Five Faculty of Arts and Science students earn Tricolour Awards

The recipients of the 2020 and 2021 Agnes Benidickson Tricolour Awards have all stepped up during one of the most challenging periods for the Queen’s community.

Students are selected for their distinguished service to the university in non-athletic, extra-curricular activities, with the three tenets being service, leadership, character.

The 2021 and 2020 are both being recognized as last year’s awards were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Queen’s is a better place because of the contributions and courage of each of the recipients. Their efforts, passion, and thoughtfulness have had a real, lasting impact on both the university and Kingston communities during a time when it was needed most,” says Jared den Otter, President of the Alma Mater Society. “The Agnes Benidickson Tricolour Award is particularly meaningful as recipients are selected by their peers for their contributions, their leadership, and their kindness.”

2020 RECIPIENTS

Beatrice Hur, Artsci'20
Beatrice is an activist who devoted many hours advocating for human rights and equity issues on campus. She founded the Asian Heritage Club when some international students told her they felt left out of clubs and activities. She is also an advocate for science and research. She served as president of Queen’s chapter of Canadian Association of Research in Regenerative Medicine (CARRM), a non-profit that raises money and awareness for stem cell research.

Jared den Otter, Artsci'20
Jared is a passionate student advocate who served for four years on the Physical Health Education and Kinesiology Student Association (including one year as president). He also worked with youth in the Kingston community with disabilities through programs such as Extra Awesome (an after-school program) and Bobbing Buddies (a swim program).

Chayce Perkins, Artsci'20
From facilitating advocacy campaigns on postsecondary issues to coordinating orientation week, Chayce is a driven student leader who contributed to the campus community in many roles. As president of the Arts and Science Undergraduate Society she developed a wellness-focused position to improve the mental and physical health of ArtSci students, established the ASUS Student Professional Development Grant, and hosted the first ever Life After ArtSci networking event in Toronto.

2021 RECIPIENTS

Shoshannah Bennett-Dwara, Artsci’21
Shoshannah has a long list of volunteer service focused on making the university more equitable, diverse, and inclusive. As co-founder of the Queen's University Advocacy Coalition, she met with student leaders to consult, conduct policy reviews, and brainstorm ways to amplify vulnerable people’s voices. She also worked with various organizations such as Queen's Student Diversity Project and Queen's Black Premedical Association, and served as the Queen's University Undergraduate Trustee.

Catherine Haba, Artsci’21
Catherine has devoted herself to improving student experience at Queen’s for people of colour by working with administrators to make the university more supportive for its most marginalized people. She has been actively involved in numerous organizations such as the Queen’s Black Academic Society and served on the Faculty of Arts and Science Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigeneity Implementation Committee.

The story was originally published in The Gazette.