Four award-winning grads reveal what it takes to earn top honours.
Behind every university degree are years of dedication, perseverance and growth. For UM’s top graduates, that journey has culminated in academic achievement at the highest level.
At Spring Convocation 2026, six students are being honoured with Governor General Academic Medals for outstanding achievement at their level of study and 17 will receive University Gold Medals, awarded for highest standing in an undergraduate faculty, college or school.
Find out what motivated four medal winners to pursue their area of study, what experiences at UM had the most impact on them and what they learned along the way.
Hermie Monterde started her academic journey in the Philippines, where she was presented with the opportunity to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics at the University of the Philippines Diliman. After obtaining her degree, she decided to stay in school and work towards her Master of Science in Mathematics before coming to UM to gain her PhD.
“Being a brown transgender woman, I learned early on that I am not a typical mathematician,” she says. “Nevertheless, academia seemed to be a safe haven for me, where I can exist without persecution, and so I decided to pursue graduate school.”
Throughout her doctoral studies, Monterde distinguished herself as a dedicated scholar, producing a body of work that unravels the mathematics of quantum state transfer in networks. Her research work further enriches the connection between mathematics and quantum information theory, and has potential applications to the development of faster and more powerful computers. Her PhD thesis was awarded the UM Distinguished Dissertation Prize.
She has also been a passionate advocate for social justice, decolonization and the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion, taking on leadership roles that allowed her to champion graduate student advocacy, gender equity and community building.
What is the most important thing she learned while attending UM? It’s that “regardless of one’s background, academic success is possible if one is provided a holistic set of supports,” she says. “The UM community provided a safe and nurturing environment that I needed during my time as a PhD student.”
Nathan Varghese chose to pursue a Bachelor of Health Sciences to broaden his understanding of human health. The interdisciplinary nature of the program appealed to him, teaching him to think about health from diverse scientific and social perspectives. He will start medical school at UM this fall, with the goal of working with diverse populations as a medical doctor.
“I hope to serve the community through advocacy and research, contributing to healthcare systems that are accessible, collaborative, and responsive to community needs,” he says.
While doing undergraduate research at the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, he explored the role of oxidative stress in asthma, developing valuable skills as an emerging researcher. Through healthcare initiatives, peer mentorship and volunteer work as a Medical First Responder, he also demonstrated exceptional leadership, supporting both students and communities across Manitoba.
Through his tenure at UM, Varghese learned that leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room. Instead, he says, “Leadership is about listening carefully, valuing your team and being committed to serving those around you.”
Stephanie Hanis was initially enrolled in Human Nutritional Sciences, but a required course in agriculture during her first year changed everything.
“What I was learning was so interesting and different from anything I had ever been exposed to academically,” she says. “The course depicted all of these different facets of growing our food, and how they interact. Organic agriculture and soil fertility piqued my interest.”
They switched their degree over to the Agricultural Science program to major in agronomy and eventually added a minor in soil science. During their studies, Hanis spent three years in Dr. Joanne Thiessen Martens’ soil fertility laboratory, contributing to research on nutrient dynamics in diversified cropping systems that took them across Manitoba and into Saskatchewan. With a strong desire to be part of agricultural solutions that promote efficient use of resources, Hanis is now pursuing a master's program in soil science at UM with Thiessen Martens as her advisor.
“I learned that there are faculty members at UM that really take notice of your efforts, come to you with opportunities to grow, and support you in your learning and goals,” Hanis says. “That is such a gift, because life away from university does not always provide such blessings.”
Ayub Regehr’s passion for geography was shaped by a lifelong appreciation for maps and spending time outdoors engaging in activities like hiking and camping. He pursued his studies to deepen his understanding of the processes that shape the natural environment.
“The most impactful university experiences for me were the opportunities I had working at the Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS) under the supervision of Dr. Tim Papakyriakou,” Regehr says. He was part of several projects studying carbon cycling in freshwater and marine systems, including in Lake Winnipeg, Churchill and the Moose River watershed in northern Ontario.
When not in class or conducting research, Regehr was a violinist with the University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra, sang in multiple choirs—including with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra—and captained a volleyball team in the Winnipeg Men’s Volleyball League.
“Through my continuing studies and career path, I hope to make an impact through research, policy and educating others,” Regehr says. “Both generally regarding physical geography, and more specifically on climate change in the Arctic, carbon cycling, and the use of modelling and geomatics tools to help us understand these phenomena.”
View the full list of student award winners at Spring Convocation 2026.
UM Bisons are at the centre of it all, making a difference here in Manitoba and around the world. Many graduates recognized at Convocation will stay in Manitoba, supplying high-demand skills to the labour market and contributing to UM’s economic impact on our community.
It takes human-centered teaching, genuine care for students, and innovative assignments that encourage critical thinking.
The Dean's Prize recognizes exceptional academic achievement, strong leadership skills and notable personal service.
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