Three Fil-Canadian cousins graduate summa cum laude

Paolo Lansang, Olivia Mendoza and Alexis Samson all graduated summa cum laude at McMaster University last year (2020). CONTRIBUTED

In an extraordinary feat for a family, three cousins from Mississauga, Ontario, finished at the top of their classes at McMaster University in Canada.

In an extraordinary feat for a family, three cousins from Mississauga, Ontario, completed their undergraduate bachelor degrees with summa cum laude honors at McMaster University in Hamilton.

Paolo Lansang, Olivia Mendoza and Alexis Samson. Paolo and Olivia both took Health Sciences, while Alexis took Arts.

Paolo Lansang was six years old when he and his parents, Drs. Edward and Perla Lansang and brother Edward, moved to Canada in 2004. He will be attending the Waterloo regional campus of McMaster’s medical school this fall. He hopes to become a family physician and to remain involved in the academic field as an educator in the future. Paolo is an avid musician, playing piano, guitar and drums.

Olivia Mendoza was born in Mississauga, Ontario to parents Voltaire and Susan Mendoza, who moved to Canada in the early ‘90s. She finished high school at Lorne Park Secondary School’s Regional Enhanced Program. She worked as a lifeguard at Lifetime, earning her own pocket and gas money, while regularly participating in piano competitions.

Prior to finishing high school, Olivia was awarded a seven-week summer research internship at Hamilton Health Sciences. She has enrolled in Queen’s University medical school. Before going to Queen’s, she studied health sciences at McMaster University. She is planning to specialize in obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics or psychiatry. In her spare time, she likes to bake desserts and play spike ball with her roommates.

Alexis Samson was 12 years old when she and her parents, Jose and Celeste, and brother, Joey, moved to Canada in 2010. She completed high school at Father Michael Goetz Secondary Catholic School where she was involved in multiple projects, including painting a mural and having multiple artworks exhibited at the Art Gallery of Mississauga.

Alexis works two jobs while attending McMaster University. She is looking to pursue either a post-graduate diploma in UX/UI design or a master’s in Biomedical Communications. She is currently employed at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital while also managing her small business on Etsy. Alexis enjoys reading and drawing in her free time.