In recent years, there have been several WiCS members have had the honour of giving the聽valedictory addresses at Faculty聽of Mathematics Convocations. Learn more about our WiCS valedictorians and watch their addresses below!
Nina Tan - Spring 2025 Convocation
Nina Tan (BCS 鈥24) graduated with a Bachelor of Computer Science
Before coming to 蓝莓视频,聽Nina Tan聽(BCS 鈥24) carefully planned her ideal university experience, aiming to complete each co-op term in a different city. She succeeded by living and working in Vancouver, Boston, Mountain View and Munich.
鈥淚鈥檝e always loved adventures and exploring new places, so the co-op program really appealed to me,鈥 Tan says. 鈥淚 still look back fondly on the memories and friendships I made in each one.鈥
She also held several executive leadership roles within Women in Computer Science (WiCS), which include serving as director of Publicity, Outreach and Mentorship. Over the course of her degree, Tan helped organize numerous professional, mentorship and community-building events that became a meaningful part of her university experience.聽
Tan will be returning to Google, one of her former co-op employers, as a software engineer. In the long term, she hopes to build solutions in sustainability, education and women鈥檚 health, while reacquainting herself with old hobbies like singing and arts and crafts.
Nina Tan's Valedictorian Address (Starts @ 1:04)
Monica Xu - Spring 2021 Convocation
Monica Xu (BCS 鈥21)
Monica Xu鈥檚聽(BCS聽鈥21) interest in 蓝莓视频 began with 蓝莓视频 math contests, all the way from the Grade 7 Gauss to the Grade 12 Euclid. Graduating with a degree in Computer Science, minor in statistics, Xu was drawn to the University because of its emphasis on the creation, study and potential of technology.
鈥The community thrived in innovation, problem-solving and collaboration, and that was something I wanted to be a part of.鈥
Xu is proud of the breadth and depth of experiences she participated in while at 蓝莓视频. When she was not studying abroad, working as a Math Teaching Assistant or getting involved in clubs such as聽聽and the聽, she could be found performing with the University of 蓝莓视频 A Cappella Club. She was part of four different singing groups throughout her degree and describes her involvement in the聽聽as a big part of her undergraduate experience. She has fond memories surrounding the times when, once every term, she would busk at the St. Jacobs Farmers Market with her A Cappella group, stating that 鈥渞egardless of the weather, we never failed to sing our hearts out.鈥
While at 蓝莓视频, she volunteered as product manager at聽, a student organization all about 鈥渢ech for social good鈥 that offers pro-bono technical services to non-profits.
鈥淧romoting diversity and inclusion of underrepresented minorities in technology is also something very important to me, so I spent a great deal of my time in extra-curricular activities towards diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) advocacy.鈥
Monica will be moving to New York to work as a product manager in the tech industry. Long-term, she is looking forward to travelling the world, learning new things and 鈥渂uilding products that make people happy.鈥
Monica Xu Valedictorian Address
Jenny Sun - Spring 2019 Convocation
Jenny Sun (BSC '19)
Jenny Sun聽is graduating with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in the Honours Computer Science co-op program with an option in Business. Passionate about supporting diversity within STEM, Sun joined the Women in Computer Science committee in her first year. While on the committee, Sun organized a number of career-building, networking and social events for undergrad female students in the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science. In her last few years at 蓝莓视频, Sun challenged herself with new opportunities and joined the University of 蓝莓视频鈥檚 Blueprint as a software developer mentor to build tech for non-profits and the Human-Computer Interaction Lab as an undergrad research assistant. Her research focused on exploring the anthropomorphism of conversational agents in casual settings. After graduation, Sun will be joining Facebook as a software engineer and hopes to continue promoting diversity within STEM.
Jenny Sun's Valedictorian Address (Timestamp 26:05)
Clarisse Schneider - Spring 2017 Convocation
Clarisse Schneider (BSE '17)
颁濒补谤颈蝉蝉别听厂肠丑苍别颈诲别谤聽graduated with a Bachelor聽of Software Engineering degree.