Noah Middleton hopes to attend OVC after graduating top of his class
Noah Middleton wasn’t sure he would make it to university.
Hospitalized at the age of eight with a severe condition called Chronic Bullous Disease of Childhood that made it difficult to eat and drink, Middleton leaned heavily on family and his dog, Rosie.
“Seeing how much she missed me gave me the willpower to recover,” he says of the bond with his pet. “After that, I promised myself I’d repay her by helping animals.”
It was that promise that drew Middleton to the University of Guelph. Home to the Ontario Veterinary College—Canada’s top veterinary school—Middleton set his sights in his undergrad on getting top grades and becoming a veterinarian who works with exotic wildlife.
“I can’t imagine myself on any other campus,” Middleton says.
Building strong scientific foundation
The journey to that goal includes a Bachelor of Science from U of G. Middleton will graduate with a 95.5% average and receive the Bruce Sells Medal of Academic Excellence, given to a biological science student with the highest GPA in their class, and a Dean’s Scholarship.
“I wanted a broad science background,” Middleton says of his decision to major in biological science. “Wildlife veterinary work isn’t just about anatomy; it also involves ecology and evolution. I want to understand population health and environmental systems, not just individual animals.”
Middleton was focused on getting top grades while at U of G but also spent time growing his community through the unique clubs offered on campus, like the Future Vets Club.
“There’s a great combination here of fantastic facilities, a beautiful campus and incredible instructors,” Middleton says. “There are so many incredibly talented people here and it’s been great to work collaboratively with students and professors throughout my time here so far.”
He’s also been able to network during his time at U of G, including meeting a vet in Zambia who’s helped guide Middleton through licensing and working abroad.
The science grad is no stranger to international travel. Throughout his pursuit of veterinary medicine, Middleton has been lucky enough to visit Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
“One defining moment was in New Zealand, where I learned about a penguin conservation project,” he says. “A veterinarian there explained how his work saved both individual animals and entire species.”
Balancing goals and grades
Middleton is committed to extracurricular activities that can push him towards his career goal, including volunteering at clinics near his hometown of Holmesville, Ont. and gaining experience in surgeries and vet care.
“Ultimately, I want to take a holistic approach, working with both individual animals and broader ecosystems,” he explains.
Aside from his love of animals, he’s also developed his leadership skills working as a lifeguard and balanced hobbies outside of academics by joining the Ski and Snowboard Club.
While it hasn’t always been easy to maintain top marks, Middleton says consistency and healthy habits go a long way, along with taking courses that interest you.
“If you’re passionate about something, the rest just comes to you,” he says. “When you’re genuinely invested in the material and you can see how it could apply in your own life, it makes it easier to remember it for exams and into the future.”
Discover more about the inspiring journeys of our graduates and how the University of Guelph shaped their paths