At Dawson College, valedictorians are not chosen solely for their academic standing. The selection process looks beyond grades to recognize students who demonstrate leadership, perseverance and the ability to inspire their peers.

Graduation represents more than academic achievement. It marks the culmination of personal growth, challenges overcome and the contributions students make to their community. Valedictorians are selected for their vision, their voice and their capacity to reflect the spirit of their graduating class.

For the Class of 2026, two valedictorians have been selected, one for each ceremony on June 23.

The valedictorian for the evening ceremony is Alexa Blasato, a graduate of the Enriched Health Science program. During her time at Dawson, Alexa navigated both academic challenges and personal growth. A key turning point came when she failed a physics course, an experience that reshaped her approach to learning, strengthened her resilience, and ultimately helped her achieve consistent academic success.

Beyond her studies, Alexa co-founded STEMM FEM, a student-led initiative that continues to expand beyond Dawson, creating opportunities and support for underrepresented groups in science and medicine.

The Communications Office interviewed Alexa and we present the Q & A:

Which class or subject challenged you the most, and how did you overcome those challenges?

Alexa Blasato (AB): Before even starting the course, I had already heard the horror stories about Electricity and Magnetism: the low class averages, the number of students who struggled to pass, and how intense it was supposed to be. I went into it honestly quite scared and anxious. Physics has always been something I enjoyed, but also something that never came easily to me.

And I think that mindset followed me more than I initially realized. I spent hours studying, trying to balance STEMM FEM and XC/TF training with the Dawson Blues at the same time, but it never felt like enough. I went from test to test putting in more and more effort, but I was not actually improving in the way I needed to.

By the end of the semester, I knew I had failed the class. I knew it even before the final exam. As my boyfriend picked me up from school and asked me how it went, I looked at him and said without a doubt it would be the lowest grade I had ever received in my life. It was the first time I said it out loud without breaking down, and in that moment something clicked. It was not just about effort. It was how I was studying and balancing my life, and I had realized it too late. I needed to relearn how to be a good student.

After that, I made a promise to myself that I would change everything. I stopped trying to study all the time and started focusing on studying properly. I rewrote concepts in my own words, used active recall, and set up weekly study calls with my friends where I had to actually explain the material out loud. I even built a rule for myself that if I truly understood something like I said I did, I should be able to teach it to someone else. I also had to make harder decisions with my time by managing my workload differently. I built STEMM FEM’s dream team so I was no longer doing as much as I was and eventually stepped back from varsity athletics so I could train on my own schedule, closer to home. I loved my teammates and my short time with them, but it became clear that I could not do everything at once, and that choosing my academic foundation mattered more in that moment.

Those changes completely shifted my results. The following semester, I finished with some of the best grades I have had at Dawson across all my courses.

So looking back, while Electricity and Magnetism was probably the hardest class I have ever taken, it was the one where I learned the most: a class that taught more than any textbook ever could. It allowed me to obtain the life skills that I needed for my future.

So to anyone who has ever questioned their intelligence because of failure, I think it is the opposite. Failure is what shows you how to improve, it is truly success turned inside out. In my case, I went from being someone who once received top academic awards in high school, to then failing numerous classes in CÉGEP, and then rebuilding my approach completely. And now, I am back on track with a 4.0 GPA, not because I was always “good enough,” but because I refused to let a grade on a paper, or the opinions of others, define my potential or dictate my future.

Who was your favourite teacher or mentor, and how did they influence your academic path?

AB: Throughout my journey at Dawson, I have been blessed to have encountered so many important people who have guided me. There are too many to name, and I am deeply grateful for every single one of them and their support. With that being said, there are a few people who hold a very special place in my heart, as they were there from beginning to end, although I think they would all agree that there is no real end, because we are always in touch. 😉

I want to give a special thank you to the following people.

My Enriched Health Science coordinators, Dr. Chris Whittaker and Carmen Leung. Both of them have supported me through so many of my academic and initiative endeavours. They have seen me at my lowest, coming to them in tears, and they have also seen me at my best, guiding me through every step of STEMM FEM and helping me grow it into what it is today. They have watched me evolve from a student who would cry over anything below a 90 per cent on a science test, to someone who can now accept failing Electricity and Magnetism with a 38 per cent, because I understand how it pushed me to change.

One of my favourite teachers at Dawson: Dr. Robert Donga. There is not a single day that goes by where this man is not trying to help his students. I had the pleasure of having him for General Chemistry and Chemistry of Solutions, and I genuinely could not have asked for a better teacher, or a better life mentor. Every week, I would attend his office hours, and he would spend so much time not only helping me understand the material but also helping me rebuild my confidence as a student. He listened to my endless rants about school, about stress, and about everything affecting my performance. He never once made me feel like I was too much. He was one of the first professors who truly made me believe I was capable of doing anything I set my mind to.

And, lastly, to Dr. Rami Hanna. I only had the pleasure of having him for one class, namely, General Biology II, and yet, he was one of the most supportive professors I have ever met. He was there during a time when I was struggling academically, and I want to thank him endlessly for always believing in me, always reminding me that I was capable, and always telling me that no matter what happens, there is always a way forward and the light WILL come through. P.S. thank you for being STEMM FEM’s #1 hype man! 😉

Though my experiences at Dawson were anything but easy, these people made it possible to get through it. I am endlessly grateful for their patience, their support, and their wisdom. They have all made an impact on the person who I have become today.

What are the highlights of your overall life at Dawson? In other words, what activities, clubs, sports, projects did you participate in here and what did you learn or appreciate from your involvement? 

AB: When I was in high school, I was heavily involved in my academics, and while I did have extracurriculars like being in a music and singing school for a number of years, being a Prefect, and volunteering as often as I could, there were elements that I felt were missing. Dawson is what made me realize those parts were missing, and that I had to expand my horizons beyond school. It is what made me realize I needed balance.

During my first semester of Dawson, some of my female peers and I received sexist comments simply for wanting to pursue science and medicine. This was not the first time I had experienced something like this.

I used to be involved on a platform called Science News when I was younger, and when I mentioned I was a woman to the other scientists, I was met with comments like “go make me a sandwich” and “go wash the dishes.” I have said it before, and I will say it again: those who do not use their voice to create positive change are just as responsible as those who create harm.

I wanted change, and so did my peers. So we did exactly that. My good friend Gaëlle Charron-Holguin, now a medical student at McGill University, and I, co-founded STEMM FEM, a student-led and soon-to-be federally recognized non-profit organization empowering underrepresented individuals in science and medicine. What started with just the two of us has now grown into a full “dream team” of passionate and driven individuals who want to see change. We have seen our events grow from around 50 attendees at the beginning to hundreds of participants. We have seen our fundraising grow from roughly $200 at our first event to thousands raised for organizations like the McGill Women in Sports Foundation and La Maison Bleue. We have also grown in recognition, from a small initiative to being interviewed by Sean Henry on CBC News Daybreak and receiving support from meaningful sponsors who believe in our mission.

STEMM FEM is truly my vocation. It quickly became a major part of my life, often taking up close to 25 hours a week between planning, outreach, and events. But it was and continuously is worth it. It is my way of contributing to an issue I feel deeply passionate about and creating space for people who have been historically excluded. I have had the privilege of bringing people together and strengthening science where it matters most, because science is not neutral, and access to it is not equal. Today, STEMM FEM is continuing to grow as it expands to both McGill and Concordia University, reaching even more students who share our vision.

Students can find a lot more information about STEMM FEM on our Instagram @stemmfem or via Dawson News links like https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/news/stemm-fem-empowers-members-while-expanding-beyond-dawson/ )

Back in January 2025, I also joined the Dawson XC/TF varsity team. It was the first time I had done competitive running in years, after not even running a 2K just a few months prior to joining. Being on this team, even for the short time before I chose to step back to focus on academics, taught me more than I expected.

Alongside STEMM FEM, it taught me discipline, teamwork, structure, and time management. I went from having a poor sleep schedule to making sure I had finished my work before practice so I could be in bed by 10 PM every single night. It meant early Saturday practices, catching buses, managing injuries, and learning how to support my body through strength training and proper nutrition. Most importantly, it became an outlet for stress and a source of joy. It is also a big reason why I chose to pursue Exercise Science as my pre-med pathway today.

While I was not involved on the committee, I also attended the Dawson Christian Fellowship club every week for Bible studies. The love and openness of this community allowed me to deepen my relationship with God, as someone who has always been Catholic, but recently went through a more personal spiritual awakening. Through the teachings of Christ, I learned the importance of patience, and of not letting the world tear you down during troubling times.

What advice do you have for the incoming students at Dawson?

AB: The person you are when you first walk through Dawson’s doors will not be the same person who walks out at the very end. Without a doubt, there will be days when you question everything, when you wonder if it is even worth it, when you feel disappointed in yourself for not getting the grade, for not doing enough, for not showing up at your 100 per cent. But I will let you in on a little secret: 100 per cent is not fixed. It changes every single day.

Some days, your best might look like 30 per cent compared to others, but it is still your best for that day. And showing up, even at that capacity, still matters more than you think. Everyone is carrying something and most of the time, you will never see it because people do not want to be vulnerable. So, let me do the hard part. During my time at Dawson, I dealt with death, grief, illness, injury, burnout, loss, and exhaustion at moments I never expected. There were times I felt alone. Times I genuinely felt like giving up. And still, I decided to show up. I gave what I had left.

Maybe some of you already lived through these things before CEGEP, maybe some of you will face them later and maybe some of you will not face them in the same way at all. Regardless, what I have learned is this: life is unpredictable and it does not wait for the “right moment”, it comes anyway. So, do not let the unexpected be the reason why you stop. Show up when it is easy. Show up when it is hard. And promise me that you will not stop showing up. I am proud of you.

What are your plans after graduation, and how did your time at Dawson shape those goals?

AB: Since graduating, I am now a pre-med student in Exercise Science, who will be specializing in Honours Kinesiology and Clinical Exercise Physiology at Concordia University. With that being said, I fully intend to apply to medical school to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a physician.

Growing up, I always wanted to be a veterinarian because of my love for both science and animals. However, over time, that path shifted. I realized that I wanted to work with people at the medical level because there is something about human connection that is irreplaceable. To combine that with my love for science is truly my life’s calling.

I still do not know exactly what path I will take within medicine, whether pediatrics, oncology, gynecology or surgery, but I do know the direction I am meant to go in. I want to become a physician, to help people in their most vulnerable moments, and to give my 100 per cent effort to becoming the best doctor I can be.

Dawson reinforced that aspiration. When it would be easier to give up or follow expectations placed on me by others, I learned to block out the noise and work even harder. So while I am not in medical school yet, I trust that in God’s plan that my time will come. In the meantime, I am continuing to build my knowledge, my discipline, and my experiences so that when I do get there, I will be ready.