Valedictorians & Award Winners

(Faculty of Community & Health)

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.

(Seneca Business)

Krishma Chhagani is a familiar face at Seneca, having created and hosted social media content designed to help new students succeed. She began her academic journey in the Business Administration – Management diploma program before transferring into the Honours Bachelor of Commerce – Business Management degree. She served as the president of Enactus Seneca for two years, leading the team to its first-ever regionals win. Krishma has received several major Seneca awards including the W.T. Newnham Leadership Award, given annually to a final-year student who has demonstrated abilities in academics, leadership and enhancing the quality of life at Seneca. Krishma has recently started working for Loblaw Companies Limited as an Assistant Product Manager, while continuing to serve as a research assistant on a national study, mentoring international newcomers and developing her own social enterprise.

(Faculty of Continuing Education)

Ronchie Ganzon wants others to know that returning to postsecondary education is always worthwhile. It took him some time to accept that advice himself – but once he convinced himself to enrol in Seneca’s Cybersecurity and Threat Management graduate certificate program, he never looked back. Ronchie chose to study at Seneca because of its flexible learning options, which allowed him to learn while maintaining his responsibilities to his family and his employer. Although initially nervous about being one of the older students in his classes, Ronchie quickly found his footing. His experience made him a natural mentor for his younger peers, able to share advice about solving difficult problems and achieving the successful careers they want.

(Faculty of Arts)

Anna Lychuk arrived in Canada in 2022 with her two young children, believing it was the best way to keep themselves alive following Russia’s invasion of their home in Ukraine. Wanting to communicate more easily in her new country, Anna took English as a Second Language (ESL) courses and then enrolled in Seneca’s General Arts – English for Academic Purposes certificate program. Although expressing herself was a challenge at first, Anna quickly blossomed into a natural leader who inspires her peers and professors, taking special care to ensure that new ESL students are aware of all the resources available to them at Seneca. Anna will return to Seneca in September to work toward obtaining a graduate certificate in Professional Accounting Practice, after which she hopes to put her business experience from Ukraine to good use in Canada.

(Faculty of Communication, Art & Design)

Dalen Ngoun arrived at Seneca with a clear goal: to transition from public service into a purpose-driven career in digital marketing while making a meaningful impact in his new community. He first completed Seneca’s International Business Management graduate certificate program to build foundational business knowledge, then he enrolled in Seneca’s Digital & Social Media Marketing graduate certificate program to further deepen his expertise. Dalen actively contributed to campus life by supporting student innovation through the Housing Hackathon 2024, advancing social entrepreneurship with Enactus Seneca and serving as a peer mentor. He also served as a student ambassador for the Seneca Business Faculty’s Student Advisory Committee and was recognized with the Price-De Souza Paperclip Scholarship for his academic achievement and cross-program contributions.

(Faculty of Applied Sciences & Engineering Technology)

Bernadette O’Brien is praised by her professors for contributing to creating a positive learning environment for all students – but that’s only a small part of the impact she’s made in her time at Seneca. Bernadette is a graduate of Seneca’s Fire Protection Engineering Technology diploma program, where she found dedicated professors and cutting-edge laboratories that helped her determine her ideal career in fire protection. She was very active outside of class, serving as a residence advisor and a tutor, volunteering for campus events and speaking to high school students about her great experiences at Seneca – all while also working two part-time jobs. Bernadette was the 2025 recipient of the Founders Award for Leadership and Excellence from the Canadian Fire Safety Association. Bernadette now works in fire sprinkler design.

(Seneca Nanji Foundation School of Nursing)

Elleni Stefanidis had a degree in psychology and a rewarding job working with children on the autism spectrum but felt drawn to a career in nursing. She enrolled in Seneca’s Practical Nursing diploma program on the advice of a recent graduate who was working in the field. As she moved through the demanding program, she stood out for demonstrating leadership and relationship-building skills that enhanced the Seneca experience for everyone around her. Just as she was appreciated by her peers and professors, Elleni treasured learning from classmates who consistently pushed each other to be their best and from faculty members who actively work in nursing. Elleni greatly enjoyed her practicum placement in an emergency room and, having now graduated from her program, hopes to work in a similar role.

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.