On Thursday, March 21, for the eighth consecutive year, more than 400 students, staff, faculty, friends and family members gathered in the McInnes Room to celebrate the achievements of many outstanding students and student societies at the Impact Awards.
Presented jointly by Dalhousie University and the Dalhousie Student Union, the Impact Awards recognize student achievement in academic life, student life and community service, and residence life.
During his welcome address, outgoing DSU President Aaron Prosper spoke about the importance of making impacts in small ways to encourage others to strive higher. He used his own story of becoming the DSU’s first Indigenous president to illustrate how it has impacted youth in his home community.
Interim President Peter MacKinnon congratulated the winners, commenting on the strength and diversity of their achievements, while also stressing the opportunities and tools that Dalhousie is providing them to reach their full potential and work to create a better society.
Student MCs Claire Attridge and Baden Lamoureux used their experience hosting the Grawood Open Mic series to keep the event moving seamlessly while keeping the crowd entertained. Also entertaining the audience were incoming DSU Vice-President of Student Life (and last year’s winner of Dal’s Got Talent) Ruby Coles, with her spoken word poetry, and dancers Colin Talwar and Chereyce Thompson.
In total, 31 individuals and eight groups were presented with Impact Awards, while five more students received Board of Governors’ Awards — the university’s top award for student life achievement. [Read our story on all five recipients.]
Listed below are all the Impact Award winners. Visit the Dal Student Life Facebook page to view a photo album featuring all the recipients.
Residence Life Leadership Awards
Awarded to current residence students in positions of leadership (such as resident assistant), who have best demonstrated an exceptional level of maturity and professionalism. They encourage and empower students to engage in student life, lead by example, and work to improve the life of the residence hall.
Meghan Martin, Science, Shelburne, NS
Zachary Moran, Health, Charlottetown, PEI
Residence Life Impact Awards
Presented to a current member of a residence hall community who has made outstanding contributions to the life of their residence community, leads by example by encouraging and empowering residents to get involved, promotes respect, and creates opportunities for their peers.
Daniel Choi, Architecture & Planning, Seoul, South Korea
Mirusha Ramaj, Science, Toronto, ON
Most Impactful Residence Council
Awarded to the residence council that has demonstrated consistency in event planning and delivery, has high participation and attendance of its membership and sets an example for other councils. This council also acts as a strong advocate for the individuals it serves.
Shirreff Hall Residence Council
Dal Off-Campus Award
Presented to an outstanding off-campus student leader who has demonstrated significant leadership, commitment, and service aimed at improving their community.
Mark Saldanha, Science, Halifax, NS
Most Impactful General/Special Interest Society
Awarded to a student society ratified with the Dalhousie Student Union that caters to the general or niche interests of students and has demonstrated consistency in planning and delivery or programming or events, high student participation and attendance of its membership, and sets an example for other student societies.
Rowe Women in Business Association (WIBA)
Most Impactful Sports Society
Awarded to a student society, club, or intramural league. It must demonstrate consistency in planning and delivery of programming or events, high student participation and attendance of its membership, and sets an example for other student societies.
Dalhousie Football
Intramural Award
Awarded to an intramural participant who demonstrates significant commitment to Dalhousie’s intramural programs, exemplifies the role of intramurals in developing and promoting student engagement and fun on campus, demonstrates positive leadership, and inspires others to get involved.
Hossam Yassin, Engineering, Giza, Egypt
Sports Club Award
Awarded to a Sports Club that demonstrates a significant commitment to Dalhousie’s sports clubs programs, exemplifies the role of its team in developing and promoting student engagement and fun on campus, demonstrates positive leadership, and inspires others to get involved.
Dalhousie Cheerleading Club
Varsity Athlete Award
Awarded to a varsity student-athlete who demonstrates significant contribution to the community, has increased awareness at Dalhousie of a given charity or cause, demonstrates positive leadership, and inspires others to get involved.
Annie Douglas, Health, Ottawa, ON
Student Wellness Award
Awarded to a student who best demonstrates leadership in promoting and contributing to a healthy campus, and is a role model for health and wellness both in practice and by impacting others to lead a healthy lifestyle (demonstrated through peer-to-peer education, volunteering, service learning, global outreach or any activity that enhances quality of life and development).
Hayley Walsh, Science, Charlottetown, PEI
Rising Star Awards
Awarded to first-, second-, and third-year students who have demonstrated an outstanding level of commitment, leadership, creativity, and initiative to the Dalhousie Student Union, as well as the campus and community at large.
Selam Abdella, Arts & Social Sciences, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Claire Sethuram, Science, Ottawa, ON
Most Impactful Charitable/Community Based Society
Awarded to a student society ratified with the DSU that has made a significant contribution to a charitable cause, within the Dalhousie community or beyond. The society has demonstrated consistency in planning and delivery of programming or events, high student participation and attendance of its membership, and sets an example for other student societies.
Special Tigers Society
Green Award
Awarded to a student who has made a significant contribution to improving awareness of sustainability issues at Dalhousie. This person’s actions reflect their passion for the environment and inspire others to make positive change.
Rose Schoonhoven, Management, Cambridge Station, NS
Student Activist Award
Awarded to a student who demonstrates passion and commitment to social justice and action, leads by example, organizes students in an inclusive way, acts with integrity, raises awareness, and inspires others to create change.
Sara Abdessamie, Science, Fredericton, NB
International Student of the Year Award
Awarded to an international student who has demonstrated excellence in leadership, shown engagement in the community, inspired others, and is a respected voice for international students at Dalhousie.
Faiza Nauman, Science, Lahore, Pakistan
Most Impactful Levied Society
Awarded to a Type 1 levied student society ratified with the Dalhousie Student Union that has demonstrated consistency in planning and delivery of programming or events, high student participation and attendance of its membership, and sets an example for other student societies.
Dalhousie Outdoors Society
Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Awarded to a student who has demonstrated excellence in generating an innovative idea, concept, or business. The student uses their leadership, vision, and focus to make their ideas come to fruition.
Andrew Holland, Health, North Bay, ON
Most Impactful Cultural/Spiritual Society
Presented to a student society ratified with the Dalhousie Student Union that has raised awareness, engaged students, and increased representation of a culture, religion, or spirituality on campus. It demonstrates consistency in event planning and delivery, high participation and attendance of its membership, and sets an example for other student societies.
Dalhousie Gujarati Students Association
Student Employee Award
Presented to a student employee who has demonstrated leadership and fostered community spirit in their work on campus. This student will be employed in any capacity on campus and, through their work, contribute to the Dalhousie student experience.
Gabrielle Faoro, Science, Aurora, ON
Most Impactful Faculty/Departmental Society
Awarded to a faculty or departmental society ratified with the DSU that has best demonstrated consistency in planning and delivery of programming or events, high student participation and attendance of its membership, and sets an example for other student societies.
Dalhousie University Nursing Society
Dalhousie Student Union Gold D
Awarded to Dalhousie students to recognize an elite level of involvement and achievement in campus life over the course of their university career. These students have shown outstanding extracurricular contributions in the community.
Nicole Blinn, Health, Bridgewater, NS
Kathleen Margaret MacMillan, Health, Millerton, NB
Sandra Sunil, Science, Charlottetown, PEI
Faculty Leadership Awards
Agriculture
Brooke McNeil, Animal Science, Hantsport, NS
Architecture & Planning
Rachel Wong, Master of Architecture, Calgary, AB
Arts & Social Sciences
Sophie Jacome, Classics, Georgetown, ON
Computer Science
Mariam Ragab, Computer Science, Alexandria, Egypt
Dentistry
Mary Dionne-Collins, Dental Hygiene, Halifax, NS
Engineering
Amanda M. MacLean, Chemical Engineering, Elmsdale, NS
Health
Rachel Ollivier, Nursing, Calgary, AB
Law
Cydney Kane, Law, Halifax, NS
Management
Hope Scheller, Corporate Residency MBA, Lingan, NS
Medicine (postgraduate student)
Maral Aali, Physiology & Biophysics PhD, Halifax, NS
Medicine (medical student)
Patrick Holland, Pharmacy, Montague, PEI
Science
Gracious Kasheke, Neuroscience, Halifax, NS
Outstanding Student of Distinction Award
Awarded to a student for an elite level of involvement and achievement in campus life over the course of a university career. This student has shown an elite level of consistent campus involvement over the course of their university career and has made outstanding and impactful extracurricular contributions in the community through student advocacy, academic justice, leadership, or other student involvement. The award was based on the academic and community accomplishments of Dalhousie alumni Level Chan and Malcolm Honour, and Lilii Ju.
Julia Guk, Health, Hammonds Plains, NS