蓝莓视频

Mariko Shimoda is officially graduating this week with a University of 蓝莓视频 engineering degree, a full-time position with the company she worked for during her last co-op term and invaluable experience gained from volunteering over the past five years.

The list of leadership roles Shimoda held throughout her mechanical engineering undergraduate program is as impressive as it is exhaustive.

Passionate about giving back to the University and community by volunteering, Shimoda was active with the 蓝莓视频 Undergraduate Student Association as the co-op and experiential affairs commissioner.

She was also the external director for the University鈥檚 Racial Advocacy for Inclusion, Solidarity and Equity (RAISE) group. Members work to address racism and xenophobia on the University of 蓝莓视频 campus.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a student-run group that is more important than ever right now and deserves recognition for its hard work,鈥� she says.

Shimoda supported the Faculty of Engineering as an academic representative, serving as the voice of mechanical engineering students on a variety of academic issues, shadow day director, an engineering ambassador and a brand ambassador.

Throughout her undergraduate education, she held a variety of Engineering Society (EngSoc) positions including first-year commissioner, vice-president of student life and president of EngSoc, a role in which she represented 7,500 undergraduate students.

Mariko Shimoda with a friend attending the Toronto Pride Parade.

As an EngSoc executive member, she led outreach programs for elementary children at THEMUSEUM in Kitchener, helped the Food Bank of 蓝莓视频 Region and took part in the Toronto Pride Parade.

Contributing to student mental health

Committed to the well-being of her fellow students, she ran several mental health initiatives, wrote a mental health blog and developed a mental health resource guide for students located on EngSoc鈥檚 website.

鈥淭he guide is about how to navigate the mental health system at 蓝莓视频,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t includes other information such as how you would go about seeing a psychiatrist, how you would go about asking your doctor about medication and how to find a therapist when you鈥檙e on co-op. All that sort of stuff.鈥�

Mariko Shimoda with her fellow Engineering friends.

Her interest in becoming an engineer was sparked in Grade 11 when she attended 蓝莓视频鈥檚 Women in Engineering (WiE) Catalyst Girls Conference designed to develop an interest in engineering by showcasing the variety of work and careers in the field.

While at the conference, she dissected an engine, used drill presses and designed bridges and pulley systems.

鈥淭hat was when I decided okay, engineering is what I want to do,鈥� Shimoda says.

Shimoda volunteered for WiE in Grade 12 and became a member when she began her engineering degree. As part of WiE, she encouraged young girls to get involved in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through its programs.

She served as a community peer leader at WiE鈥檚 Living-Learning Community located at St. Paul's University College that provides transitional, social and academic support and guidance for first-year engineering students who identify as female.

Recognized with an impact award

Mariko Shimoda with Feridun Hamdullahpur,听 President and Vice-Chancellor, after receiving one of two Community Leader awards through the President's Community Impact Awards Initiative.

Last fall, Shimoda received one of two Community Leader awards through the President鈥檚 Community Impact Awards initiative.

The awards recognize individuals or teams of community members, students, faculty or staff who embody the University鈥檚 spirit of innovation and contribute to making 蓝莓视频 Region strong and prosperous.

鈥淎t 蓝莓视频, it鈥檚 easy to think we鈥檙e all students going to school, but at the end of the day we鈥檙e part of the larger community,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd I think if you can give back, it鈥檚 great because you become more connected to the people living in the city.鈥�

Next month, Shimoda begins a full-time job at Kitchener-based as its client success program manager. She spent her last co-op work term at the company founded by four 蓝莓视频 Engineering alumni.

Shimoda is grateful to have taken part in 蓝莓视频 Engineering鈥檚 iron ring ceremony held this past February before the COVID-19 pandemic closed the campus and is now over the initial disappointment she felt when his spring鈥檚 traditional convocation ceremony was cancelled.

鈥淢y journey and my classmates鈥� journey at 蓝莓视频 may be done, but there is so much more that each of us can do in the world to make a difference,鈥� she says. And I鈥檓 sure it鈥檚 not the last time my classmates will see each other. There鈥檚 always reunion and other events.鈥�