Each year, top graduating students from the Lassonde School of Engineering at York University are awarded the Bergeron Medal by the Bergeron Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (BEST) program, which recognizes outstanding entrepreneurial achievement throughout their time at the School. This year, the award was presented to Nick Di Scipio and Megan Gran.
Di Scipio, a mechanical engineering student, received his medal for a number of accomplishments, including completing both the BEST Certificate and BEST Co-op program. The latter led him to put his passion for 3D printing into practice by creating a startup at BEST called Pantheon Prototyping, an on-demand additive manufacturing firm catering to various small to medium-sized organization.
Di Scipio prioritized Pantheon giving back to the Lassonde community by sponsoring technical clubs. He also mentored students, as well as participated in programs like the BEST Startup Experience and UNHack to support teams and guide them through their projects. During his time at Lassonde, Di Scipio also received the BEST Award in 2021 for his exceptional achievements.
Gran, a space engineering student, has been an active participant in the BEST program throughout her degree, having engaged in various BEST initiatives and completed the BEST Certificate. Gran took part in Lassonde’s co-op program, where she had the opportunity to work for KPM Power. Throughout her time at Lassonde, she has been recognized as a Lassonde Scholar and a BEST Entrance Award Recipient.
Gran supported experiential education activities as a mentor, providing guidance and support to fellow students, by hosting tutoring sessions, participating in the York University Robotics Society and taking on leadership roles in various campus activities such as WeekZero. Additionally, she volunteered for several community events, including Innovire's Annual Summit and various FIRST Robotics competitions. In her second year, she was one of just 24 students selected worldwide by the European Space Agency to participate in building and launching a rocket in northern Norway, through the "Fly a Rocket" program.
Find out more information about Lassonde's BEST program here.