The York University Alumni Board has announced the recipients of the 2025 Alumni Silver Jubilee Scholarship, Alumni Golden GRADitude award and the Harry Arthurs Alumni Families Entrance Scholarship.
Alumni Silver Jubilee Scholarship
Shon Lazarev
The Alumni Silver Jubilee Scholarship is presented to a student who exemplifies excellence in academics, leadership and community impact. This year’s recipient, Shon Lazarev (BS ’25), is recognized for his outstanding academic record, dedication to student advocacy and far-reaching contributions to the York community and Canada’s broader healthcare and chess landscapes.
A competitive chess player and president of ChessBlitz YorkU, Shon revitalized the club through inclusive programming and community-building. He also led the Thornhill Chess Club through the pandemic, organizing over 40 online tournaments and maintaining engagement across Canada’s chess scene.
Shon’s passion for health and science is reflected in his NSERC-funded neuroscience research and volunteer work at Mackenzie Health Hospital. He has supported student success as a Bethune College peer tutor, academic advisor and class representative coordinator.
A strong advocate for student voices, Shon served on the York University Senate, Academic Policy, Planning and Research Committee and Tenure & Promotions Committee. He is also active in campus outreach and equity efforts including Breaking Stigmas and ManyGreenHands YorkU.
Shon plans to pursue medical school and hopes to one day return to York at its new medical school. Reflecting on the award, he shared: “This recognition means a lot to me. I’m proud to represent the York community and look forward to giving back through medicine and mentorship.”
Shon’s journey is defined by academic excellence, meaningful leadership and a deep commitment to building inclusive and engaged communities.
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Alumni Golden GRADitude Award
The Alumni Golden GRADitude Award recognizes graduating students who leave York University a better place thanks to the significant leadership they demonstrated during their time on campus. This year, we are proud to recognize Sebastian Marmorato (HBSc ’25) and Ethan Tucker (BA ’25).
Sebastian Marmorato was honoured with the National CSC Silver Medal, awarded to the top graduating biochemistry student. He received an NSERC USRA to research the photoswitching kinetics of azobenzene-based molecular machines under the supervision of Dr. William Pietro and Dr. Ozzy Mermut.
Beyond academics, Sebastian founded Run Club @ York (YURUN), a campus-wide initiative promoting fitness and well-being. Under his leadership, the club grew to over 200 members and raised over $1,000 for Achilles Canada to support runners with disabilities. Sebastian attributes much of his success to the support of mentors within the Faculty of Science, especially Dr. Kyle Belozerov and Dr. Derek Jackson, with whom he collaborated during the development of CHEM 4055: Enzyme Design in Virtual Reality.
Looking ahead, Sebastian plans to pursue dental school, an interest cultivated while volunteering at Tasios Orthodontics, where he was first exposed to clinical practice and patient care. He intends to remain involved with YURUN as a proud York alumnus.
Ethan Tucker exemplified academic excellence, leadership and a deep commitment to sustainability and equity during his time at York. As a Bermudian-Canadian, his experiences with hurricanes in Bermuda shaped his passion for environmental justice and economic reform.
He founded Ontario’s first chapter of Rethinking Economics, a global movement reimagining economics for people and the planet. Under his leadership, the group launched a cup recycling pilot, donation drives, climate finance panels and a Model COP29 simulation.
Ethan also served as a Peer-Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) Leader for intermediate microeconomics, contributed to research on gender bias in hiring and recycling behavior and sat on the Economics Department’s adjudicating committee. He was awarded the YUFA Scholarship for achieving the highest GPA in his faculty.
This fall, Ethan will begin a combined JD/MA in Economics at the University of Toronto, supported by the Ted Rachlin Fellowship. He remains committed to building inclusive, sustainable systems and staying engaged with the York community.
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Harry Arthurs Alumni Families Entrance Scholarship
Andrew Harrington
The Harry Arthurs Alumni Families Entrance Scholarship is awarded to an incoming undergraduate student who is the child, sibling or grandchild of a York University graduate, and who has shown exceptional academic achievement and meaningful involvement in community service, volunteerism or other activities.
This year’s recipient is Andrew Harrington, who is about to begin his first year in York’s Kinesiology and Health Science program.
Andrew has been deeply involved in his community through volunteering with the North York Harvest Food Bank and working as a camp mentor for children. These roles helped him build empathy, patience and the ability to stay calm under pressure, especially when working with kids who needed extra support.
A dedicated student and longtime basketball player, Andrew’s passion for physical wellness and teamwork led him to choose kinesiology as his area of study.
He is also proud to be continuing a family connection to York. His mother graduated over 30 years ago and her stories about campus life made a lasting impression.
“I was honestly shocked when I found out,” said Andrew. “It felt amazing to have my hard work recognized, and I’m so excited to be part of the York community.”