Meet U of T's top student, Anh Cao: long road to peak honours at convocation
Published: June 9, 2015
As Anh Cao rose during convocation to accept his award for top student at U of T, it marked the culmination of an incredible journey both in distance and sacrifices made.
“I’ve been through some difficult times, but I’m not complaining,” he said. “Without the support of my friends, people who have become like family to me, there’s no way I would have made it.”
From his home country of Vietnam to years of study and sacrifice at U of T's Scarborough campus, Cao took education far beyond the classroom, applying his expertise and inspiration through placements with a palliative care clinic, an immunology lab and a co-op at Sunnybrook Hospital. (
Cao, who graduated with an honours bachelor of science degree, is the recipient of this year’s John Black Aird award for the top student at U of T, as well as a Governor General’s Silver Medal for being one of the university’s most academically outstanding graduates.
These are just the latest entries in Cao's record of U of T scholarships, awards and recommendations that include an entrance scholarship, an A. D. Allen scholarship, and a recommendation from Cao's biological sciences professor that helped him score a prestigious national scholarship through the Stem Cell Network.;
But it was a long journey to the top.
Cao’s journey to Canada began with a scholarship sponsored by the government of Vietnam. He says he had heard about U of T’s academic reputation but knew little else about Canada and had no family or friends here. Cao soon discovered that although it was generous, the scholarship would not come close to covering all of his tuition and living expenses.
“Many people assume since I’m an international student that I’m wealthy, but my parents earn the equivalent of about $500 Canadian per month,” he said.
After completing his first year, Cao made the difficult decision to sleep in a youth homeless shelter in Scarborough for four months so he could afford to take summer courses.
Cao plugged in to U of T support through an entrance scholarship and student employment opportunities, yet he says he’s relied on the support of new friends in Canada to make ends meet over the years. Cao has lived rent-free at a friend’s home this past year, while another friend’s mother packed him lunches. Karen Siddique, an employee in UTSC’s facilities department, also struck up a friendship with Cao and brought him dinner every day.
As a thank you, Cao invited Siddique to his convocation ceremony.
“I learned that Canadians, and especially those living in Toronto, are very generous people,” said Cao.
He’s also proven to be a leader outside of the classroom. In addition to being an academic programmer and promoter in residence, he’s also worked as a teaching assistant and a course facilitator with the Centre for Teaching and Learning.
In his spare time, Cao volunteered as a palliative care worker for two years with Hospice Toronto, helping patients coping with terminal illness.
“As a child I dreamed of one day becoming a doctor, so I’ve always had a desire to help people,” he said. “It’s not always easy helping people who are preparing to die, but I’ve always tried my best in the hope that it’s making their lives a little easier.”
Treanor says his reputation for scholarship was further cemented in his leadership role with Facilitated Study Groups (FSGs) over the past two years.
“I often heard from new undergraduate research students,‘Oh, I know Anh, he ran my FSG,’ which was always followed by, ‘He was amazing!’” said Treanor.
“Anh is a special student and this award could not go to a more deserving person.”
Cao's biological sciences professor, Clare Hasenkampf, recommended him for the Stem Cell Network Undergraduate Research Training Award after he scored 100 per cent in her genetics course – a first, she said, in her 22 years of teaching.
Cao says he plans to pursue his master’s degree in immunology at UTSC as his sacrifices in the service of education continue a while longer: Cao has only seen his family once since he started university, flying back to visit them in Ho Chi Minh City following a co-op placement at Sunnybrook Hospital in December 2013.
He says he misses his family but keeps tabs on what’s happening through his mother’s daily emails that serve as a source of news and encouragement from back home. His mother learned how to type and send emails right before he left for Canada.
“She keeps me honest and makes sure I’m not drinking coffee or dying my hair,” he says with a smile.
Cao says he’s learned many things from his parents including a strong work ethic and how to remain positive and humble at the same time.
“They are my source of encouragement. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have made it this far.”
