Amidst a swarm of glittering gold star balloons and a salad course on Tuesday evening, students, faculty and well-wishers were quickly ushered into their seats, ready to pay tribute to the accomplishments of students and societies during the first Dalhousie Student Impact Awards.
Spirits were high and university pride swelled as McInnes Room played host to the inaugural event, a night celebrating the best and brightest that Dalhousie has to offer. Black and gold pennant plaques, which doubled as a contribution to students’ Co-Curricular Records, were presented to all manner of student super-achievers.
“Inaugural – that means first time! I learned that tonight... it was my inaugural time!” said comedic co-host George Woodhouse, decked out in pillows and a helmet. “It’s not that kind of impact, George,” chimed co-host Hannah Dahn. “So, I don’t have to worry about being checked?” smirked Mr. Woodhouse in his glib, tongue-in-cheek way.
Before the floodgates opened and the more than 40 awards found their way to the arms of smiling students (out of 70 total awards), University Chancellor Fred Fountain summoned up some words of inspiration and wisdom. “These people here tonight, they bring truth to the Dalhousie motto. Truly, you are all inspiring minds,” said Mr. Fountain to a thunderous applause.
Rising stars and super students
Kicking off the night with the Rising Star awards, given to first-year students who have shown a tremendous amount of success and impact on the university, the stage became a hilarious altar of honour as students came up to claim awards and Mr. Woodhouse cracked wise and kept the audience rife with chatter.
The night rolled on with the Student Entrepreneur Award going to Management Student Akram Al-Otumi for admirable volunteering and business venturing, and the International Student of the Year Award being given to Nigerian student Pamela Agada, a member of Dal Dance and vice-president of the African Students’ Association.
Read also: Exceptional student leaders honoured with Governors' Awards
Before announcing the nominees for Top Residence Council, Ms. Dahn professed her bias for Risley Hall, hoping it won. “It has co-ed showers!” she mused. “Yeah, well I’ve got a bias for Mini-Res. It has... showers...” countered Mr. Woodhouse to a volley of laughter. Snagging the award for top council was O’Brien Hall, having rebuilt their council from scratch and earning huge successes in sponsorship and funding.
After breaking for a performance by Dal’s Got Talent winners The Royal Thymes, the ceremonies returned with the Greenest Student and Best Student Society awards, going to Melanie “The Green Machine” Gillis and Dal Dance, respectively.
A bounty of Certificates of Distinction and Gold D Awards were then presented to students who demonstrated an astounding commitment and contribution to campus life. Of course, the person with the most outstanding commitment that night might have been Dal's photographer, who chased down Certificate of Distinction winner Kate Barss when she didn’t take her photo opportunity.
“I kind of hesitated about going for a photo, then realized I walked off stage the wrong way... so decided not to, but they kind of tracked me down. It’s the first time I’ve been pressured into a photo by anyone but my Mom,” laughed Ms. Barss, leading Mr. Woodhouse’s to playfully remind everyone to, “Exit stage right for your mandatory photo op.”
A celebration of contribution
Full of blue ribbons and good-natured ribbing, the festivities pushed on with soaring spirits. The rest of the night saw Arts and Social Sciences student Max Ma taking home enough awards that the co-hosts finally fashioned him his own tote-bag to carry them, and Dalhousie’s own energetic, inspirational student poet laureate Sagar Jha storming the stage to spin his fast-paced inspirational spoken-word.
The evening culminated in the celebration of four outstanding Dalhousie students honored with the Board of Governors Awards. Sarah Bouchard, Duane MacLeod, Rebekah Oomen and Chris Saulnier were all lauded for their impressive and integral contributions to our campus this year, receiving a $1,200 gift as well as the prestigious award. Much of the crowd flew to their feet in a standing ovation as the stage cleared and the patrons were left to mingle.
Filled with equal parts fun and fame, the first annual Dalhousie Student Impact Awards seemed to be a rousing success. “What amazing students we have,” said DSU Vice President of Student Life Jamie Arron, one of the coordinators of the event. “I wanted to keep it casual and fun, while also celebrating these people. It does say Biz Casual on the ticket, you know,” he laughs. “I originally wanted it to say ‘Dress to Impress,’ but they wouldn’t let me.”
“These people fuel the future,” said Mr. Woodhouse in closing. “I’m serious about most things you know, and this is one of them!”
Dalhousie Impact Award winners - 2012
RISING STAR AWARDS
Grant Flagler, Management, Etobicoke, ON
Syed Abrar Husain, Management, Kuwait
Richie Kanza Mata, Arts and Social Sciences, Toronto, ON
Sara Kudlowsky, Management, Mississauga, ON
Michelle MacGillivray, Arts and Social Sciences, Kemptville, ON
Alexandra Pavlidis, Arts and Social Sciences, Hamilton, ON
Taylor Quinn, Arts and Social Sciences, North Vancouver, BC
Tareq Yousef, Science, Halifax, NS
STUDENT ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Akram Al-Otumi, Management, Sana'a
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT OF THE YEAR
Pamela Agada, Arts and Social Sciences, Nigeria
RESIDENCE LIFE IMPACT AWARDS
Armaan Ahluwalia, Management , Winnipeg, MB
Tamsin Andrews, Arts and Social Sciences, Halifax, NS
Simon Swanek, Arts and Social Sciences, Barrie, ON
RESIDENCE LIFE LEADER AWARDS
Ben Armishaw, Management, Sydney, NS
Ramz Aziz, Science, Karachi, Pakistan
Matt Bartley, Management, Amherst, NS
Meredith Bessey, Science, Riverview, NB
Rachel Bruins, Arts and Social Sciences, Ammerzwil, Switzerland
Richard Clark, Science, Barrington Passage, NS
Nicole Crozier, Science, Bedford, NS
Chris Demaine, Architecture & Planning, Georgetown, ON
Joe Garnett, Science, Riverview, NB
Kirby Hayes, Arts and Social Sciences, Mississauga, ON
Farran Holmes, Arts and Social Sciences, Markham, ON
Emma Horner, Science, Cochrane, AB
Tyler Johnson, Chemistry, Amherst, NS
Dustin MacDonald, Engineering, Port Hood, NS
Phil Moreau, Arts and Social Sciences, Barrie, ON
Cara Muise, Arts and Social Sciences, Sydney, NS
Kathleen Nason, Health Professions, Elmsdale, NS
Brandon Randall, Arts and Social Sciences, Mississauga, ON
Molly Whalen-Browne, Science, Kingston, ON
TOP RESIDENCE COUNCIL
O’Brien Hall
BEST STUDENT SOCIETY
DalDance
INTRAMURAL LIVE WELL @ DAL AWARD
William Burt, Science, Vancouver, BC
RECREATION LIVE WELL @ DAL AWARD
Jordan Wilson, Engineering, Sussex, NB
TIGERS LIVE WELL @ DAL AWARD
Daniel You, Science, Calgary, AB
MOST CHARITABLE SOCIETY
E-Sports Society; Students Offering Support (SOS) (co-winners)
GREEN AWARD
Melanie Gillis, Arts and Social Sciences, Halifax, NS
CERTIFICATES OF DISTINCTION
Rouhollah Daniel Bargrizan, Sciences, Dartmouth, NS
Kate Barss, Arts and Social Sciences, Manitoulin Island, ON
Joseph Garnett, Science, Moncton, NB
Michael Gfeller, Kinesiology, Collingwood, ON
Alex Sisley, Science, Halifax, NS
GOLD Ds
Akram Al-otumi, Management, Yemen
Nicholas Costain, Medicine , Saint John, NB
Laura Forrest, Arts and Social Sciences, Thornhill, ON
Arielle Goldschlager, Arts and Social Sciences, London, ON
Dustin Griffin, Law, Armstrong, BC
Victoria Jones, Master of Arts, Edmonton, AB
Lauren Kristjanson, Law, Nanoose Bay, BC
Emma Leon, Nursing, Schomburg, ON
Max Ma, Arts and Social Sciences, Vancouver, BC
Laura MacFadyen, Arts and Social Sciences, Orillia, ON
Courtney McCarthy, Engineering, Enfield, NS
Alyssa Phillips, Arts and Social Sciences, Truro, NS
Bruce Russell, Arts and Social Sciences, Halifax, NS
Antonia Sappong, Sciences, Halifax, NS
Duncan Taylor, Joint MPA/JD
Laura Weeden, Engineering, Ottawa, ON
Zachary Whitne, Nursing, Centreville, NS
MALCOLM HONOUR AWARD:
Sarah Bouchard, Arts and Social Sciences, Fort Kent, Maine
Robert Leforte, Arts and Social Sciences, Dartmouth, NS
TOP DSU COUNCIL MEMBER
Max Ma, Arts and Social Sciences, Vancouver, BC
STUDENT ACTIVIST
Alayna Kolodziechuk, Law, Shelbourne, NS
BEST DEPARTMENTAL SOCIETY
Dalhousie Nursing Students Society
FACULTY LEADERSHIP AWARDS
Architecture & Planning: Jared Dalziel, Community Design, Brookside, NS
Arts & Social Sciences: Alyssa Phillips, History, Bible Hill, NS
Computer Science: Sara Maldonado, Halifax, NS
Engineering: Laura Weeden, Ottawa, ON
Health Professions: Megan Riordon, Halifax, NS
Law: Julie Sobowale, Halifax, NS
Management: Gillian Dykeman , Halifax, NS
Science: Thomas Whelan, Biology, Halifax, NS
Grad Student of the Year: Eric Snow, MPA graduate (October 2011)
BEST FACULTY SOCIETY
Faculty of Law Student Society
DSU COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD FOR KING’S STUDENTS
Dylan Anderson, Arts and Social Sciences, Toronto, ON; Sophie Henderson, Arts and Social Sciences, Oakville, ON (co-winners)
LILLY JU AWARD
Max Ma, Arts and Social Sciences, Vancouver, BC
LEVEL CHAN AWARD
Jonathan Hughes, Law, Dartmouth, NS
BOARD OF GOVERNORS AWARDS
Sarah Bouchard, Arts and Social Sciences, Fort Kent, Maine
Duane MacLeod, Nursing, O’Leary, PE
Rebekah Oomen, Master of Science, Aurora, ON
Christopher Saulnier, Engineering, Dartmouth, NS