Third-generation Woodsworth College grad Luca Giavedoni follows in the path of his mother and grandmother

Third-generation Woodsworth College student Luca Giavedoni’s undergraduate degree was about more than just academics.

Throughout his time at U of T, Giavedoni acted as a community leader and advocate for physical and mental wellbeing at Woodsworth and the Department of Cell & Systems Biology (CSB), where he majored.

He will graduate this week — following in the footsteps of his mother and grandmother before him — with an honours bachelor of science degree and plans to apply for medical school.

During his undergraduate studies, Giavedoni was the recipient of multiple awards recognizing his contributions to his community and academic achievements, including the University of Toronto Leadership Award, the Woodsworth College Peter F Bronfman Leadership Award, a Woodsworth College Alumni Association Appreciation Award. He was also named Intramural Athlete of the Year, having played on more than 15 teams.

Giavedoni spoke with A&S news about his studies, extracurriculars and a three-generation connection to Woodsworth College.

Why did you choose to study science?

It started in high school. I had a great teacher who taught me sciences in a way that made sense to me and changed my point of view. And I always had my sights on medical school. As a child, my mother was a transplant patient, so it was really important for me to pursue a career in healthcare. My experience with my mother’s care didn't scare me away from medicine. It pushed me toward it.

Where did your interest in stem cells and female infertility come from?

My interest in reproductive biology has a personal connection. I was born via IVF, so it was something I was quite interested in. At U of T, I had the chance to study placental stem cells and how changes in genetic imprinting can lead to infertility. And that was quite a highlight for me. Outside of that, I learned about specific stem cell-focused topics through courses and a focus group on stem cell and developmental biology.

Did you have any courses or professors that stood out to you?

I had inspiring professors throughout my degree. To name a few, Ritu Sarpal and Ashley Bruce in the CSB department stand out. They teach in a way that's focused on students understanding the fine details and how to apply learned knowledge successfully. I went into mandatory courses thinking this may not be for me, but they made them interesting, new and innovative. They encouraged participation in a way that wasn't scary. It captured a lot of interest, not just for me but for a lot of students.

Can you tell me about your involvement in the CSB student union?

I served as academic director two years ago, and then last year I served as co-president. The academic director position was more focused on mentorship. We basically doubled the mentorship programs in the department that year and had about 50 to 60 students in mentorships at the start of the year. As co-president, I oversaw the student union and expanded on initiatives from the previous year, such as organizing graduate student panels.

You served as vice-president, athletic affairs and orientation coordinator, among other roles at Woodsworth College. What were those experiences like?

As vice-president of athletic affairs, I expanded the athletics program at Woodsworth to more than 100 students and made sure we had a team in every sport, which we hadn’t had in more than five years. I also organized one of the largest athletic events on campus, the Woodsworth College ski trip. We sent almost 200 students to a ski resort just outside Toronto.

Acting as an orientation coordinator was the highlight of my undergraduate degree. Orientation is the first stop for a lot of students. If you have a good orientation experience, you come into university with the right mindset. You're eager to learn and to be involved more. I got to share my love for different parts of the university experience with 500 students.

Why are you such a big advocate for extracurriculars?

My mother passed away when I was young and I don't have a connection to my father, so for me to come to U of T on my own was scary. As a fully independent student, I'm big on making sure students support themselves mentally through finding their community and home base. Balance is important. That was the centerpiece of how I mentored students, helping them find that balance. If you're only studying and focusing on academics, you're going to burn out.

Can you speak about your family connection to Woodsworth College?

I was partially raised by my grandma. She was a teacher who also worked at OISE. Her influence gave me the drive to go to university, so it made sense for me to pick Woodsworth as my college. It's very exciting being able to say I'm a triple Woodsworth legacy because the college is quite new. My grandma belonged to one of the first graduating cohorts of students at the college when it started in the 70s. It was very inspiring to have that connection.

Will you have your grandmother on campus for the Fall Convocation?

Yes, my grandmother is coming. My aunt and I donated to the Landmark Campaign extension and we are placing a granite paver for her. I'm going to show her the finished pavers around King’s College Circle so she can see how hers will look. I'm hoping to create recognition by putting her name there. She was the first one that attended university in my family, so it created that path for me to follow in her footsteps.

The original article is posted on the A&S website here.