Each year, the Faculty of Science recognizes students who seek out opportunities beyond the classroom in the areas of Leadership, Engagement, Application, and Discovery as LEAD Medallion Scholars.

These experiences help students develop marketable skills in communication, critical thinking, community service, problem-solving, and a global perspective, says dean Chris Houser.

“I am always impressed by the number and diversity of activities that students have completed during their time at the University of Windsor,” Dr. Houser says.

Biological sciences major Taylor Bendig developed the Science Meets Art (SMArt) program to promote effective science communication through the creative arts, while working as a teaching assistant and volunteering in the research labs of both Tina Semeniuk and Barbara Zielinski.

Joy Kobti, a student of chemistry and biochemistry, served as president of the Science Society and a teaching assistant, and completed research with John Trant studying selective acetate deprotection in carbohydrate chemistry.

Emily Genyn, an environmental studies major who travelled the world through study-abroad trips to Costa Rica and Iceland as well as an exchange to New Zealand, completed research on property owner perceptions of shoreline erosion along Lake Erie.

Computer science student Eric Pickup conducted research with professor Sherif Saad Ahmed on vehicle cybersecurity, and spent two semesters in California as an intern at Google and GitHub.

Nick Philbin, a biomedical sciences student, worked with Lisa Porter investigating the role of Spy1 in triple negative breast cancer, while volunteering with the Windsor Cancer Research Group’s CURES team and serving as vice president of recruitment for the Students Offering Support program.

Kaylee Anagnostopoulos, a member of the Lancer women’s basketball team and a student in forensic science, completed work with Scott Mundle on the environmental chemistry of the Alberta oilsands.

Physics major Alexi Jankulovski worked with Dan Xiao on MRI technology while also completing a co-op with the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre and serving as a teaching assistant for the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

“These examples are not exceptions,” says Houser. “They are the norm in the Faculty of Science.”

More than 100 students will receive LEAD medals this year. Houser says his faculty take pride in the fact that they provide their students with unprecedented opportunities in study abroad, service learning, internships, and research.

Biological sciences professor Dora Cavallo-Medved says it’s wonderful to see students recognized for their hard work and dedication to the University: “Our LEAD Medallion scholars have made amazing contributions that have advanced our research programs, enhanced our teaching, and enriched our communities.”