Valedictorians & Award Winners

Faculty of Community & Health — Honours Bachelor of Child Development

Debran Crooke remembers moving to Canada in 2001 as a young adult from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, feeling lost, overwhelmed and wishing she could access resources that would help her navigate and thrive in her new home. Now, as a graduate of Seneca Polytechnic’s Honours Bachelor of Childhood Development degree program, she’s one step closer to being able to provide others with that kind of support. This marks Debran’s third Seneca credential; she has previously graduated from the Early Childhood Education and Social Service Worker diploma programs. Debran completed her degree while also working a full-time job and volunteering with her church and community. She is now pursuing a master’s degree in social work and hopes to be an advocate for children and families, particularly those who come from marginalized backgrounds.

Seneca Business — Business Administration – Financial Planning

It’s hard to find an aspect of life at Seneca Polytechnic in which Vicente Emilio Correa Echenagucia didn’t make his mark. While completing the Business Administration – Financial Planning diploma program, he mentored hundreds of his peers in career development, led four donation drives for the Seneca Student Federation and York Regional Police Holiday Heroes campaign and was president of the Student Leaders in Accounting and Financial Services Club. He volunteered as a student ambassador and was selected for an internship with a private equity firm in the United States. He was co-captain of the Seneca Sting varsity men’s rugby team and a provincial all-star. Vicente is a recipient of the Linda Stapleton Sting 360 award, presented annually to a student who exemplifies leadership, character and excellence. Vicente is currently interning with a startup that works at the intersection of artificial intelligence and finance.

Faculty of Continuing Education — Paralegal

Recently retired from a career in public service, Ian GlynWilliams knew that he wanted the next chapter of his career to involve advocating for others. He found that Seneca Polytechnic’s part-time Paralegal program offered him the flexibility to balance a busy schedule and still complete his studies in a timely way. While at Seneca, Ian was a strong advocate for his fellow students, volunteering to serve in his faculty’s Student Advisory Group and the Student Quality Assurance Council. Ian’s peers looked to him as a classroom leader, selecting him to lead group projects and speak on their behalf. Ian, who previously spent 20 years working for the Ontario government in financial and project management, is now on the path to establishing his own legal services firm.

Faculty of Communication, Art & Design — Interactive Media Design

Working as a designer in South Korea, Yebin Pak wanted to broaden her horizons both personally and professionally. Researching opportunities, she determined that she wanted to be in Canada because of its diversity and reputation for friendliness, and at Seneca Polytechnic because of the breadth of knowledge and skills she would learn in the Interactive Media Design diploma program. Through her enthusiastic participation in the classroom and in peer support groups, Yebin quickly became known for her positive attitude, empathetic nature and commitment to excellence. Yebin is currently in an internship role in user experience and user interface design and plans to continue pursuing roles in which she can use design to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Faculty of Arts — Honours Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies

To pursue his dream of teaching, Brandon Robinson found Seneca Polytechnic’s Honours Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree program to be the perfect fit to build on the diploma he had earned at another postsecondary institution and earn a degree. Setting him up for early success, Seneca recognized the credits he’d already obtained elsewhere, allowing him to complete his degree much quicker than if he’d had to start from the beginning. And even more important to Brandon, he found his professors to be approachable and supportive, quick to answer his questions and eager to help him along his journey. His professors in turn praise him for his positive attitude, his dedication to learning and the insight he showed in compiling his capstone research project comparing youth athletic instruction in Canada and Japan. Brandon now works as a teacher at an elementary school and hopes to soon become an educator in Japan.

Faculty of Applied Sciences & Engineering Technology — Computer Engineering Technology

The first time Krish Salvi disassembled a computer, he was only five years old. His parents had to call a technician to get the machine back in working order. For Krish, watching that professional at work sparked a lifelong interest in technology and hardware. He attended university in his home country of India but found that the lessons were more theoretical than he wanted. His desire to also incorporate hands-on learning in his postsecondary experience led him to the Computer Engineering Technology diploma program at Seneca Polytechnic, where he immediately immersed himself in campus life. Krish was a fixture in Seneca’s Media Production Club, served as president of the Seneca Student Federation’s AV Club, mentored new students and volunteered to teach workshops for high school students. Krish is working as an AV technician and plans to progress to roles in data centres, systems administration and network administration.

Seneca Nanji Foundation School of Nursing — Personal Support Worker

Janille Sandy moved to Canada from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with her partner, their four children and her niece with special needs. She had previously worked as an English teacher and came to Canada with a desire to advance her education and continue to help others. At Seneca Polytechnic, Janille balanced her studies in the Personal Support Worker certificate program with working part-time and caring for family – impressing everyone with her integrity, leadership and teamwork. Janille found a strong sense of camaraderie among her peers and credits the program’s hands‑on learning experiences with preparing her for her internship. Professors laud Janille’s ability to make meaningful contributions to class discussions. Janille hopes to one day open a respite home for children with special needs.

Anna Melissa (Eli) Agay was born in the Philippines and worked in her home country and for the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco before moving to Canada. She applied to Seneca Polytechnic’s Social Service Worker (SSW) diploma program because its graduates are eligible for registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Eli served as a peer mentor, student ambassador and president of the SSW Club, through which she led important initiatives on sexual violence prevention education, crisis de-escalation and suicide alertness. Now a Registered Social Services Worker, Eli is driven to make a difference in the local Filipino community, where she volunteers with Adhika Development to raise awareness on prevention of gender-based and sexual violence. Eli is the 2025 recipient of the Seneca Cup, which acknowledges academic proficiency and contributions made toward improving the quality of student life.

Paul Krahn is a graduate of Seneca Polytechnic’s Honours Bachelor of Aviation Technology degree program, which he completed through a Canadian Armed Forces initiative that allows students to train as military pilots while simultaneously earning their degree. His passion for aviation took flight early—he earned his private pilot licence at just 17. At Seneca, Paul excelled in the classroom, achieving the highest grade-point average among all degree program students. Paul credits his professors for creating a supportive learning environment that helped him grow and succeed. He is now completing the final phase of his military training in Manitoba.

Roberto Horatio Aramburu is a graduate of Seneca Polytechnic’s Business diploma program. More than just an outstanding student, he was widely recognized as a team leader and an active participant in campus life. Roberto values the hands-on learning he received at Seneca and the real-world connections between his assignments and business challenges. An innovative entrepreneur, he has successfully founded businesses in Argentina and the United States and is now ready to launch his next venture in Canada.

Karen Kei Barra is a graduate of Seneca Polytechnic’s Flight Services – Operations & Cabin Management diploma program. She arrived at Seneca with a wealth of experience in the aviation industry and a desire to upskill so that she could pursue a career in flight operations. She was a regular volunteer at campus events, served as a peer mentor and cites building meaningful relationships with peers and mentors as the highlight of her time at Seneca. Karen now plans to continue advancing her career in the Canadian aviation sector.

Rosemary Vergara is a graduate of Seneca Polytechnic’s Child & Youth Care diploma program. She pursued her studies at Seneca to develop the skills needed to build authentic, trusting relationships with children and advocate for their well-being. She especially values the work placements included in her program, which reaffirmed her decision to shift careers. Today, Rosemary is applying her Seneca education as a Special Educational Assistant with the York Region District School Board.