The Governor General's Academic Medals are the highest honour given to outstanding Canadian post-secondary scholars. This year’s awardees represent the University’s dedication to supporting students in achieving academic success.
Nicolas Cheng
After completing his undergraduate degree in kinesiology at York, Cheng is now among this year’s Faculty of Health graduate students earning a MSc in the program. His graduate research focused on exercise science and nutrition. Building on a long-standing interest in sport and training, he worked with Associate Professor Andrea Josse examining how different post-exercise nutrition strategies can influence substances in the blood that indicate how bones are building up or breaking down.
His path into research began during his undergraduate studies, when he collaborated with Professor Tara Haas, sparking an interest in exploring questions related to optimizing health exercise performance.
Cheng chose to remain at York for his graduate studies because of the University’s supportive environment and community. He credits the close-knit kinesiology program, along with mentorship from faculty and peers, for fostering both his academic growth and personal development. He is especially grateful to Josse and his lab mates for their guidance and collaboration throughout his studies.
“Being selected for the Governor General’s Gold Medal is truly an honour,” says Cheng, noting the recognition holds special meaning given the challenges and self-doubt he faced during his academic journey.
“This award feels like an affirmation to continue pursuing higher education and research,” he says.
Cheng will continue his studies at York this fall as a PhD student, expanding on his master’s research. He aims to pursue a career in academia, where he hopes to become a professor and lead a research program focused on exercise, nutrition and musculoskeletal health.
Joel Landon Prowting
Graduating with a PhD from the Faculty of Health, Prowting’s research examined the effects of dairy consumption on human physiology, particularly in response to exercise and diet. His academic journey culminated in his doctoral work exploring how dairy intake influences bone metabolism, inflammation and overall health.
Prowting says he chose York to work with Josse, who also collaborated with fellow Governor General's Gold Medal recipient Cheng. Josse’s research aligned with Prowting interests while offering opportunities to expand his expertise.
Prowting highlights the collaborative environment within the School of Kinesiology and Health Science as a key part of his experience, allowing him to work closely with peers. He also had opportunity to access specialized methods, including muscle biopsy analysis, through collaboration with Professor Chris Perry, director of York’s Muscle Health Research Centre. He also credits the strong sense of community among lab members and colleagues for making his time at York especially rewarding.
“I’m very grateful to be recognized for this award, and proud of myself for maintaining a high level of quality despite the challenges I faced while writing my thesis,” says Prowting. Some challenges were more unique than others, he notes. Completing his thesis coincided with a significant personal milestone: the birth of his daughter.
“I was writing my dissertation from midnight to 5 a.m. while she slept on my chest. It was hard but reminds me that I have the resilience to get things done.”
Prowting is currently a postdoctoral fellow at McMaster University, where he is studying the effects of resistance training and protein intake. Looking toward his future goals, he remains open to both academic and non-academic career paths, building on the skills and connections developed during his time at York.