far I’d come, demonstrating my academic growth, dedication, and resilience, but also a moment of gratitude for the community that supported me throughout the journey.

How do you hope to contribute to engineering a brighter future?: I hope to contribute by innovating sustainably and uplifting others in the field. Driven by a passion for creative design and problem-solving, I strive to apply my skills to real-world challenges by developing lasting, impactful solutions with a strong focus on long-term sustainability.

Just as importantly, I want to support others in their journeys. I didn’t get here alone, I was mentored by several inspiring women whose support and belief in me shaped my confidence and my career. I hope to pay that forward by being a supportive presence for other women in engineering. I also aim to serve as representation for the LGBTQIA+ community, because who we see in these spaces truly matters. To me, building a brighter future means making sure more people feel empowered, welcomed, and seen within it.

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Through code reviews, rigorous presentation preparation, and just general life and career advice, I’ve learned and grown a lot over the last five years because of you all. I would not be the engineer or the person I am today without you all, and for that I am incredibly grateful.

Currently: I’m currently working at Tesla over the summer as a vehicle software Intern on the chassis controls team. I’m coming back to Mac in September for my Master’s degree in software engineering with Dr. Mark Lawford and Dr. Alan Wassyng!

Proudest Mac Eng moment: My proudest Mac Eng moments are the track testing trips that we did on the McMaster EcoCAR team in Oshawa and at the final competition in Arizona. Seeing the autonomous features like adaptive cruise control and lane centering working in our Cadillac Lyriq is incredibly rewarding. This has taken years and many people to develop, and I am very proud that been a part of the team that turns these dreams into reality.

How do you hope to contribute to engineering a brighter future?: I hope to contribute to the development of autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistive systems, especially ensuring that the systems being developed are reliable and safe. I believe that self-driving technology has the potential to be a great benefit to society, allowing for less congestion and safer roads. I would love to be a part of that incoming transformation in the automotive space.

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Currently: Travelling and enjoying my free time for now. In September, I’ll be pursuing an MSc in Robotics Engineering at the University of Bristol.

Proudest Mac Eng moment: Completing Welcome Week 2024 as one of the McMaster Engineering Co-Orientation Coordinators. It was one of the most demanding roles of my life, but it gave me the opportunity to work with and lead so many amazing individuals in the community, inspiring generations of future leaders and welcoming hundreds of students to our school.

How do you hope to contribute to engineering a brighter future?: My goal is to apply engineering to the medical field in any capacity. This could be through designing innovative surgical tools, developing softwares to improve imaging technology, or working with brain-computer interfaces to better understand human consciousness (though that last one might be influenced by my recent Black Mirror re-binge).

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Currently: I’m currently continuing to seek new perspectives with one goal: to help lead our generation’s contribution to advancing technology and innovation. I’m working on AI strategy, long-term adoption, and deployment while also exploring opportunities in the energy sector. In parallel, I’m involved in the Arab Youth Network, helping to foster success, leadership, and innovation within our community.

Proudest Mac Eng moment: As an international student, after six long years of education, co-op, sleepless nights, and way too much coffee, receiving the Iron Ring was the moment when it all felt worth it. To me, it symbolized everything I experienced and observed… lessons that are now “locked in” with me for good, carried forward as part of who I am.

How do you hope to contribute to engineering a brighter future?: “I believe the future will be built by those who see beyond what’s in front of them… by people who understand the power of perspective. My vision is to contribute to a brighter future by advocating innovation that’s not only technically advanced but also socially adaptable and meaningful. Whether in AI, energy, or leadership, I want to help shape a generation that isn’t afraid to ask questions, share ideas, and be curious.

To everyone with a vision…”Lean on yesterday, be realistic today, and be delusional tomorrow. But above all, never stop learning from yesterday, today, and tomorrow.”

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Currently: I’ve just begun my career journey as a Junior Automation Designer at ATS Automation in the Life Sciences Department. This position aligns with my desire to improve advances in the medical and pharmaceutical fields. I continue to work towards receiving my P.Eng. 

Proudest Mac Eng moment: My proudest Mac Eng moment was being elected president of the McMaster Society of Mechanical Engineering (MSME). When I joined the MSME my Mac Eng experience began to feel complete and validated by being a part of something bigger than myself. I knew I wanted others to feel the encouragement and inspiration that I felt from the leaders before me. Proving to myself that I was capable of doing just that was one of my biggest accomplishments at McMaster. 

How do you hope to contribute to engineering a brighter future?: I hope to engineer a brighter future by utilizing the skills I developed throughout my 4 years of undergrad to continuously think outside the box and never settle for work that I am not proud of. I hope to not only instill these values in myself but to continue to be a resource for the Mac Eng community. I will remember the lessons I was taught each day in my career, for each project I complete and each innovation I foster.

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I would especially like to thank Dr. Kim Jones, our faculty advisor for the Women in Engineering Society (WIE), for her thoughtful advice and support. Finally, I would like to shout out my amazing WIE Executive Team. The WIE Team is full of amazing and passionate student leaders who strive to ensure that the Mac Eng community is inclusive and welcoming. 

Currently: I am currently enjoying a break while I explore career opportunities. I have already been on two trips post-exams in April, and I am excited for a fun summer with family and friends!

Proudest Mac Eng moment: There are so many amazing Mac Eng moments throughout my undergraduate degree, but I am most recently proud of being awarded the Albert Lager Prize for Student Initiative – it was great to be recognized for my contributions to the Mac Eng community. I am also proud of implementing the inaugural McMaster WIE International Women’s Day Gala this past year to celebrate the women in our community!

How do you hope to contribute to engineering a brighter future?: I hope to use my engineering knowledge and experience to contribute to a more sustainable future by applying chemical engineering principles to develop innovative, environmentally responsible solutions. This means addressing pressing environmental challenges, promoting sustainable practices, and exploring alternative technologies that lessen environmental impact and protect both people and the planet.