Alumnae

Thanks to an education that promotes both academic excellence and character formation, Hawthorn girls face the world with creative tenacity, intellectual brilliance, and an uncommon spirit of service to others.

A Hawthorn graduate is a confident, compassionate woman whose integrity and wisdom have a positive impact on the world around her. Not only do Hawthorn grads have choice—of scholarships, universities, and volunteer, travel and career opportunities—they have an education of the mind and heart that guides them to choose wisely.

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What do they study?

Architecture
Medieval History
Classics
Graphic Design

Engineering
Robotics
Applied Mathematics
Applied Creativity

Economics
Business
Actuarial Science
Law

Medicine
Biomedical Science
Biochemistry
Kinesiology

Art History
Music Education
English Literature
Philosophy

Geographic Analysis
Earth Science
World Development
Political Science

Where do they go?

Meet our Alumnae

Clare Nazaire

2004

Chemical Engineer

Clare has a Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Biology from the University of Toronto. She has worked at organizations like Sick Kids Hospital and Price Waterhouse Coopers. She enjoys public speaking and was president of a Toastmaster's Club for 5 years.

The teachers at Hawthorn gave me strong examples on how to live a fulfilled life. They prepared me academically and formed my character during both classes and extra curricular activities.

Elizabeth Joyce

2002

Nurse

Liz has a Bachelor of Arts in Classical studies from the University of New Brunswick and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ryerson University. In between degrees, she taught ESL in South Korea and traveled in Asia and Europe. In 2016, she moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia where she currently lives with her husband and two boys and works in mental health at the IWK Children's Hospital and in home care for Nurse Next Door.

My Hawthorn education, both academic and extra-curricular, gave me many opportunities to step outside my comfort zone. As a result, I gained confidence and skills because of these chances to learn. Taking responsibility for the quality of my work has also stuck with me, especially in academic and professional spheres were there isn't the same level of support there was at Hawthorn.

Farzana Meghani

1999

Systems Design Engineer

Farzana has a Bachelor's degree in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo and a Masters Certificate in Project Management from Schulich School of Business. She has worked in the fields of process engineering, user-centered design and project management at major Canadian financial institutions including the Bank of Montreal (BMO) and Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). She is a busy mother of four.

My 7 years at Hawthorn gave me the foundation to succeed in a highly competitive engineering program and a challenging work environment. I learned the importance of hard work and developed resilience. Further, I discovered a deep joy in learning and came to realize that a meaningful life requires using our talents and gifts to serve others. Because of this, I am motivated to continuously grow as an individual and aim to foster this same passion in my children.

Emily Wong Kennedy

1998

Researcher

Emily Wong Kennedy has a Bachelor's in Food and Nutrition and a Master's in Kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario. In addition to educating her two boys, she works in the field of health and nutrition.

Once during an enrichment talk at Hawthorn, a physician discussed the meaning of success. Success, he said, isn't our positions or possessions; it comes from right relationships with ourselves, God, and our families and friends. Though I was oblivious to it at the time, my three years at Hawthorn exposed me to the values that found success. Education is the science of relationships. At Hawthorn, I discovered the values I now discuss with my children, spouse, colleagues, and clients in order to help them choose success.

Marlene D’Souza Howard

1999

Actuary

Marlene graduated from the University of Waterloo in Actuarial Science and has worked as an actuary in various consulting firms in the United States. She currently works at Milliman Inc as Principal & Consulting Actuary. She is a mother of three children. In her free time, she volunteers in the Society of Actuaries Education & Examination Committee and also runs half-marathons, of which she has already completed five!

My experience at Hawthorn has been a key building block in my life. Through my daily interactions at the school, I learned important values like hard work and perseverance, but I also learned how to have fun and build solid friendships along the way. I am thankful for my Hawthorn education and the numerous ways it has contributed to my personal and professional achievements.

Jacqueline Nivet Cavalcante

1998

Social Development Advisor

Jacqueline has a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Kings College in Halifax and a Master's in Social Development from the University of Sussex in England. She currently lives in Malawi with her husband and three daughters. This is her fourth posting working as Protection Advisor with the UN; her previous postings were in Uganda, Nepal, and Sudan.

My 10 years at Hawthorn prepared me well for the academic challenges of pursuing an advanced university degree, in particular the ability to analytically question what I was learning and to find meaningful ways to apply this knowledge. The ability to think critically about a problem, to understand underlying causes, and to find creative solutions has been essential in my profession where I help prevent and mitigate protection risks - such as exploitation, abuse, and violence - faced by particularly vulnerable people such as women and children in humanitarian crises.

Cecilia Charles

2011

Outdoor Educator & Wilderness Guide

Cecilia has a Bachelor's in Sociology from Western University. She has worked in the outdoor industry for the past 8 years. She currently resides in British Columbia and is passionate about protecting our environment. She is a marathon runner, avid hiker, and rock climber who loves exploring the mountains.

Hawthorn’s approach to character development and education is what stands out. The importance and value of helping others was not just a concept we learned about, it was something we lived. Through Hawthorn I volunteered my time in various community projects and continue to do so now. While academics are important, I discovered that what has a greater impact is the way we treat one another and the world around us.