Meet the 2024-2025 National Scholars
We are pleased to announce and welcome these outstanding students as our 2024-2025 cohort of National Scholars.
Kary Littlejohns
Engineering Science
Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering
“This award means the world to me and my family,”
After years of participating in national STEM competitions and research, Karys enrolled in U of T’s Engineering Science program with the intention of eventually pursuing a graduate degree in biomedical engineering. She is keen on studying at the intersection of engineering and human health, particularly focusing on neurological conditions. Beyond her studies, she inspires others as a high school mentor for U of T’s Women in Science and Engineering chapter. “I am forever grateful for BMO’s kindness and generosity.”
Tanish Bhatt
Life Sciences
New College
“Whenever I doubt myself, I think of the BMO National Scholarship, and it reminds me that someone recognized my potential and trusted me to reach it.”
“Most important to me is that my parents feel the satisfaction of knowing the many challenging years they endured were beyond fruitful. This would not have been possible without BMO.”
Life sciences student Tanish Bhatt is highly interested in immunology and its intersection with novel technological systems and has already worked on two research projects investigating SARS-CoV-2 and influenza vaccine efficacy and design through bioinformatics. “I want to pursue a career as a clinician-scientist that will allow me to serve my community by guiding research through medicine and patient care,” says Tanish, who comes to U of T by way of Newfoundland. He is deeply grateful to BMO Financial Group, not just for himself but also for his parents. He explains how their Indian educational credentials did not easily transfer to Canada, leading his father to eventually suspend his career in life sciences. “What is most important to me is that my parents feel the satisfaction of knowing the many challenging years they endured were beyond fruitful. This would not have been possible without BMO’s generous support.”
Maia Cassie
Social Sciences
Victoria College
“Until receiving this scholarship, I wasn’t sure I could afford the higher costs of attending a university so far from home.”
Raised on what she calls “a tiny island” off the coast of British Columbia, Maia Cassie’s environs have grown considerably more expansive thanks to BMO Financial Group and the University of Toronto. “I’ve always been eager to attend a big university like U of T. However, until receiving this scholarship, I wasn’t sure I could afford the higher costs of attending a university so far from home,” she says. Maia plans to major in sociology with minors in political science and women and gender studies. “The lack of financial pressure means I can dedicate my time to excelling in school and taking on volunteer positions or internships that I find compelling,” she says. Outside the classroom, Maia is actively involved in a Model United Nations and serves as a TEDxUofT intern, among other pursuits. She also values the opportunity to discuss her research interests with her National Scholarship mentor.
Anupam Chettimada
Engineering Science
Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
“I want to couple my interests in human biology and technology to shape efficient and effective health-care solutions.”
Anupam Chettimada’s work as a tech entrepreneur has been featured in international media outlets, including Forbes, The Today Show and MarketWatch. Now a first-year student in Engineering Science, Anupam is fascinated by the intersection of medical science, economics and technology. Ventures he has co-founded include an AI app that uses gamification to treat depression and an online tool that reduces treatment time for young children with amblyopia (lazy eye). “I want to couple my interests in human biology and technology to shape efficient and effective health-care solutions,” says Anupam, who was drawn to U of T for its legacy of innovation. “The BMO Financial Group National Scholarship has enabled me to enter university with the continued drive to dream big and create big.” Anupam’s additional activities include leadership roles with the Junior Economic Club of Canada and Flowboat, an incubator for high school startups.
Michela Fricano
Humanities
Innis College
“The National Scholarship is enhancing my education and supporting my goals to make a difference in the world through films that inspire positive change.”
Before she even entered U of T, Michela Fricano had already established an impressive track record in the arts. The aspiring Cinema Studies and English double-major won a Daytime Emmy for playing the title role in Dino Dana, a children’s educational show. While still in high school, she co-founded a performing arts group and co-wrote and directed three original productions. Recently, she co-wrote an episode for a children’s TV show. Michela says the BMO Financial Group National Scholarship has enabled her to immerse herself in university life on the St. George campus, stay closely connected to Toronto’s film industry and continue her advocacy for feminist media. “Thank you to BMO for its support. The National Scholarship is enhancing my education and supporting my goals to make a difference in the world through films that inspire positive change, with a particular focus on promoting feminist representation in media,” she says.
Hana Greenberg
Social Sciences
Victoria College
“This scholarship has opened doors I hadn’t imagined and empowered me to pursue my goals wholeheartedly.”
Hana Greenberg plans to study political science and the intersection of science, technology and society to further her commitment to advancing social justice in creative and innovative ways. She chose U of T to pursue her wide-ranging academic interests and participate in student-led initiatives such as the Equity Commission and Social Justice Committee at Victoria College. “This scholarship has opened doors I hadn’t imagined and empowered me to pursue my goals wholeheartedly,” says Hana, who is interested in legal policies surrounding generative artificial intelligence and related issues such as AI ethics and language biases. She credits U of T’s mentorship and research resources, as well as BMO’s generosity, for helping her to pursue this meaningful work. “I am committed to making the most of this opportunity and hope to make BMO proud.”
Charles Martinez
Engineering Science
Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
“This award has allowed me to focus entirely on my studies and extracurricular activities, enabling me to significantly contribute to the academic and social community.”
Charles Martinez became interested in combining engineering and entrepreneurship to solve major challenges while leading Flowboat, a Waterloo-based start-up incubator for high school students. He had long dreamed of studying engineering at U of T because of its high-quality research, teaching and wide array of specializations. As he continues to advance his entrepreneurial pursuits, he plans to major in machine learning. “My learning in computer science, civil engineering, classical mechanics and mathematics has skyrocketed,” says Charles, whose vision is to improve engineering systems to solve global challenges and help people unleash their potential. “It goes beyond simply saying ‘thank you’ to convey how appreciative I am of my BMO National Scholarship. This award has allowed me to focus entirely on my studies and extracurricular activities, enabling me to significantly contribute to the academic and social community.”
Mapalo Mushoriwa
Forensic Science
University of Toronto Mississauga
“I hope to make a difference in this world by advocating for those wrongly convicted and for the rehabilitation of inmates.”
Mapalo Mushoriwa is studying forensic science and plans to pursue a career in forensic psychology or law. “I hope to make a difference in this world by advocating for those who have been wrongly convicted and for the rehabilitation of inmates,” says Mapalo, whose extracurricular activities include the Forensic Society, Psychology Society and Women in Law. She describes herself as an ambitious small-town Saskatchewan girl. She is a two-time Canada-Wide Science Fair finalist and a bronze medalist for her project on the effect of climate change on cadmium uptake in wheat. “BMO’s contributions have lessened the stress on my father, who has endured a challenging period following the loss of my mother,” she says.
Jada Overmars
Arts and Science
University College
“The BMO National Scholarship has eased my financial burden and filled me with hope and determination for the future.”
Jada Overmars plans to double major in Computer Science and Cognitive Science, with a view to attending graduate school. She aspires to improve and adapt educational systems, making them more inclusive and effective for diverse types of learners. “I was drawn to U of T for its reputation for academic excellence and theoretical focus, and I’m eager to take part in undergraduate research,” says Jada, who is also building her leadership skills as president of the First Year Council, where she advocates for incoming students. “The BMO National Scholarship has eased my financial burden and filled me with hope and determination for the future,” she says. “Thank you for enabling me to study at this world-class university and believing in students like me.”
We invite you to meet the National Scholars from other years:
