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The email that changed everything  

Rachel Pizzonia will never forget opening that life-changing email last fall. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the word "congratulations" on her screen. She immediately called her parents to share the incredible news—she'd won an undergraduate scholarship. The award recognized her academic excellence and commitment to making a positive difference while pursuing her dual degree in health sciences and business.  

"I felt like my hard work over the past five years had really paid off," she shares, her excitement still evident months later. "Being chosen from my entire graduating class was a validation of everything I'd worked so hard for."  

But the best part was yet to come. 

A meaningful encounter  

What made Rachel's award truly special wasn't just the recognition—it was meeting the person behind it, former dean Dr. Jim Weese. Rachel decided to send him a personal thank-you with her photo and a letter about herself.  

"I wanted him to get a better sense of who I was," Rachel explains. "It was something small, but it was important to me."  

That thoughtful gesture led to an in-person meeting, where Rachel shared her plans to organize a student-led health care conference —an opportunity she created with the council to give health sciences students access to professional development experiences that would equip them for their future careers.  

Dr. Weese was invited to speak at the conference, and his presence created a certain kind of magic. Students were able to connect with his wisdom, and Rachel watched as her vision became reality.   

"It felt like a full-circle moment," Rachel says, beaming.  

The best decision she ever made 

Rachel chose to study at Western because it was a place where she could chase two dreams at once. "The dual degree gave me a holistic view of two industries I was interested in," she explains. Looking back, she calls it the best decision she ever made. Both her younger siblings are also at Western—her brother is now in his third year, and her sister starts in fall 2025.  

"All three of us are officially Mustangs," she says proudly. "I think it's because I had such a positive experience that I would tell them all about it, and they were interested in experiencing it for themselves."  

Opening doors for future students  

During her undergraduate studies, Rachel dove into student life, spending four years on the Faculty of Health Sciences Student Council, creating lasting change.

She developed the first-year guidebook now given to every new health sciences student, organized exam prep sessions that drew 250 students, and coordinated networking events featuring 24 graduate school speakers. She also helped coordinate the "Free the Dot" Program, which ensured that all students had equitable access to menstrual products on campus.  

"I wanted to make sure students had the resources they needed to feel supported and succeed," she explains. 

Experiencing health care from a global perspective  

Rachel’s Western journey took her around the world. She travelled through international programs, including trips to Italy. On one trip, she studied conflict resolution and learned Italian. On another, she returned as a teaching assistant, helping others navigate their own transformative experiences.  

Through a Faculty of Health Sciences study abroad program, Rachel explored global perspectives on ageing in Scandinavia, broadening her understanding of health care and inspiring her to think critically about improving the health care system back home.  

"Studying abroad gave me different perspectives and taught me to see health care challenges from a global lens," she reflects. "Those experiences were enriching in ways I never expected."  

Through research internships, Rachel also got to work behind the scenes with professors tackling real problems. "Being able to work with professors and help with research tasks really goes a long way as I could see how research at Western makes a real impact on people’s lives.”  

At Ivey, sustainability captured her heart. Field trips to local organizations, and a class project to develop a sustainable toothpaste venture, helped her discover her calling. "I'd love to find a career that intersects all three of my passions— health care, business, and sustainability—because I want to help transform the medical field into being more equitable and sustainable.”  

Today, Rachel is taking some time to work and plans to return to school in the near future. Her vision is crystal clear: transform health care to serve everyone better while protecting the environment.  

"Nothing's off the table for my future," she says with optimism. "Western exposed me to so many different pathways."  

The gift that keeps giving  

Donor support gave Rachel something invaluable: the freedom to pursue her passions with less financial burden, opening a world of new possibilities and allowing her the freedom to dream bigger.  

"This award doesn't just help with tuition," Rachel says. "It means I can focus on my studies and leadership activities.”  

“When donors give to Western, they're not just funding an education. They're giving hope to students and showing us that someone believes in our potential. That motivates us to work harder, dream bigger and make a difference that lasts."