From campus to community: Oshawa students driving change

As convocation season gets underway in Oshawa, we proudly celebrate the achievements of students from Durham College, Ontario Tech University and Trent University Durham GTA. Each year, our city is home to 35,000 full-time students whose energy and ideas fuel innovation, research and a vibrant talent pipeline for businesses across all sectors.

Through initiatives like TeachingCity Oshawa, a collaboration between the City and its academic and research partners, we’re addressing urban challenges through innovation, applied research and experiential learning. This convocation season, we honour not only our graduates, but also the lasting impact these partnerships have on our community and beyond.  

Rishi Sathiyakanthan, Ontario Tech University

Completing his Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Justice, Rishi’s academic focus has included critical research on issues such as youth homelessness, racial disparities in the criminal justice system and victimology. Throughout his degree, Rishi aimed to bridge theory with practice by engaging in both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Rishi’s experience with TeachingCity through the City’s Diversity, Equity and Reconciliation team gave him the opportunity to apply his academic training to real-world challenges. He was responsible for developing a comprehensive community profile that highlighted the demographic makeup, systemic barriers and service needs of various equity-deserving communities in Oshawa. This experience helped Rishi strengthen his analytical and communication skills while deepening his understanding of community dynamics and the importance of culturally responsive policy-making. It also gave him the chance to contribute directly to improving city services and equity initiatives.

After graduation, Rishi plans to pursue a career in policing. His goal is to serve as a community-focused officer who understands the importance of equity, empathy and accountability in building public trust. The skilled and insights he gained through TeachingCity have strengthened his resolve to approach policing not only as law enforcement, but also as community engagement and problem-solving.

Jonathon Smith, Trent University Durham GTA

Jonathon is graduating with a joint honours bachelor’s degree in Child & Youth Studies and Psychology from Trent University Durham GTA. In 2023, he founded the Oshawa Dungeons and Dragons Club, a neurodiversity-affirming social group for youth in collaboration with Trent University, TeachingCity and the City of Oshawa. Being neurodivergent himself, Jonathon understands the challenges that can come with neurodivergence and created the program to foster belonging, empowerment and connection through the game of D&D.

His undergraduate thesis explored the experiences of youth in the program, revealing how it helped build meaningful social bonds and personal growth. “Success in anything requires skill and opportunity and the program provided an opportunity that the participants used to have fun and build social connections,” He reflected. “The collaboration with TeachingCity and Trent University provided me the opportunity to do this research leading to academic success”.

Recognized for his academic and community leadership, Jonathon has received several awards and will continue his studies in Trent’s Master of Psychology program. He plans to expand the D&D Club to reach more youth across Durham Region.

Ayo Kuye, Durham College

Ayo is a recent graduate of Durham College’s Video Production program, where he honed his skills in lighting, editing, storytelling, and both documentary and corporate filmmaking. The program gave him a strong foundation in visual storytelling and hands-on experience across the production process.

One of Ayo’s standout experiences was a collaborative documentary project with MRC, the Social Impact Hub and TeachingCity Oshawa, exploring the use of VR in firefighter training. He contributed as a cinematographer and colorist, applying classroom knowledge in a real-world, high-stakes setting. It was incredibly rewarding to him to see the documentary screened to large audiences and receiving such positive feedback, reaffirming his passion for impactful storytelling and gave him a glimpse into the collaborative, fast-paced nature of the industry.

Now seeking a full-time role as a motion designer, video editor, or colorist, Ayo is eager to bring his six years of creative experience to a dynamic, forward-thinking team, continuing to tell impactful visual stories and grow as a professional.

Sohan Maharjan, Durham College

A graduate of the Video Production program, Sohan describes his six years of filmmaking experience at Durham College as transformative -- enhancing his technical skills, creative confidence and entrepreneurial mindset. As an international student, he found a supportive environment that helped him grow personally and professionally.

Sohan has created documentaries for global organizations like the World Health Organization, UN Women, UK AID, World Wildlife Fund, British Council and more, deepening his belief in the power of visual storytelling. At Durham College, he brought that vision to life through a collaborative documentary with MRC, the Social Impact Hub, Oshawa Fire Services and TeachingCity Oshawa, showcasing how VR is transforming firefighter training. He served as Assistant Director, Cinematographer and Editor, an experience that was the highlight of his college journey.

Now co-founder of a production company, Sohan continues to create impactful content across film, music videos and branded media for clients like Samsung and Suzuki. With expanded services in photography, he’s focused on building lasting client relationships and pushing creative boundaries in every project.

About TeachingCity

TeachingCity brings together the City of Oshawa and its education and research partners – Durham College, Ontario Tech University, Trent University Durham GTA and the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.

The partners address Oshawa’s urban issues through innovation, collaboration, applied research and shared experiential learning opportunities with the aim to position Oshawa as a local, national and global community of urban research and learning.

Learn more about TeachingCity at teachingcityoshawa.ca.

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