As National Volunteer Week comes to a close, we want to thank the volunteers who continue to make an impact in the York community. Because of their volunteerism, we have been able to continue to provide guidance, support, and knowledge to York students, alumni and friends.
We are also grateful to the York alumni who generously volunteer their time, energy and expertise in their own communities in order to help create positive change locally and globally. In honour of Earth Week, we'd like to share a few testimonials from alumni about how their time and experience at York impacted their drive to volunteer and work in the field of environmental sustainability.
David (Xiaoyu) Wang
“York University brims with sustainability initiatives from its “green” buildings to its focus on fostering student leaders to pursuit long-term positive change in their communities. One of my fondest memories as a York student was walking into the Schulich building and being greeted by an information card that described the impact the building has on reducing Greenhouse Gas Emission. York not only inspires me to incorporate a sustainable mindset in my volunteer work with the Town of East Gwillimbury, but also enriches my learning with opportunities to hone my skills as a student consultant in resolving pressing sustainability issues in the business world.”
David (Xiaoyu) Wang
MSCM '20, Schulich School of Business
Environmental Advisory Committee and Accessibility Advisory Committee, The Town of East Gwillimbury; Manager, Transportation and Optimization, Labatt Breweries of Canada
Aurangzeb (Zeb) Khandwala
“Sitting in Vanier’s renaissance room during my 2nd year at York I came across a quote that changed my life and has become the bedrock of all my initiatives. The quote is by Robert Morrison and it went something like this “To do what ought to be done but would not have been done unless I did it, I thought to be my duty.” Once I started to perceive the world from this perspective nothing seems impossible anymore, just a challenge that needs to be overcome. York University created an environment for me to first-hand experience the impact I could have as a student for local and global communities. Once you get a taste of being able to help and create meaningful change, there is no going back. I experienced a very different kind of satisfaction & a feeling of being at peace that I have never experienced doing anything else. These experiences as a York University student inspired and enabled me to take on sustainability challenges on a more national and global level.”
Aurangzeb (Zeb) Khandwala
BA '18, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
CEO, Bay Polymers; Advisory Board Member of The Great Sea Project
Sonia Sheechoria
“With my education at York University, combined with my experience volunteering in student clubs (shoutout HRSA) and as an Orientation Leader (shoutout New College), I always knew I was my happiest when working with others to achieve a higher purpose. In a previous role, I worked to implement sustainable business practices and learned the importance of being an environmentally conscious consumer. I absolutely love my job! Being able to support Arts & Culture in Toronto, especially during a pandemic is extremely rewarding. However, my volunteer work at the Peel Community Climate Council, allows me to fulfill other passions of mine. As a Board Director and Head of Community Outreach, I lead a team of 7 to create projects, host events and develop partnerships in Peel Region to inform, educate and empower change to help fight the climate crisis.”
Sonia Sheechoria
BHRM ’15, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies; MCLE ’19, Faculty of Education
Manager, Fund Development, Toronto Artscape Foundation Community Outreach Lead & Board Member, Community Climate Council