For Domenic Alfieri (BBA ’22) and Jordan Masi (BSc ’22), balance was the key to success.

The strategy paid off for the recent Brock graduates, who were each recognized during Friday’s Fall Convocation with the University’s Governor General Silver Medal. The award is presented to the two undergraduate students with the highest academic standing of their class.

Despite receiving recognition for achieving one of Brock’s top academic averages in 2022, Alfieri describes his academic experience at the Goodman School of Business as challenging.

“Many of the courses throughout my time at Goodman challenged me to go above and beyond what I thought I was capable of,” he said. “As I’m sure everyone experiences at least once in their academic journey, there are times you just want to give up.”

But his perseverance paid off. The Governor General’s award comes in addition to the Outstanding Award of Excellence he received for having the top overall undergraduate academic average at the Goodman School of Business Spring Convocation where he received his BBA specializing in Finance.

During his studies, he found the best way to stay motivated academically was to break down the degree into smaller and more achievable goals.

“I found that celebrating the small successes and balancing that with extracurriculars and social events outside of school helped keep my motivation levels high,” Alfieri said.

Now working as a Project Manager for Windrush Hill Construction, a custom home renovation company, he’s putting the skills he learned during his degree to use every day.

“Not only did my degree provide me with the foundational knowledge needed for my position but it taught me countless transitional skills that I leverage on a daily basis,” he said.

Alfieri describes his time spent at Goodman as life changing with the experiences both inside and outside of the classroom helping to shape the person he is now.

Brock University Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Lynn Wells (left) recognizes Governor General Silver Medallist Jordan Masi (BSc ’22) during Brock’s 112th Convocation Friday, Oct. 14.

“I don’t think that I would view the world through the same lens if it wasn’t for the foundation of knowledge I gained at Goodman and through countless influential people I met along the way,” Alfieri said.

His best advice for students looking to succeed in their business studies is to get involved at Goodman whether it is with student clubs or case competitions.

“These activities will not only build your network and nurture friendships but will teach you invaluable skills that will set you apart in a classroom environment and in the workplace,” Alfieri said.

Masi, who graduated from Brock’s Medical Sciences program in June, credits his high academic standing to a strict dedication to studying during the first two years of the program.

It wasn’t until third year when he realized he could successfully balance schoolwork with hobbies and socializing with friends.

“In first and second year, I didn’t really do anything besides study,” he said. “I didn’t appreciate how doing other things could add value to my undergraduate experience.”

In third year, Masi began to spend more time on activities besides coursework. He worked out at the gym, played video games and picked up drawing.

He and a friend also started the Brock Cancer Awareness Society. As Co-Presidents, the pair organized fundraising initiatives such as Movember, and invited professors and cancer survivors to speak to club members.

“It was a lot of fun and a really good experience for me,” he said. “I put myself in a leadership position, which was new to me and taught me a lot.”

During his courses, Masi appreciated the hands-on learning opportunities Brock’s Medical Sciences program offered him, including lab work using advanced technology in specialized instructional spaces such as Human Anatomy Labs.

“The lab work gave me some time to apply the concepts from class and gain a deeper understanding,” he said.

Masi also enjoyed the freedom the program offered to choose electives and tailor his degree to what he was most interested in. At first, he thought he’d pursue medical school, but when a PhD student spoke to him in his second year about immunology research, Masi was intrigued. He enrolled in related courses and switched his career path.

With his Bachelor of Science complete, Masi plans on enrolling in Brock’s Master of Applied Health Sciences and researching human immunology under the supervision of Professor Adam MacNeil.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the importance of immunology and knowledge translation within the field,” he said. “This is an amazing time to become involved in this discipline. I enjoy being able to understand how our bodies can defend against infection and communicate this information to the general public. I hope to study host-pathogen interactions and the role mast cells play in this process.”