Meet this afternoon’s Engineering valedictorian
“If everybody on their team accepts their role, performs within themselves and works hard, the results can be incredible,” says Michael Popovich, valedictorian at the June 17 afternoon convocation for the Faculty of Engineering.
If you had a superpower, what would it be? What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you? Michael Popovich, valedictorian at the June 17 afternoon convocation for the Faculty of Engineering, answers these and other pressing questions in our Daily News questionnaire:
1. Your home town:
Dundas, Ontario
2. Your degree & subject area:
Mechanical Engineering and Management
3. Where are you headed after convocation?
I’ve just returned from a four-week trip to Asia, and I start work at PepsiCo as a Manufacturing Resource at their FritoLay plant in Cambridge.
4. Your best memory of Mac?
Welcome Week 2014 as a rep. There was huge overhaul and so many of the bad old traditions were removed, and the welcome week was so fresh, new and fantastically successful. In particular, at Faculty Fusion, the Faculty of Engineering got rained out, and we moved to the DBAC gym, which had a fire alarm and the events got cancelled. Despite this, over 80% of Engineering first-years returned to Faculty Fusion in the rain to participate. It was an unbelievable feeling!
5. The best advice anyone ever gave you?
The first thing in solving any problem is to fully define the problem.
6. Your biggest accomplishment so far?
See #4! I was the most senior rep at the time and I worked incredibly hard to teach the new leaders the new ways. The feeling of satisfaction for the accomplishments the rep group made during the week, and sharing that satisfaction with 100 other leaders, was fantastic.
7. If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
To fly. It would be so liberating to feel, and would make travel so convenient.
8. What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned (so far)?
If everybody on their team accepts their role, performs within themselves and works hard, the results can be incredible.
9. What do you think the future holds for higher education?
Creating more complete students and doing this by diversifying the education received by each faculty/program. Sustainability education must be compulsory for all in the future.
10. While at Mac, did you receive donor-funded financial assistance (e.g., a scholarship, award, bursary)? Any thoughts on the importance of giving back to your alma mater to support future generations?
Of course! I was thankful for the scholarships I won and the donors who funded them. I received the Senate Scholarship from McMaster, the Grace Dorothy and William P. Carpenter Award, the Johnson Sky is the Limit Scholarship, and the Shell Canada Engineering and Management Scholarship.
In future, I would consider rewarding students in need, particularly ones who have demonstrated excellent leadership, which I value very highly.
Learn more about Spring 2016 convocations here: http://registrar.mcmaster.ca/grad/convo-dates/
