“The most inspiring group of young people”: honouring Pearson Scholarship graduates

The 2025 Lester B. Pearson Scholarship graduating class. Photo by Jenna Muirhead.

It’s fair to say that Anuj Manchanda, a Lester B. Pearson Scholar, squeezed about as much experience and learning out of his time at U of T as anyone reasonably could. In addition to earning a Bachelor of Commerce from Rotman Commerce, the Thailand native volunteered and backpacked across dozens of countries while gaining work experience at Amazon, RBC and law firm Baker McKenzie – all while running his own startup company that upcycles bottles into décor in three countries.

Yet for all his accomplishments, it was the small moments during his time at U of T that affected him most, including interactions at “Pearson dinners and residence halls, which gave me family I didn’t know I was aching for.” Manchanda, who is also a Laidlaw Leadership & Research Scholar, made the comments during an event on June 16 to celebrate the 33 members of the Pearson Scholar graduating cohort for 2025.

The Pearson Scholarships are the university’s most prestigious and competitive awards, covering tuition, books, incidental fees and full residence support for four years for some three-dozen undergraduate students each year.

Lifelong experiences and connections

While Pearson Scholars are exceptional students with big plans and bright futures, a major theme of the day was recognizing how far they had already come. “So often we look ahead to what is next, but here, today, let’s celebrate how much you’ve achieved,” said Sandy Welsh, a faculty member in the Department of Sociology who was speaking in her role as Vice-Provost, Students. “You have learned in so many different ways and overcome more hurdles than you might even realize.”

Those hurdles include public health restrictions during the pandemic that limited time spent on campus and with each other. Welsh applauded the Scholars’ resilience and emphasized the lifelong value of the experiences and connections they were still able to forge.

Vice-President, International Joe Wong saluted the Scholars for their hard work and noted that while they had benefited from an education at one of the world’s top universities, they had also added tremendous value to U of T in return. “Pearson Scholars remain the most inspiring group of young people here at the university. The work that you're doing, the principled leadership that you're acquiring, the smarts with which you are engaging with the world around you, is truly inspiring. So, congratulations to all of you,” said Wong.

The Scholars’ next steps are as diverse as their interests and backgrounds. For example, Selen Bayram, a computer science and neuroscience graduate who came to U of T from Türkiye, is joining NEXT Canada’s incubator/accelerator program to potentially co-found a tech venture. South Africa’s Chenika Bukes is taking her computer science degree to Austin, Texas, where she is joining JP Morgan as a software engineer. And Jaiditya Dev, from India, is joining ADP Canada where he previously interned as part of his applied statistics program.

Outstanding global ambassadors for the university

Wherever they go, the Pearson Scholars will always remain prominent members of the U of T family – a point driven home by Assistant Vice-President of Alumni Relations Barbara Dick as she welcomed them to the university’s worldwide community of more than 700,000 alumni. “You are outstanding global ambassadors for the university and your achievements will further burnish the global reputation of a U of T degree,” said Dick. “And as with all members of our alumni family, we remain firmly committed to your success, with programs to support your career and other life endeavours.”

Event emcee Shraddha Prasad, Associate Director of International Student Experience & Global Fluency, delivered closing remarks reflecting on the close relationship that she and her team had built with the Scholars during their time at U of T. “On behalf of our tri-campus Pearson Program team, we are so privileged to have been part of supporting the journey of all the wonderful Pearson Scholars in the room today,” she said. “Watching each of you grow, thrive and find your unique niche at the university has been truly humbling, and we appreciate the trust you placed in us to support you through this time in your lives!”