Toronto Catholic school board’s top scholars unveiled

Some of the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s top student scholars are planning careers in medicine.

Nicola Sahar of Bishop Allen Academy, who achieved finished with a 100-per-cent average, is heading to McMaster University in September to study health sciences. He hopes to become a neurosurgeon.

Catherine Spagnuolo of Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School, who also got 100 per cent in her final grades, will be going to York University to study biology and hopes to become a doctor.

Spagnuolo, 18, received the President’s Scholarship worth $21,600 from York University for achieving the highest admission average in the Faculty of Science and Engineering. She also got a scholarship of merit worth $2,000 from the university.

“The scholarship was a big bonus,” she told CityNews.

Spagnuolo said she was shocked to learn that she tied for the school board’s top scholar last week when the board informed her about the honour.

“All my hard work paid off,” she said. “All those hours of working hard and being dedicated to my studies, it truly did pay off.”

This summer, she’s volunteering at Mt. Sinai Hospital’s infant hearing program and working at Loretto Infirmary.

The other two top scholars were Alexandra Majerski with a 99.83-per-cent average and Alexander Gabinet-Equihua with a 99.50 average. Both students recently graduated from Bishop Allen Academy.

Gabinet-Equihua, 18, who received two scholarships totalling $8,000, was equally happy about his honour.

“It’s nice to see your efforts are rewarded,” he said.

He will be working this summer for the City of Toronto as a lifeguard and swim instructor and volunteering at St. Joseph’s hospital in the ER department.

Gabinet-Equihua will be going to the University of Toronto to study commerce and life sciences, and Majerski will be studying life sciences at the University of Toronto.

Education director Bruce Rodrigues said in a release, “These students are to be congratulated for their ability to balance high academic standards with service to their community.”

Click here to see the full list of top scholars.

The Toronto District School Board’s top scholars won’t be disclosed until early next week, a spokeswoman said.

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