McMaster names three Fall 2026 valedictorians highlighting research, entrepreneurship and leadership
McMaster selected three valedictorians for convocation on Nov 18–19, 2026: Raihana Ludin (MBA, DeGroote) a nursing graduate and cohort representative; Mann Parikh (Master of Biomedical Innovation) founder of NerView Surgical with ≈$1M in non‑dilutive funding and regional entrepreneurial awards; Alysha D’Souza (PhD Kinesiology) with five lead/co‑lead papers and NSERC and provincial scholarships, now moving to a research director role. The selections emphasize student leadership, research productivity and startup success.
Raihana Ludin, Mann Parikh and Alysha D’Souza will serve as McMaster’s valedictorians at convocation ceremonies on Nov. 18–19, 2026. Ludin combined nursing experience with an MBA and acted as a cohort representative in DeGroote’s BLPT program. Parikh, who completed a Master in Biomedical Innovation and a diploma in Global Surgery, founded NerView Surgical and secured about $1 million in non‑dilutive support from sources including FACIT/OICR and OBI; he also earned the North American Regional title at the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards. D’Souza completed a PhD in Kinesiology, published multiple lead/co‑lead papers and held NSERC and provincial scholarships; she will continue in a clinical research leadership role. These honorees reflect academic distinction, mentorship and translational impact.
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