Arch Award Winners 2016
Arnav Agarwal `14
Health Sciences
In the short time since graduating from McMaster, Arnav has maintained a tradition of philanthropic leadership. Now, a second-year medical student at the University of Toronto, he oversees over 26 community engagement programs as Vice-President Community Affairs for the Medical Society, and is an active leader in over a dozen programs both within and beyond the University of Toronto. He spearheaded various community-focused initiatives since graduation, from contributing to Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS) position papers, to seeking a formal partnership for a student-led U of T program with the City of Toronto, to co-leading the organization and promotion of several international health and marginalized population health-focused conferences. His energy has carried him to be an ambassador through ground-level involvement as well, assisting with conducting screening exams for kindergarten students, facilitating presentations to empower immigrants and refugees with knowledge on how to access the healthcare system, and providing one-on-one mentorship to undergraduate students interested in pursuing healthcare professions in both Hamilton and Toronto. Arnav has contributed as a co-author to over 30 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, position papers and other peer-reviewed publications. A number of his co-authored works have also featured in prominent journals such as the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), and European Urology.
Melissa Andre `07
Humanities
Melissa Andre is the owner and Creative Director of Melissa Andre Events (MAE) - a leading full-service special events planning and design firm currently based in Toronto with frequent travel to Los Angeles. Awarded for producing some of the most imaginative and luxurious celebrations worldwide, Melissa has garnered an industry-wide reputation for her widely-published work and unparalleled design portfolio. MAE’s international celebrity client list includes DRAKE, GQ, Dom Perignon, Veuve Clicquot, THE WEEKND, DSquared2, RocNation, Lacoste, Guerlain, Ronda Rousey, and Reebok. With over a decade of experience, her unique ability to add an originative and unforgettable edge to a brand or artist’s event is what has made her work so recognizable. Melissa has elevated the notion of entertaining into an art and the exclusive-nature of her work has made her one of the most sought-after event designed in the world. Her work has been featured in numerous premier industry, wedding, lifestyle, entertainment and consumer publications.
Serena Bufalino `03
Social Sciences
When Serena Bufalino graduated from teacher’s college, she spent a year working and volunteering in detention centres, group homes and mental health hospitals. After working in Canada’s largest detention centre, Serena felt she needed to intervene with at-risk youth before they entered the corrections system. The Toronto District School Board’s Section 23 program provided her that opportunity.
With Section 23, Serena teaches and advises at-risk youth who are living with mental health issues, severe past trauma, learning disabilities or addiction. After seeing and learning about the consequences of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Serena’s students were inspired to help. They decided to build a school. As a result, Serena guided her students in establishing a partnership with an organization called Third World Awareness to found the Haiti School Building Project. Together, the students raised more than $100,000 to fund of a new school in Canaan, Haiti. More than 50 orphans of the earthquake now attend the school.
Serena was nominated for the 2014 Excellence Award for Teaching, a national award, as well as the Toronto Star’s Teacher Award. In 2015, she and her students were recognized for completing more community service hours than any other class in the GTA.
Tammy Hwang `05
Business
Tammy is a proud Hamiltonian, Mac Alum, start-up cheerleader, and realist. She currently works for the City of Hamilton in Economic Development's Global Hamilton Office helping immigrant and newcomers start and expand businesses in Hamilton. She's also passionate about supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs through her other ventures, CoMotion Group Inc. and CoBuild Hamilton Inc. As part of the founding teams for both companies, CoMotion Group operates coworking spaces in Hamilton with the largest located at 115 King Street called CoMotion on King. CoBuild is Hamilton's only industrial co-working space located at 391 Victoria Avenue North providing small businesses, artisanal makers, and builders a space where they can share resources and build cool stuff. Tammy is an active participant within the community, a group facilitator, and super connector in the Hamilton area.
Krishna C. Nadella `02
Science
Krishna has built and managed multiple sales desks for multiple firms, servicing clients in North and South America, Europe, and Asia, dealing with all aspects of operations as the head of America’s Sales for Portfolio Valuations & Regulatory Solutions at Bloomberg, L.P., a global financial information and news leader. Before entering Wall Street, Krishna was the founder and CEO of Southern Ontario Sports Inc., a non-profit firm specializing in sports marketing and management. Krishna is also an active proponent in the academic community, as a Member at Large on the Board of Directors with the McMaster Alumni Association and as President of the Graduate School Alumni Society at Pennsylvania State University. Currently, he hosts and produces the New York City-based television and web series “STATE OF MIND with Krishna C. Nadella”, a discussion program that explores the relevant social, economic, and political issues associated with post-secondary education.
