By Vanessa Parks
Internal Communications and Engagement Specialist
For Alex Stavropoulos, being one of this year’s Governor General’s Silver Medal winners is an incredible honour and one more way to celebrate the completion of four great years at Waterloo. The Governor General’s Academic Medals are one of the most prestigious awards given to students attending Canadian educational institutions. The Silver Medal is awarded to the undergraduate student completing their degree with the highest academic average.
But for Alex, it was never strictly about the grades. “I’ve always tried my best in my courses just because I was learning about topics I genuinely enjoy,” he says. With a personal interest in psychology and neurology, stemming from watching a family member struggle with dementia, he gravitated toward courses that challenged him to dig deeper into his areas of interest.
Alex was born and raised in Kitchener and has known he wanted to attend Waterloo for his undergraduate degree since he participated in camps at the university as a child. “I already had roots at Waterloo and knew the Honours Science program would give me a great educational foundation for my goal of attending medical school,” he says.
Although Alex’s undergraduate experience began at the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020, he found a great sense of community on the Waterloo campus. He was involved in the Bioethics Society and the Running Club, among other extracurriculars. He also worked in the Wisdom and Culture lab and the Doxey lab, and volunteered with patients at risk of delirium and cognitive decline at Grand River Hospital.
Alex attributes his academic success in part to the support and perspective of this larger community. “Working with people who are outside of your discipline and your faculty motivates you to do your thing better,” he says. “I wouldn’t have done as well in my studies if it wasn't for the things I had going on outside the classroom, which made it a nice, well-rounded experience for me.”
What’s Alex’s advice for incoming students? Draw on community and follow your passion. “Getting involved early on is something that builds long-term growth and opportunities as you go through your university experience,” he emphasizes. Alex has also found that “just doing something you enjoy naturally makes you really good at it.” It may even lead you to a Silver Medal win.