The 2014 Engineering Alumni Association (EAA) Awards have been announced and will be formally presented at a ceremony on Nov. 5 in The Great Hall at U of T’s Hart House.
See below for a list of EAA Awards categories and winners:
Engineering Alumni Medal
As the EAA’s highest honour, this award recognizes outstanding achievement, superior accomplishments and flair, and excellence in response to challenges.
Arthur Slutsky (EngSci 7T0, MASc IndE 7T2)
Arthur Slutsky is a true visionary and a leader among his peers. In an era when scientific disciplines tended to become specialized and segregated, he saw the need for integration and collaboration between engineering and medicine. Under his leadership as division director, the Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine at U of T was considered one of the top two programs in the world. Over the course of his career, he has authored and co-authored well over 450 peer-reviewed publications and 73 chapters in medical books.
Engineering Alumni Hall of Distinction Award
The EAA is proud to present this assembly of extraordinary alumni selected by their peers for their lifelong accomplishments. Commemorated in a display in the Sandford Fleming Building, Hall of Distinction members are a familiar daily presence in the lives of students and serve as examples to future generations of U of T engineers.
Prabha Kundur (ElecE MASc 6T5, PhD 6T7)
Dr. Prabha Kundur is one of the world’s foremost authorities on electrical power systems. In addition to an illustrious career with Ontario Hydro and Powertech Labs Inc., he served as a consultant to many power utilities the world over, has been involved in teaching and research as adjunct professor at U of T since 1979, and has written an award-winning and influential book on the subject. His contributions have been recognized by many top international honours and awards.
Som Seif (IndE 9T9)
At the age of 28, Som Seif founded and grew Claymore Investments into an innovative asset management firm that changed the Canadian investment industry. He continues that entrepreneurial spirit today as president and CEO of Purpose Investments Inc. But Seif’s leadership is not limited to his professional career. He is a member of the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering advisory board and BizSkule alumni chapter committee. An avid water polo player, Seif coached U of T’s varsity team to five provincial championships.
Gerry Smith (MechE 8T7)
As CEO of CiRBA, Gerry Smith transformed the software company from a 10-employee operation with less than $1 million in sales to a leader in data centre analytics with 125 employees in offices throughout Canada, Europe and the US. Clients such as Citi Bank, Manulife and Disney have deployed CiRBA’s software throughout their data centres.
William Troost (ChemE 6T7)
William “Bill” Troost, founder and president of Peel Plastics, is an outstanding business leader who has demonstrated innovation and entrepreneurship. He started Peel Plastics in 1978 as a two-person operation. Today, the company employs over 300 people and is a leader in the flexible packaging market. Troost is a member of both the board of advisors of the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry and ILead, and he and his wife Kathleen have generously donated to various engineering Faculty initiatives.
Malcolm F. McGrath Alumni Achievement Award
Recognizes contributions to the Faculty, University or to the community, in honour of Malcolm McGrath, past Assistant Dean, Alumni Relations.
Caprice Boisvert (MechE 9T3)
Caprice Boisvert has played an active role in the EAA, serving as a member of the EAA Council from 2004–06. In 2005, the Skule™ Mentorship Program was created, matching alumni with third- and fourth-year students. For nearly seven years, Boisvert was responsible for all aspects of the program, and as a result of her efforts it gained the reputation as one of U of T’s top mentorship programs.
2T5 Mid-Career Achievement Award
Celebrates an individual who has earned respect within the profession and broader community and attained significant achievement within 25 years of graduation.
Ted Maulucci (MechE 8T9)
Ted Maulucci is a leader and innovator within the construction industry in Toronto. As chief information officer of Tridel Corporation, he championed the development and promotion of “smart buildings” andwas recognized in 2013 with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal for his accomplishments. Maulucci co-founded One Million Acts of Innovation, a not-for-profit group that is committed to working with students and others to bring new ideas to market.
7T6 Early Career Award
Recognizes an individual who has become distinguished in their profession and community within 10 years of graduation.
Mathew Szeto (CompE 0T4)
Mathew Szeto has distinguished himself as a leader at both RBC Capital Markets and throughout Toronto’s investment community. As the head of Electronic Sales and Trading, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Szeto was handpicked by RBC to advance their business in those regions. In 2009, he received an Arbor Award for his volunteer commitment to Skule™ and regularly speaks to aspiring engineering students interested in financial services.
L.E. (Ted) Jones Award of Distinction
Honours Skule™ students who exemplify Professor Emeritus L.E. (Ted) Jones’ great appreciation of the arts and his love of music.
Christopher Sun (EngSci 1T3 + PEY)
Christopher Sun’s belief in the power and educational potential of music and the arts keeps him passionate about inspiring his peers and building a community for the arts in engineering. In addition to the many performing arts clubs and events he’s involved with, Sun co-directed, choreographed and wrote for Skule™ Nite 1T3, the Engineering Musical Sketch Comedy Revue, resulting in five sold-out shows at Hart House Theatre. He was the valedictorian for the engineering class of 1T4.
— Jamie Hunter