Scholarship Recipients
Congratulations to the 2025 WTS Toronto Area Chapter Scholarship Recipients!
Nadia Bisek – Graduate Scholarship
Nadia is a 1st-year student pursuing her Master’s of Applied Science in Civil Engineering at Toronto
Metropolitan University. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Management Engineering from the
University of Waterloo. During her undergrad, Nadia served as an Advocacy Executive for Engineers
Without Borders, where she advocated for students’ needs to local politicians and organized a design
competition for National Engineering Month. Additionally, in her final year, she collaborated with
professionals in the healthcare industry to brainstorm innovative transit solutions for a newly planned
hospital. Falling in love with the project, Nadia decided to pursue a Master’s degree to continue pushing
for innovation and accessibility in transit.
Owing much of her success to the mentorship she received over the years, Nadia is extremely grateful to
receive mentorship from successful women in the transportation industry, where she hopes to one day
repay the favour to future young women. After graduating, Nadia plans to pursue a career in industry
and work towards her professional engineering license, where she hopes to make meaningful
contributions to Canada’s transit projects.
Sarah Hamed – Graduate Scholarship
Sarah is a second-year MASc student in Transportation Engineering at McMaster University. Her research focuses on integrating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into last-mile delivery systems to reduce congestion, decrease emissions, and improve accessibility for underserved communities. Specifically, she develops advanced 3D path planning and route optimization algorithms to enhance the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of drone-based logistics in complex environments.
She completed a one-year internship as a Data Analyst at Don Valley Advanced Solutions in North York (2023), where she applied data-driven methods to improve transportation operations. Sarah holds a Diploma in Advanced Data Science from Metro College of Technology in Toronto (2022) and a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Al-Azhar University in Egypt (2019). Her capstone project, sponsored by Schneider Electric, analyzed IT earthing systems for transportation infrastructure.
Natalie Mikaelian – Indigenous Scholarship
Natalie is an ambitious multidisciplinary artist and designer currently studying Environmental Design at OCAD University. Having lived her entire life in Scarborough, she is deeply passionate about strengthening connections within her community through public space design and transportation development. As an emerging mural artist, she has completed more than seven projects that celebrate Toronto’s urban spaces and foster community engagement through art and co‑creation.
Upon completing her undergraduate degree, Natalie plans to pursue a Master’s in either Architecture or Urban Planning, with the goal of giving back to her community through thoughtful, meaningful projects that emphasize connection and inclusivity. Beyond her professional ambitions, she possesses a wide range of creative skills, including seamstress work, music composition and production, photography, and occasional writing and acting for stage. She has also hand‑coded and designed her own portfolio website to showcase these endeavors, available at www.natmikaelian.ca.
Manahil Saeed – Focused Scholarship
Manahil Saeed is a third-year Computer Engineering student at the University of Toronto with a strong passion for transportation innovation and sustainable infrastructure. Her academic and professional experiences have deepened her appreciation for the intersection between technology, engineering, and mobility. As an Engineering Intern at the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) this past summer, she gained exposure to engineering design projects that emphasized public safety, sustainability, and accessibility, values that closely align with WTS's mission of advancing equity and innovation in transportation. Beyond her technical work, she is passionate about inspiring more women to pursue engineering by mentoring peers and advocating for inclusive, forward-thinking transportation systems. Through continued learning and professional development, she aspires to contribute to the modernization of Canada's transit, energy and infrastructure landscape, fostering safer, smarter, and more sustainable mobility.
Emma Martino – Undergraduate Scholarship
Emma Martino is a Mechatronics Engineering student at McMaster University and a member of
the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) research group under Dr. Ali Emadi at the
McMaster Automotive Resource Centre. She serves as the Vehicle Refinement and Inspection
Lead for the McMaster EcoCAR team where she leads technical integration and refinement of an
electrified 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ. She is also a Representative on the Student Leadership Council
(SLC) for the AVTC Electric Vehicle Challenge presented by Argonne.
Emma has contributed to published research on driveline design and is passionate about
advancing sustainable vehicle technologies and gender representation in engineering. Her
professional experience includes roles at Enedym Inc., where she supported switched reluctance
motor (SRM) manufacturing and product development. As a recipient of the EcoCAR Women in
STEM Award presented by General Motors, Emma strives to empower women in technical fields
through mentorship and leadership in both her research group and community.
Mackenzie Van Panhuis – Undergraduate Scholarship
Hello! My name is Mackenzie Van Panhuis, and I am a first-year student in the Commercial Flight Operations program at Conestoga College. Since childhood, I have dreamed of one thing—to be in the sky. I began pursuing my Private Pilot Licence at sixteen through my local flight centre and am now continuing my journey toward earning my Commercial Pilot Licence with Conestoga.
I was a proud member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, where I achieved the rank of Chief Warrant Officer and earned my Glider Pilot Licence. The program taught me discipline, leadership, and teamwork—values that continue to guide me today. I have since joined the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves with the Cadet Gliding Centre, where I can provide familiarization flights to hundreds of youth.
My goal is to build a professional career in aviation while inspiring other young people to pursue their own dreams of flight.
Tayler Lam – Undergraduate Scholarship
Tayler Lam is a Civil Engineering student at the University of Waterloo, specializing in Transportation and Structural Engineering. Her passion for transportation stems from seeing firsthand how mobility shapes opportunity and community. Through her co-op placements, she has gained diverse experience across the construction and consulting industries, with her most recent at AtkinsRealis solidifying her interest in rail and transit. There she contributed to major projects including the Eglinton Crosstown LRT and GO Rail Expansion, which deepened her commitment to designing systems that serve communities. Beyond academics, she serves as Secretary of the ITE (Institute of Transportation Engineers) Waterloo Student Chapter, which was recognized with the Outstanding Student Chapter of the Year Award. Tayler is committed to building equitable and accessible transportation systems that connect people and improve lives. She hopes to continue contributing to the advancement of sustainable and inclusive transit infrastructure across the GTHA and beyond