Posted on Dec. 2: Grappling for gold

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/LuLu_Bursztyn_opt.jpg” caption=”LuLu Bursztyn”]Lulu Bursztyn  a dean's list chemical engineering student, playing varsity and intramural sports, and serving in student leadership positions  never backs down from a challenge.

Her decision to pursue chemical engineering was driven by a desire to integrate one of the most academically challenging programs on campus with becoming part of the dynamic social culture that's long been associated with engineering students at universities across the country.

“Usually when you hear about engineers at University it's because they're the ones who are 'doing things,'” she says. “It's a really fun experience and I wanted to be part of that.”

Bursztyn's propension for 'doing things' earned her the Chancellor's Gold Medal at November's convocation ceremony, which is awarded to an undergraduate student in his or her final year of study who ranks highest in scholarship, leadership, and influence. She's spent her four years at McMaster exhibiting those qualities, through her extensive involvement in academics and extra-curricular activities. And in her final and most demanding year of her undergraduate career, Bursztyn shows no sign of slowing down.

Scholarship, she admits, comes easily for her and her older sister. Born in Zimbabwe  Lulu means “pearl” in Swahili  and raised in England before settling in Barrie, her parents (who both have PhDs) have always instilled the importance of education.

“Growing up, my parents put a lot of focus on education, teaching me to read when I was two,” says the 21-year-old Bursztyn. “I've always enjoyed school, and getting my PhD has never been a question, it's just something you do.”

But Bursztyn's involvement in the Faculty of Engineering goes far beyond stellar academic performance. She's also a member of the McMaster Engineering Society, and the Chemical Engineering Club. She's helped to organize a 450-delegate five-day chemical engineering conference, co-ordinated the selling of McMaster Engineering merchandise, and worked on a one-year internship at Dofasco. For the past three years she's served as a “redsuit,” one of several senior students who sport red jumpsuits during Welcome Week and act as a resource for first-year engineering students throughout the school year.

“Sometimes engineering students will ask me to explain things they don't understand from their text books,” she says. “I think a lot of people know me because I'm more visible to them, being involved in so much. I really enjoy being involved in sports because I get to meet students from other faculties as well as engineers.”

A member of McMaster's varsity women's wrestling team, Bursztyn attends tournaments at other universities every other weekend throughout the school year. Wrestling has the longest varsity seasons, running from September until after final exams in April. She admits some people are intimidated by her unique choice of sport, but she claims it's an excellent way to stay fit, and more interesting than going to the gym.

“Wrestlers are a very fun, unique breed of people,” she says. “It's a vigorous, dynamic sport and no match is ever like another. That's important when you're wrestling six days a week  you don't want to get bored.”

She also plays intramural soccer, water polo and basketball.

Being an athlete in a sport that's been popularized by the antics of television personalities, and a woman in a field that's traditionally been dominated by males could be intimidating for some, but it doesn't feel strange to Bursztyn at all.

“The male-female ratios are improving in engineering classes and they're especially balanced in chemical engineering. Classes are always a positive experience, and a really great dynamic,” she says. “And most people think wrestling is cool  even though many don't quite realize it's not the same as what's on TV.”

Bursztyn says being a varsity athlete and an engineering student isn't for everyone, but she highly recommends the experience to students who can handle the juggling.

“To make it work you have to get eight hours of sleep a night, go to every class, take good notes, and pay attention,” she says. “Being so busy has forced me to develop great time management skills, and that's very a valuable skill at all stages of life.”