Three undergraduate students at York University have been awarded the Governor General’s Silver Medal, which recognizes the outstanding scholastic achievements and academic merit of undergraduate students in Canada.
The Governor General's Academic Medals are considered the highest honour that can be earned by exemplary Canadian scholars throughout every level of academia. The awards will be conferred during Spring Convocation. This year’s recipients are:
Daniel Aliee
Aliee is graduating from the specialized honours bachelor of science in kinesiology and health science program at York University’s Faculty of Health.
“To me, this medal represents the journey from self-doubt to self-discipline,” he says. “It’s a symbol not only of academic excellence, but of personal growth through perseverance, curiosity and resilience. I’m proud to represent York and the Faculty of Health as part of the Governor General’s tradition of excellence.”
Aliee chose York University for its reputation of having one of Canada’s leading kinesiology programs, its proximity to home and the unmatched opportunity to participate in hands-on learning through the University's practicums.
Aliee's interest in kinesiology sparked after discovering a passion for preventive medicine and human performance. His academic path was shaped by a drive to bridge science with clinical care. He explored this interest through research and clinical internships – ranging from neurosurgery and brain-computer interface innovation to national policy advising on the opioid crisis.
On campus, he served as co-president of the Culinary Association and as a long-time peer tutor with the Kinesiology and Health Science Student Organization.
Aliee will begin medical school at McMaster University this August. As a future physician, he hopes to integrate clinical practice with research and health policy to improve outcomes for patients facing complex conditions.
Brandon Lamorena
Lamorena completed an honours bachelor of arts in history at York University, along with a general certificate in law and society. His pursued interest in subjects around social movements, imperialism and media in the late modern period draw on a broad range of thematic and geographic areas.
He says receiving the Governor General’s Silver Medal is an honour – and a surprise. “While academic success is only a part of what makes a person truly whole, receiving one of the highest recognitions that can be achieved at the undergraduate level is something I am proud of.”
Lamorena was drawn to the variety of courses and faculty perspectives available in York’s history program, in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, and found that his law and society courses deepened the theoretical foundation of his work. He credits a strong network of support for helping him succeed. In particular, he thanks Professors Deb Neill, Jay Ramasubramanyam and Cindy Loch-Drake, counsellor Jayne Greene-Black and teaching assistants Nithya Nagarajan, Can Turgut and Johanna Lewis. He also received the York University President’s Scholarship, which along with other awards, made his studies more financially accessible.
Although he completed his degree in August 2024 and convocated last fall, Lamorena is thrilled to return to campus to accept the Silver Medal – a rare opportunity, he says, to cross the stage twice for the same degree.
Now pursuing a master’s degree in history at York, Lamorena is working under the supervision of Jennifer Stephen. His major research paper examines newspaper coverage of major industrial disputes in late-1930s Ontario, alongside the direct role media owners played as political actors in those events.
Rebecca Sarchese
Sarchese is graduating from Glendon College with a bilingual bachelor of arts with honours in linguistics and language studies, a minor in Spanish and Latin American cultures and societies, and Glendon’s Certificate in English–Spanish/Spanish–English Translation. Her academic journey has consistently explored how language and Disability intersect, guided by a commitment to equity and inclusion.
Her research began in her second year when she joined Glendon’s Research Apprenticeship Program, working with Professor Catherine Lamaison to examine accommodations for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students in French-as-a-second-language courses. Lamaison later supervised Sarchese's research into person-first and identity-first language among Disabled students at York. She also collaborated with Professor Shanna Lino to co-develop a course on Disability portrayals in Spain and Latin America. Across all projects, Sarchese brought together her passion for language and Disability studies to advocate for more inclusive learning and representation.
“This award comes as an honour but also as a surprise,” says Sarchese. “There were many moments this past year when I was certain I wouldn’t graduate, so to not only graduate but to also receive an award as prestigious as this leaves me speechless. I couldn’t have done it without my friends and family, who were an exemplary support system throughout my degree.”
She credits Glendon’s focus on languages and the support of caring professors for shaping her undergraduate experience. “I never would have thought myself capable of any of this without them,” she says. “I am forever grateful to the faculty members at Glendon who saw something in me and played a vital role in who I am now.”
Sarchese will continue her studies this fall at Glendon to pursue a master of arts in translation studies, where she aims to further explore how language can be a tool for social change.