Student Leadership Awards

Every year, Queen’s Student Affairs celebrates extraordinary contributions made by student leaders at Queen’s to support their peers, and local community members and initiatives.

The Student Leadership Awards honour student recipients – individuals or groups – of the Peer Leadership Award, the Indigenization, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Anti-Racism (I-EDIAA) Impact Award, and the Brian Yealland Community Leadership Award. Nominations are submitted by students, faculty, community members, and staff.

As you write your nomination, please consider any connections to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and include those details in your nomination.

Nominations for the 2026-27 Student Leadership Awards will open in January 2027; deadline TBD February 2027.

To nominate a Queen's student or group of students, fill out the online nomination form (located under each award heading) and submit.
Looking for tips? Check out our guide to writing a strong nomination!
Recipients will be chosen by a selection committee. Nominators with successful nominations will be notified by email.

If you have any questions about the awards or the nomination process, please email studentaffairs@queensu.ca.

Indigenization, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Anti-Racism Impact Award

The Indigenization, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Anti-Racism (I–EDIAA) Impact Award will be presented annually to Queen’s students, individuals and groups, who have shown their commitment to the principles of Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and anti-racism. Up to two awards will be granted annually to students (individuals or groups) who have contributed to making Queen’s a more inclusive campus. The recipients will demonstrate contributions to furthering an understanding of the interplay and intersections among different identities on campus and their work will show that diversity strengthens the Queen’s community.

2025–26 Recipients

Lucas Perri

Lucas is completing a Bachelor of Health Sciences Science degree, and is an advocate for students who are caregivers. He has established Queen’s Youths for Hospice which has grown to be a national initiative. A Commitment Scholar, Lucas helped organize the annual Conversation Café. He serves as an Equity Ambassador for Undergraduate Admission and Recruitment; he is the accessibility planning lead for the Queen’s Fashion Industry Network’s annual conference, he is part of the AMS’s Accessibility Queen’s Advisory Council, and he established the Kingston CNIB Astronomy Club for visually impaired individuals.

Edward Sy

Edward, a Bachelor of Health Sciences student, led equity and accessibility focus groups on BHSc courses, and began developing resources – work that is now a research project. As AMS Social Issues Commissioner, Edward helped to increase gender-affirming care coverage, reworked hiring and accommodations policies to reflect students with disabilities, and built foundational equity infrastructure. They also strengthened the AMS Equity Caucus, and helped establish a mentorship program that pairs local Black youth with Black Queen’s students. Edward has worked at the Yellow House, and has brought together Indigenous student leaders and campus partners in the Indigenous Student Engagement Circle.

Open to both undergraduate and graduate students
Recognition is for demonstrated involvement in, and commitment to, social justice causes that impact the Queen’s community on a broad or small scale
Nominees can be associated with any Queen’s program, department, club, organization, or student-led initiative, or a community partner/organization
Nominee must be in good standing with the University to be considered for this award
Self-nominations are not accepted

A strong nomination will:

give specific evidence of your nominee’s impact on the Queen’s community
show concrete examples of their commitment to the principles of I-EDIAA in academics, extra-curriculars, and/or personal development 
note how long they were in any relevant role(s) (as applicable) 
include up to 5 letters of support for the nomination (see below)

Congratulations to 2024-25 recipients - Cameron Hare and Anosha Waqar!

Congratulations 2023-24 recipients - Shania Sheth and Meena Waseem!

Congratulations 2022-23 recipients - Layla Haddad and Clarissa de Leon!

Head shot of Layla smiling after receiving the award.

Head shot of Clarissa in a yellow shirt smiling.

Congratulations 2021-22 recipients - Victoria Yu (BScH’22, BEd'23) and Caroline Kim (BASc'22)!

Left: Victoria Yu

Right: Caroline Kim

2020-21 recipients: Biology Graduate Students and Ishita Aggarwal (MD'23)

1st photo Biology Graduate Students: L-R: Monica Garvie (PhD'23), Harshavardhan Thyagarajan (PhD’23), Kristen Hayward (MSc’21), Hana Thompson (MSc’22), Samantha Gene (PhD’23), Riley Gridzak (PhD'24), Regan Cross (PhD'23), Nell Libera (PhD'22)

2nd photo Ishita Aggarwal

2019-20 Recipients: Miriam John (ArtSci’21) and The Queen’s American Sign Language Club

2018-19 Recipients: Rebecca Gordon (Ed’19) and The Executive of the African and Caribbean Students’ Association (ACSA)

2017-18 Recipients: Aniqa Mazumder (Artsci'18) and Xin Sun (Artsci’18)

I-EDIAA Impact Award Nomination Form

Tips for Nominators

Brian Yealland Community Leadership Award

Named in honour of Brian Yealland, the Chaplain at Queen’s University for 32 years, the Brian Yealland Community Leadership Award will be presented annually to Queen’s students, individuals or groups, who make a significant contribution to society by working with and encouraging youth who are experiencing social, behavioral, economic or other challenges by helping them realize their worth as individuals and their potential to achieve.

2025–26 Recipients

Kingston Homeless Alliance

Shawn Cordeiro, Jake Heinbuch, Luke Heinbuch, Luka Parikh, and Dominic Sferrazza, a group of Bachelor of Health Sciences students, form the core team of this campus club, that focuses on homelessness in Kingston through acts of service, education, and advocacy. They have built partnerships with local shelters, organizations, and other student clubs, coordinating youth volunteers to create and distribute 1,000+ care packages. The group works with clients at drop-in centres, redistributes excess food from student events, runs community meals, have developed a handbook, and have visited Grade 5-8 classrooms to talk about homelessness.

Zein Hammad

Zein’s work with local youth includes coordinating 65 peers to deliver after-school programming at the Boys and Girls Club South East, and providing pay-what-you-can tutoring to underserved K-to-12 students, with proceeds going to local charities. Zein founded Little St Nick Foundation Queen’s; he and his team have sourced, packed and delivered 500+ gift bags to pediatric patients at Kingston Health Sciences Centre. In high school, Zein founded an initiative called STEMBuddies, and he continues to create barrier-reducing resources for youth. Zein also mentored equity-deserving youth, introducing them to university pathways through a Faculty of Health Sciences summer outreach initiative.

Open to both undergraduate and graduate students
Recognition is for demonstrated leadership and initiative in a volunteer capacity
Must be associated with a campus or local community-based organization working with youth
- A letter of support from the organization is required
Nominee must be in good standing with the University to be considered for this award
Self nominations are not accepted

A strong nomination will:

demonstrate the broad impact made by your nominee through working with youth in the local community  
detail contributions they have made that go above and beyond what would normally be expected 
note how long they were in any relevant role(s) (as applicable) 
include up to five letters of support for the nomination (see below)
ensure that at least one letter of support comes from a community organization the nominee has worked with

Congratulations to 2024-25 recipients - Vikas HK and Steven Murphy!

Congratulations 2023-24 recipients - Mehak Chohan and Connor Hamlyn!

Congratulations 2022-23 recipients - Israa Abou El Nour and Jane Mao!

Congratulations 2021-22 recipients - Bags of Promise!

Executive: Celina Lovisotto (ArtSci’24), Megan Stellato (ArtSci’23), Makena Sceeles (ArtSci’24), Bridgett Chau (ArtSci’24)
Service Pillar: Kate Dickie (Comm’24), Patricia Roussel (ArtSci’24), Kyran Sachdeva (ArtSci’25), Lauren Pattison (ArtSci’24)
Advocacy Pillar: Erin Mlynaryk (ArtSci’24)
Education Pillar: Zaynab Karimjee (ArtSci’24), Mehak Khangura (ArtSci’25)
Branding/Marketing and Finance: Isabelle Ettinger (Comm’25), Sophie Omoumi (Comm’24)

2020-21 recipient: Claire Michelle Wright (BScH'21)

Claire Michelle Wright

2019-20 recipients: Christie Gray (Comm’21) and Shakira Brathwaite (MD’21)

L - R: Pedram Akbari (Shakira's nominator), Brian Yealland and Christie Gray

2018-19 recipients: Lindey Felske (MA’20) and Adrienne Fanjoy (JD’20)

2017-18 recipients: Emilio Frometa (Artsci’17, MIR’18) and Kennedy Everitt (Artsci'18)

L-R: Emilio Frometa, Brian Yealland and Kennedy Everitt

2016-17 Recipients

1st photo L-R: Brian Yealland, Gabriel Jayakaran, Dr. Johanne Bénard, Associate Dean (Studies) in Student Services (FAS) and Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic)

2nd photo L-R: Alex Chase, Brian Yealland, Chintan Dave and Dr. Tony Sanfilippo, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medicine Program

2015-16 Recipients

From L-R: Brian Yealland, Brittany McBeath, Lydia Warren, Ann Tierney (Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs)

2014-15 Recipients

2014-15 recipients Katie Ahlin and Katie Deakon at the presentation ceremony

2013-14 Recipients

Tian Lu, a 2014 recipient of the Brian Yealland Community Leadership Award holds her plaque.

Tian Lu at the presentation ceremony. Co-recipient Amanda Tracey was unable to attend.

Brian Yealland Community Leadership Award Nomination Form

Tips for Nominators

Peer Leadership Award

The Peer Leadership Award will be presented annually to Queen’s students, individuals or groups, who through their commitment, skill, dedication, and interest in helping others have exemplified excellence in peer-to-peer assistance and outreach.

2025–26 Recipients

Simarjeet Singh

A Sociology major in the Faculty of Arts and Science, Simarjeet has demonstrated sustained peer leadership across governance, operations, academic support, and first-year transition programming. He is currently Managing Director, AMS Student Life Centre, leading with an approach focused on accessibility and empathy. As an ambassador at Summer Orientation to Academics and Resources, Simarjeet supported incoming students; as a gender-based violence peer facilitator, he led peer conversations about consent and bystander intervention; as a Co-Director with Queen’s TedX club, he fostered an environment where peers say they felt comfortable, valued and heard.

Ashiq Abdul Rahiman

A PhD student in Civil Engineering, Ashiq is being recognized for multiple peer mentoring roles. As a Resume Coach with Career Services, Ashiq has contributed extensively to the program. At the Yellow House, Ashiq has run pop-up coaching appointments. Ashiq has brought new students to the Yellow House, developed programming, served as a mentor, and strengthened ties to the Association of International Graduate Students at Queen's. Through that Association, he has organized and coordinated festivals and events at the Queens University International Centre and Yellow House. Ashiq also mentors newer graduate students.

Open to both undergraduate and graduate students
Recognition is for demonstrated leadership in peer assistance and outreach
Must be employed/associated with a Queen’s University program or service
Nominee must be in good standing with the University to be considered for this award
Self-nominations are not accepted

A strong nomination will:

Demonstrate the broad impact made by your nominee on their peers 
Detail contributions they have made that go above and beyond what would normally be expected 
Note how long they were in any relevant role(s) (as applicable) 
Include up to 5 letters of support for the nomination (see below)

Congratulations to 2024-25 recipients - Bhavya Bogra and Ramtin Mojtahedi!

Congratulations 2023-24 recipients - Nashmia Anwar, Miles Brackenbury, and Pungavi Linghan

Congratulations 2022-23 recipients - Jacob DesRochers (Education) and Queen's Local WUSC Committee: Aidan Sander (FHS), Alaa Khalaf (FHS), Ayden Harrison (FAS), Nazanin Soghrati (FHS), Princess Talabi (FHS)!

Congratulations 2021-22 recipients - Landon Montag (BScH’20, MSc’22) and Erin Lee (PhD’24)!

Left: Landon Montag

Right: Erin Lee

2020-21 recipients: Miriam John (BAH'22, Biology) and Rohit Shukla (PhD'22, Civil Engineering)

1st photo: Miriam John (right) with Nominator Mariam Atnasious (left)

2nd photo: Rohit Shukla

2019-20 recipients: Brielle Thorsen (Sc’20) and Step Above Stigma

L - R: Provost and VP (Academic) Mark Green, Melanie Howard (nominator), Brielle and Dean of the Stephen J.R. Smith Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science Kevin Deluzio

2018-19 recipients: Meghann Grenier (Sc’19) and Taylor Bluhm (NSc’19)

2017-18 Recipients: Atul Jaiswal (PhD candidate, RHBS), Jennifer Williams (Artsci’16, MSc'18) and Sexual Violence Bystander Intervention Trainers

1st photo: Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs, Ann Tierney and Atil Jaiswal

2nd photo: Ann Tierney and Jenny Williams

3rd: Sexual Violence Bystander Intervention Trainers with Assistant Dean, Student Life and Learning, Corinna Fitzgerald and VP and Dean of Student Affairs, Ann Tierney

2016-17 Recipients: Anna Geladi (MPL ’18) and Joyce Leung (B.Ed. ’18)

1st photo L-R: Ann Geladi, Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic)

2nd photo L-R: Dr. Johanne Bénard, Associate Dean (Studies) in Student Services (FAS), Joyce Leung and Dr. Rebecca Luce-Kapler, Dean of the Faculty of Education

2015-16 Recipients