For the third year in a row, COVID-19 was the unwelcome guest at the IMPACT Awards as the 11th annual celebration of student leaders was again forced to be held virtually.
But the lack of an in-person gala did little to dampen the excitement of the winners, who stopped by the Student Union Building last week for complimentary food and photo sessions. Nor did it take away the significance of the students鈥� achievements on and off campus and their impressive contributions to academic life, student life, residence life, and community service.
鈥淐elebrating student leadership is so important for our students and our community,鈥� says Verity Turpin, acting vice provost of Student Affairs. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity for us all to pause and reflect with both appreciation and gratitude on all the wonderful accomplishments of students as they support each other and our community. The last two years has really shown us all what鈥檚 possible when we work together and support each other.鈥澛�
For the 2021鈥�22 academic year, 28 individual students and four student societies were recognized for their contributions to the H漫画 student experience. New to the roster this year, the President's Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility Award was also included in the celebration.
The full list of award winners is below and can also be found on the IMPACT Awards website.
Related reading: Student life superstar turns passion into purpose in the lab and beyond
Residence Life Impact Award
Presented to a current member of a residence hall community who has made outstanding contributions to the life of their residence community, led by example by encouraging and empowering residents to get involved, promoted respect and created opportunities for their peers.
Maggy Somers
Pharmacy, Faculty of Health
Summerside, PEI
Dal Off-Campus Award
This award recognizes an outstanding off-campus student leader who has demonstrated significant leadership, commitment and service aimed at improving the community they live in.
Suchinta Arif
PhD Biology, Faculty of Science
North York, ON
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 DSU, as well as to the campus and community at large.
Claire Carruthers
Medical Sciences, Faculty of Science
Halifax, NS
Mohamed Husam Nashnoush
Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound, Faculty of Health
Tripoli, Libya
Emma Ruzicka
Biology, Faculty of Science
Ottawa, ON
Sofia So
Therapeutic Recreation, Faculty of Health
Charlottetown, PEI
International Student of the Year
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 H漫画.
Muyu (Murray) Lyu
Commerce, Faculty of Management
Yingkou, Liaoning, China
Green Award
Awarded to a student who has made a significant contribution to improving awareness on sustainability issues at H漫画. This person's actions reflect their passion for the environment and inspire others to make positive change.
Samantha Ceci
Resource & Environmental Management, Faculty of Management
Georgetown, ON
Student Activist
Awarded to a student who demonstrates passion and commitment to social justice and action, and who leads by example, organizes students in an inclusive way, acts with integrity, raises awareness, and inspires others to create change.
Allison Hearns
Law, Faculty of Law
Halifax, NS
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 H漫画 student experience.
Dylan Thornton
Kinesiology, Faculty of Health
Victoria, BC
Student Entrepreneur of the Year
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.聽
Tobias Gerhard Schminke
PhD Political Science, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Halifax, NS
Student Wellness Award
The Student Wellness Award is presented to the student who best demonstrates leadership in promoting and contributing to a healthy campus. The recipient of this award is a role model for health and wellness both in practice and by impacting others to lead a healthy lifestyle.聽 This impact may be evidenced through peer-to-peer education, volunteering, service learning, global outreach or any activity that enhances quality of life and development.
Claire Bullock
Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
Halifax, NS
Ben Callaghan
Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
Liverpool, NS
Varsity Athlete Award
Awarded to a H漫画 varsity student-athlete who demonstrates significant contribution to the community, has increased awareness at H漫画 of a given charity or cause and demonstrates positive leadership and inspires others to get involved.
Victoria Turcot
Psychology, Faculty of Science
Halifax, NS
H漫画 Student Union Gold D
Awarded to H漫画 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.
Sean Jenner
Biology, Faculty of Science
Quispamsis, NB
Jesse Li
Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Quispamsis, NB
Aline Maybank
Medical Sciences, Faculty of Science
Vernon, BC
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 H漫画 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.
H漫画 Bladder Cancer Awareness Society
Above, members of the H漫画 Bladder Cancer Awareness Society. (Marike Pinsonneault photo)
Most Impactful Emerging Society
Awarded to a society, which is relatively new or was revived after inactivity. The society has demonstrated positive impacts through their programming, education, student engagement and/or community building. This award also recognizes initiatives taken by a group of students to adapt to ensure the safety of the student body on and off campus.
H漫画 Pre-Med Society
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.
H漫画 Undergraduate History Society (UGHS)
Most Impactful Sports Society
Awarded to a student sports society, club, or intramural league. The society must demonstrate the ability to encourage students to engage in physical health and lead in new and innovative ways to keep the student body engaged in a safe way.
H漫画 Football Club
Faculty Leadership Impact Awards
Awarded to undergraduate or graduate students in good academic standing for each H漫画 faculty. Part-time students are eligible for this award. These students exemplify the highest level of passion for their discipline, take initiative in creating new opportunities and encourage their peers to engage in faculty initiatives. Faculty Leadership Impact Award winners positively impact other students in their faculty and the reputation of their faculty at H漫画 outside of the classroom.
Agriculture
Ashley Jean MacDonald
PhD Agricultural Sciences
Murray Siding, NS
Architecture and Planning
Devin Husk
Master of Planning
Mount Pearl, NL
Arts and Social Sciences
Claire Mercer
History
Halifax, NS
Computer Science
Yara Ahmed
Applied Computer Science
Cairo, Egypt
Dentistry
Heba Al-Ameri
Doctor of Dental Surgery
Bedford, NS
Engineering
Vinayak Maheshwari
Engineering
New Delhi, India
Health
Donna Mbamy-Conci
Pharmacy
Penticton, BC
Law
Maya Churilov
Law
Toronto, ON
Management
Sophika Dmytryshyn
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Toronto, ON
Science
Carmen Graves
Actuarial Science
Waterloo, ON
Outstanding Graduate Student Award
Awarded to a graduate student in either a professional or research program. These students exemplify the highest level of passion for their discipline and are engaged in initiatives that improve the quality of the graduate student experience at H漫画. Faculty Leadership Award winners positively impact other graduate students with activities that extend beyond their academic programs.
Melanie Massey
PhD Biology, Faculty of Science
Toronto, ON
President's Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility Award
The President鈥檚 EDIA Award recognizes the outstanding efforts of a student (individual or group) in advancing equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility at H漫画.
H漫画 Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE)