The 16-year-old — the youngest to graduate from U of T’s Faculty of Arts & Science, U of T Scarborough or U of T Mississauga since at least 1979, the year the university began tracking such data — is graduating this spring with a specialist in physics and a major in mathematics with high distinction.

In 2019, at the age of 11, Daniel Honciuc Menendez took part in a summer program in theoretical physics at the Perimeter Institute in Waterloo, Ontario.

“I’d known for a long time that I wanted a career in physics,” says Honciuc Menendez. “But it was in this program that I learned for sure that this was what I wanted to do with my life.”

Honciuc Menendez is Ecuadorian and in 2019 was living in Quito. The trip to Waterloo was his first visit to Canada and his experience of the country was equally pivotal.

“I really liked Canada,” he says. “I liked the openness of the people and the diversity. So I decided that when I applied to universities, I would make sure to apply to universities in Canada.”

Honciuc Menendez did just that and was eventually accepted by twelve institutions in the United States, Ecuador and Canada — including the University of Toronto. At the age of 12, he accepted U of T’s offer, received a U of T International Scholars Award and began his undergraduate career as a member of University College.

More information here: https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/news/16-year-old-daniel-honciuc-menendez-graduating-high-distinction

More information here: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/meet-the-16-year-old-physics-and-math-student-who-is-about-to-graduate-from/article_92f79b2c-2402-11ef-8506-fb729dacf2ba.html

More information here: https://archive.tveyes.com/18120/4553853-202375/74be93cf-6a66-44fa-a475-e8e8c5ac2527/CARADCBR_06-07-2024_14.20.41.mp3

More information here: https://globalnews.ca/news/10563795/its-crazy-ecuadorian-teen-becomes-university-of-torontos-youngest-graduate/