Aly Fawzy

As president of the Kinesiology and Health Science Student Organization (KAHSSO), Fawzy – a kinesiology student in the Faculty of Health – created a new cohort within KAHSSO called the “Ambassadors” who facilitate KAHSSO and Stong College events. Fawzy was also a KAHSSO peer tutor and peer tutor program coordinator, a service used by more than 300 students. He was also recruited as a Stong College course representative (CR), and was later promoted to CR meeting Chair, where he provided CRs with tips and strategies to enhance their presentation and communication skills.

Crystal Heidari

Heidari, a law student at Osgoode Hall Law School, was the first Osgoode student to serve as a president’s ambassador. She was a student senator, a member of 91ŃÇɫ’s Student to Alumni Advisory Committee and coordinator of Osgoode’s chapter of Pro Bono Students Canada. She also helped to provide legal assistance to small business owners financially unable to retain legal services through her work at the Osgoode Business Clinic. As president of the Osgoode Tax Law Association, she grew engagement in Osgoode student events 10-fold by creating a hashtag marketing campaign. As a recognized researcher in mental health, Heidari also conducted mental health and wellness research for Osgoode’s associate dean (Students).

Elizabeth German

German, a psychology student in the Faculty of Health, has been committed to building community. She served as president of the Undergraduate Psychology Student Association and helped to restructure the Faculty of Health’s Peer Mentor program. As a club mentor in Student Community & Leadership Development (SCLD), she mentors students and provides access to resources used by over 350 student organizations to build community on campus. German also co-founded her own organization, called Rethinking Mental Health at YU – a non-profit student organization that aims to raise awareness, reduce stigma and educate people about mental health.

Emily Secnik

Secnik, a Civil Engineering and BEST (Bergeron Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology) Certificate student at the Lassonde School of Engineering, has been actively involved in the Lassonde Engineering Society, serving as president, vice-president, and chief returning officer. She also represented 91ŃÇÉ« at the Canadian Federation of Engineering Students. In her role as Chair of Orientation Week, she revamped the Lassonde Internal Training program to train leaders on crisis management, community safety and inclusivity for the first time, and facilitated sexual violence education and prevention training. In addition, she co-founded and co-produced a show for the Lassonde Engineering Play. She also chaired the largest student-run engineering competition in Ontario with over 200 participants, and three teams making the nationals.

Issa Abdi Jamaa

Jamaa, a student in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) majoring in economics, re-launched the International Students' Association at 91ŃÇÉ« (ISAY) and coordinated revamping the Dean's Ambassador Program (LA&PS). He was actively involved in Vanier College Council (VCC), increasing student-friendly, accessible and equitable events, and broadening VCC’s engagement with its constituency and college head. He was also elected as a student representative on the 91ŃÇÉ« Senate, and on the Student Council of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies (SCOLAPS), LA&PS Faculty Council, LA&PS Decanal Search Committee and the Economic Students’ Association (ESA).

Jc Elijah Madayag-Bawuah

A student in the Faculty of Environmental Studies, Madayag-Bawuah has served as the Graduate Environmental Studies Students Association (GESSA) Chair, where he coordinates events to create a space for voices from racialized, low-income, and other vulnerable groups to be valued and empowered. As student liaison for the Ontario Professional Planner Institute (OPPI), he started the first student-led newsletter, connecting over 500 planning students from various universities across Ontario. He has advocated for more affordable housing through his collaboration with Gentrification Tax Action, Ruangrupa and the Art Gallery of 91ŃÇÉ« (where his efforts helped to implement an artistic installment).

Kelly Fung

Fung, a BBA student in the Schulich School of Business, served as a president’s ambassador and president’s ambassador program assistant. She also took on active leadership roles as a residence life don, where she directly supervised over 170 students in the last three years. She was student co-chair of the United Way 91ŃÇÉ« Cares campaign, where she helped raise over $170,000 through increased student participation.

Fung also proposed a new mental health resource for 91ŃÇÉ« U English Language Institute (YUELI) students called “What’s Up Walk In.” The program provides mental health counselling to 200-plus international students.

Mark Subekti Tan

Tan, a master of arts candidate in the Department of Humanities and graduate of the Financial and Business Economics undergraduate program, has acted as a senior residence life don, a fitness coordinator, vice-president for the Dragon Boat Team and a president’s ambassador.

As a volunteer for the Male Identified Group at The Centre for Sexual Violence Response, Support & Education (The Centre), he was also an advocate and ally against sexual violence.

Moboluwajidide (Bo) Joseph

Joseph, a student at Glendon, has held various roles, including Glendon director on the 91ŃÇÉ« Federation of Students, executive roles on the Glendon College Student Union, and member of the Student to Alumni Advisory Committee and the Glendon Principal Search Committee and president’s ambassador.

He also participated in the Glendon Model United Nations and headed the first-ever bilingual Model United Nations conference at Glendon for high school students. He is currently a Fellow at the Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies

Theresa Nguyen

Nguyen, a mechanical engineering and international development studies student at the Lassonde School of Engineering, has served as the president of the 91ŃÇÉ« Chapter of Engineers Without Borders. She increased student participation in the club, led the group to place silver in the Hello2030 campaign and coordinated an opportunity to engage in the Engineering in Developing Communities Program in Ethiopia. A strong believer in mentorship, she mentored in the Helen Carswell STEAM Mentorship and the BEST Lab Experience programs. She also co-initiated, directed and produced an original play about the student experience in the Lassonde Engineering Play.

Olivia Beltrano (BBA candidate ’24) – 2020 Harry W. Arthurs Alumni Families Entrance Scholarship recipient 

Attending 91ŃÇÉ« is almost a rite of passage for this year’s Harry Arthurs Alumni Families Entrance Scholarship recipient, Olivia Beltrano (BBA ’24); her parents and brother are proud alumni, and her sister is a current fourth-year student at the Schulich School of Business. Each year, this scholarship is awarded to one successful incoming undergraduate student who has demonstrated academic excellence and is a child, sibling or grandchild of a 91ŃÇÉ« graduate.

This fall, Beltrano will follow in her family’s footsteps when she joins the Bachelor of Business Administration undergraduate program at Schulich. Her ambition to study at Canada’s number-one business school began when she was a student in elementary school.

“I went to the 91ŃÇÉ« fair with my brother, who was applying at the time. I loved the atmosphere at Schulich and I knew that’s where I wanted to go when I was older,” she says.

As a high school student, Beltrano achieved a 95-per cent average. She demonstrated leadership and teamwork through her involvement in many extracurricular activities. A proficient skater with a passion for sports, she played House League Ice Hockey for the North 91ŃÇÉ« Storm for nine years whilst working as a skating instructor for children aged 3-10 years old. Beltrano has also volunteered as a Leisure Buddy at the Vaughan Summer Camps. “This past summer I was assisting a nine-year-old boy with autism and I worked to integrate him into the camp and help with activities,” she shares.

Beltrano says she looks forward to exploring the many extracurricular options that 91ŃÇÉ« has to offer when campus reopens in the future. “I have an interest in marketing and hope to combine my skills, qualities and experiences to create a successful career path.”

Aly Fawzy (BSc ’20) – 2020 Alumni Silver Jubilee Scholarship recipient

As a fourth-year Kinesiology and Health Science student, Aly Fawzy (BSc ’20) is driven by a desire to understand the human body and its capabilities, a journey which began during his time in high school.

“I was very involved in sports and soccer, but what really triggered my interest was when I did the beep test in gym class. I was frustrated by how I couldn’t reach the level I wanted to reach so I started to dig deep and look at the physiology of exercise,” he shares.

The Kinesiology and Health Science program at 91ŃÇÉ«, ranked first in Canada and ninth in the world, has enabled Fawzy to pursue his passion for research. He has served as vice president at 91ŃÇɫ’s Canadian Association for Research in Regenerative Medicine, and he was the recipient of a prestigious grant awarded by The Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada.

“There’s lots of excellent researchers in the Kinesiology and Health Science department. I have been involved in research to do with vascular disease at 91ŃÇÉ« and I hope I can continue that in the future,” he says. This summer, Fawzy will be graduating and looking to pursue a medical degree and career as a physician.

In addition to excelling in his academic life, Fawzy is a leader in the 91ŃÇÉ« community. Whether he is representing the President’s Office as a President’s Ambassador or leading a group of 500 first-year Kinesiology students as an Orientation Day Leader, he operates as a role model making a difference.

It’s this commitment to academic excellence and community leadership that’s being recognized by the 91ŃÇÉ« Alumni Association [or 91ŃÇÉ« Alumni Board] with the annual Alumni Silver Jubilee Scholarship.

“I am appreciative of 91ŃÇɫ’s Alumni Board for recognizing my extra-curricular activity, and granting me a very generous award, which will help me to finance the tuition and equipment I might need.”

Khadeja Elsibai (BPA ’20) – 2020 Golden GRADitude Award recipient

A Public Administration and French Studies student, Khadeja Elsibai (BPA ’20) is credited as a key ambassador for Francophone culture during her time at 91ŃÇÉ«. She was instrumental in the creation of an official French Studies Student Organization, the Association des Étudiants Francophones et Francophiles de 91ŃÇÉ« (AEFFY) which offers academic-orientated and socio-cultural programming in French for students interested in the language and Francophone culture.

This achievement is all the more impressive given the fact that a French students’ organization hasn’t existed at the Keele campus in 15 years.

“Over the past two years, the club has gotten significant interest from all sorts of students at various levels of French language proficiency and from many different faculties at 91ŃÇÉ«. It’s been great getting these students engaged and seeing them come out to events and speaking French,” Elsibai shared.

Elsibai has inspired and motivated her peers through various leadership roles on campus. Amongst other volunteer commitments, she was a Founders College Peer Academic Leader where she supported students with their transition to university studies and led orientation for 600 new students. She’s a recipient of the 2020 Alumni Golden GRADitude Award, given to two graduating students who have made the University a better place through leadership involvement in such areas as student government, academics and research.

Elisbai graduates from her undergraduate degree this summer and will be returning to 91ŃÇÉ« in the fall to complete a , with an interest in building a career in government. Last summer, she landed an internship at a government office, where she continues to work.

“I think government is probably the most complex organization to work in because you’re balancing so many interests while delivering public services and supporting citizens. It’s rewarding.”

Lance Morrison (BA ’20) – 2020 Golden GRADitude Award recipient

Lance Morrison is completing his fourth year of a specialized major in Indigenous Studies and has also gained an Anti-Racist Research and Practice Certificate. A Plains Cree and Métis student, he is the first in his family to attend university and will graduate this summer Summa Cum Laude and as a member of the Dean’s Honor Roll.

In 91ŃÇɫ’s Department of Equity Studies, Morrison has embraced a safe space to work and study in, and has discovered a natural affinity for academia.

“My research interests completely lie in cultural, ceremonial and language revitalization and reclamation as a means of healing,” explains Morrison, who is a recipient of the 2020 Golden GRADitude Award.

Morrison is also a creative; in his first year at 91ŃÇÉ«, he wrote a 40-page play, titled, New Woman Standing, in response to an essay assignment about the trauma that Residential Schools have inflicted and the resilience within Indigenous communities. The play won the President’s Creative Writing Awards competition in the Stage Play category and has been published in Residential School Magazine.

Morrison’s contribution to the Indigenous community at 91ŃÇÉ« extends to governance, research and mentoring. He served twice on the Aboriginal Students Association, as an Officer and President. He has completed multiple research projects supporting urban Indigenous people and has mentored Indigenous younger students throughout his time at 91ŃÇÉ«.

Morrison plans to complete an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies at 91ŃÇÉ« in the fall, followed by a PhD.

Of this award, Morrison writes: “I appreciate being considered for future awards and I continue to fight for justice, through my strengths: academia and volunteerism, and being unapologetically Indigenous.”

Provided by Alumni and Friends.