Valedictorian Biographies
June 2026 Convocation ceremonies
Fiza Kaleem, Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance)
Pilon School of Business
Fiza Kaleem is graduating from the Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance) program. Beginning her journey as an international student facing uncertainty, she transformed her experience into one of outstanding academic and personal achievement, and earned recognition as Student of the Year, at the college, provincial and national levels, for her work performance, extracurriculars and academic success. She founded the Sheridan Finance Club, creating opportunities for her peers by organizing networking events, competitions and industry connections. She mentored students through their co-op journeys and fostered a strong sense of community. Her professional accomplishments include an internship at Four Seasons Hotels and serving as Sheridan’s first Chartered Financial Analyst Student Ambassador, a prestigious designation in finance. Fiza was a role model, inspiring others to step outside their comfort zones, embrace opportunity and grow, as she built both connections and initiatives, friendships and confidence.
Samuel Heyman, Business Administration – Marketing
Pilon School of Business
Samuel Heyman is graduating from the Business Administration – Marketing program. Driven by a strong desire to give back, he demonstrated growth, resilience and purpose while at Sheridan, achieving academic success while discovering a passion for marketing, transforming uncertainty into direction and confidence. His journey reflects a commitment to personal excellence, grounded in the belief that "you get out of life what you put in." He was actively engaged in student life, and drew on extracurricular experiences such as Ontario Colleges Marketing Competition (CMC) and Hackathon to guide his involvement and mindset, embracing opportunities for growth and connection while building problem-solving skills, collaboration and dedication. His leadership is rooted in authenticity and a desire to uplift others. Samuel strives to motivate others to find purpose, embrace change and leave a positive, lasting impact within the Sheridan community and beyond.
Tilly Millena, Advertising and Marketing Communications – Management
Pilon School of Business
Tilly Millena is graduating from the Advertising and Marketing Communications – Management program. Blending a background in retail management and creative writing, Tilly came to Sheridan as a mature student pursuing a career change. Motivated early on to "get involved," she embraced opportunities, excelling academically and in hands-on marketing projects. Her competitive spirit and collaboration skills were showcased at the 2024 Ontario Colleges Marketing Competition, where she gained a confidence in public speaking that she didn't think possible before coming to Sheridan. Her journey has now come full circle with the opportunity to serve as valedictorian. She played a visible role in Sheridan's rebrand, contributing to campaigns featured across multiple media platforms. As president of the Sheridan Marketing Society, she demonstrated leadership by organizing campus events, industry experiences and networking opportunities. She served as both a peer mentor and student ambassador, supporting student success and engagement. Her initiative, enthusiasm and leadership made her a standout role model in the Sheridan community.
Allison Picano, Social Service Worker – Gerontology
Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies
Allison Picano is graduating from the Social Service Worker – Gerontology program. She brought many years of volunteer work in the social services sector to her work in the classroom and demonstrated strong commitment and engagement, while juggling substantial family responsibilities. She is a natural leader and the definition of a person who goes above and beyond to care for others at school, in her practicum and at home. In her online program, she was fully engaged with faculty and peers, acting as a leader in group activities during and outside class. She goes above and beyond to provide support for others, answering questions and calming nerves. She naturally takes on caring roles and gives of herself selflessly to those in the program. Her ability to connect with others so easily because of her genuine interest in them comes across to all who meet her and shows the best of who Sheridan students can be.
Melissa Gleason, Early Childhood Education
Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies
Melissa Gleason is graduating from the Early Childhood Education program. She demonstrated excellence throughout her academic journey at Sheridan, consistently engaging with her studies and the broader college community. She is recognized as a friendly and professional peer who readily supported classmates through collaboration, encouragement and mentorship. A natural leader, she approached challenges with creativity and optimism, always seeking positive and inclusive solutions within her student experience and personal life. Actively involved in the Sheridan community, she embraced opportunities to contribute, connect and lead. Her strong passion for children and deep commitment to the Early Childhood Education field were evident in both her academic work and her interactions with others, reflecting a bright future in the profession. She was a well‑rounded student who excelled academically, supported her peers and demonstrated leadership, professionalism and integrity.
Ashantee Jones-Okere, Child and Youth Care
Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies
Ashantee Jones-Okere is graduating from the Child and Youth Care program. Throughout her time at Sheridan, she made a lasting impact on peers, faculty, prospective students and community partners with her warmth, professionalism and authentic care for others. She also demonstrated leadership, compassion, resilience and commitment to others. As a Program Ambassador, Ashantee generously supported recruitment initiatives, welcoming prospective students and families while fostering connection and belonging within the Sheridan community. In her practicum with Big Brothers Big Sisters' Bigs on Campus program, she created meaningful opportunities for young people to feel supported and connected within a postsecondary environment. Ashantee showed care and stability for others navigating a difficult time, along with empathy and emotional intelligence. She embodies the values and future of the Child and Youth Care profession.
Jaspreet Kaur, Honours Bachelor of Social and Community Development
Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies
Jaspreet Kaur is graduating from the Honours Bachelor of Social and Community Development program. She was an exceptional student who was significantly involved in both the Sheridan and broader communities since arriving in Canada over seven years ago. She completed the Social Service Worker program as an international student and then returned to Sheridan to complete her degree. Jaspreet currently works in the municipal government as a program analyst and is aiming to pursue graduate studies in Public Policy. She received the Maria Lucida Bezely Leadership Award for her leadership on campus, supporting the establishment of community and supports within her program, and supporting international students and their transition into the Canadian workforce. She is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and successfully integrated her academic knowledge into her professional practice.
Phuoc Thinh Luu, Architectural Technology
Faculty of Applied Science and Technology
Phuoc Thinh Luu graduated from the Architectural Technology program, where he showed a strong commitment to both academic excellence and student life. Thinh placed first in both the 2025 and 2026 Skills Sheridan Architectural Technology competition, demonstrating advanced technical ability, problem-solving skills and professionalism, and then recently won gold at the 2026 Skills Ontario competition. As an active member of the SSU Sheridan Architecture Club, Thinh contributed meaningfully to the student community, fostering collaboration and peer support. Known for a consistently positive attitude, Thinh was highly engaged in class, frequently going above and beyond expectations. Always willing to help classmates, Thinh brought energy, curiosity and motivation to every learning environment. With strong technical skills, a collaborative mindset and a professional work ethic, Thinh is truly career-ready and an outstanding representative of Sheridan.
Gabriel Warren, Welding and Fabrication Technician
Faculty of Applied Science and Technology
Gabriel Warren is graduating from the Welding and Fabrication Technician program. She was a dedicated student who excelled at everything she put her mind to. Gabriel successfully completed several Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) certifications that enabled her to land her first welding position prior to her graduating from her program. She competed in both Sheridan Skills Competition events during her time in the program, and this past year she finished in first place. Her win allowed her to participate in the Skills Ontario welding competition as Sheridan’s first female for that honour. Gabriel was also nominated by her peers for a personal growth leadership award in recognition of how her tutoring of various Sheridan courses played an essential role for many students.
Anreet Kaur, Computer Systems Technology – Software Development and Network Engineering
Faculty of Applied Science and Technology
Anreet Kaur is graduating from the Computer Systems Technology – Software Development and Network Engineering program. She consistently demonstrated leadership, initiative and commitment to the student community and supported her peers academically, professionally and personally throughout the program. She was a peer mentor and was nominated for a Dare to Care student leadership award. She was also nominated for Sheridan's Co-op Student of the Year 2024 Award and represented her program as a student ambassador to prospective students. She was selected for the competitive Major League Hacking Fellowship in Production Engineering track sponsored by Meta and was chosen to interview for Meta's summer internship programs. In 2025, she was selected as the only college student in RBC Amplify's highly competitive internship program among a cohort of 68 students and now works as a full-stack developer at RBC. Anreet excelled in all areas of student life and contributed meaningfully to the Sheridan community through volunteering and club involvements.
Roya Hmood, Honours Bachelor of Animation
Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design
Roya Hmood is graduating from the Honours Bachelor of Animation program. She took pride in design and production skills and brought positive energy to every environment she was part of, including Spin Master, where she completed her co-op placement. She was always approachable, willing to chat and eager to support those around her, which made her a strong and effective team leader. No matter the challenge or subject, Roya consistently fostered an encouraging atmosphere that made problem-solving both comfortable and productive. Roya participated in Sheridan's Open House, attended various animation festivals and acted as vice president of Animation Student Council, always representing Sheridan professionally. New and prospective students benefited from Roya’s willingness to help. Roya was the production manager and design supervisor for her third-year group film, On the Line and completed her thesis film, Poppy's Garden, in April.
Gladdens Lau, Honours Bachelor of Interaction Design
Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design
Gladdens Lau is graduating from the Honours Bachelor of Interaction Design program. She was an exceptional student whose dedication, leadership and creative excellence distinguished her throughout her time at Sheridan. She consistently exceeded expectations, approaching every project with remarkable commitment, professionalism and innovation. In the Interactive Narrative course, Gladdens led her team in developing highly original and engaging user experiences that demonstrated both technical skill and creative vision. In Special Topics, she collaborated on the creation of a fully functional game level within a single term — an ambitious and technically demanding achievement that reflected extraordinary adaptability, determination and discipline. Beyond the classroom, Gladdens volunteered on an internship initiative where she became an indispensable leader, driving projects forward through her reliability, initiative and generosity toward her peers. She was a rare student who elevated every team and community she was part of.
