2019–20 Impact Award Winners

Arts & Social Sciences, Angono, Rizal, Philippines

• Served as Residence Council member, Residence Assistant, Senior Residence Assistant
• Organized communal events to educate residents and promote harm reduction on campus
• Head Food Representative on 2016 Shirreff Hall Council
• Grant Committee Member for DAL After DArk
• Volunteer Sub-Committee Member for the East Coast Student Leadership Conference
• Student Volunteer and Committee Member for DAL Lead conference

Science, Riverview, NB

• VP of Student Life with the Dalhousie Science Society, member of DMCRT, DSSC, assisted with the Risley Hall Council, volunteered with the IWK and a non-profit fertility clinic
• Senior RA; involved with programming, mentoring, and supporting students, and positively impacting student experience in residence
• Support and mentor for over 15 RAs to be their best and impact residence experience

• Council consists of four dedicated students who worked extremely hard to gain new members, plan inclusive, engaging programs, and create an extremely welcoming inclusive residence community
• Communicated and connected with residents to explore areas of student interest and incorporate into programming
• Hosted Halloween Haunted basement, traditional Harry Potter Night, Gala, Plants in Res (part of Eco-Olympics), House Cup/Spirit Week

Science, Corner Brook, NL

• Inspired by his mother's struggles acclimating to Canada because of language barriers, he established an ESL charity program in Corner Brook, offering free English lessons to hundreds of immigrants/refugees
• Implemented a daycare to help those who couldn’t afford a babysitter
• Expanded program to include practical duties (completing tax forms, creating resumes, getting driver's licence, etc.)
• At Dalhousie he remains connected to ensure that the charity runs smoothly; spends school breaks fundraising so it remains a free program
• Empowered and enabled students to integrate into community, build relationships and a sense of home

• Provided first aid and mental health coverage to dozens of society events on campus, DSU orientation week, in residence, and at residence life events
• Completed in-depth training to best support students in many different aspects of mental health, challenges related to self harm, sexualized violence, and physical first aid
• Certified over half of volunteers in ASIST suicide intervention to better support students
• Provided mental health support to students via DMCRT email service
• Formed 2020 Relay for Life team supporting Canadian Cancer Society

• Returned after 2014 suspension committed to become leaders for anti-hazing behaviour, using the power of sport to better community
• Created and presented workshops to other teams highlighting safe team bonding ideas and risks of alcohol
• Partnered with GetReal to combat homophobia, wearing pink GetReal socks during games
• Recognized by Canadian Blood Services for their collective blood clinic donations
• Nova Scotia Division 1 Championship this year
• Bought new league trophy to replace lost one; named new trophy after rival team’s coach, Ed Carty, a founding member of STFX rugby team and respected coaching legend

Steven Jackson
Science, Truro, NS

Ross Kelleher
Management, Georgetown, ON

• Enthusiastically worked together to create multiple intramural sports teams from their residence
• Created an inclusive and positive culture within their teams, directly inspiring others to join and contribute to their community
• Their efforts provided important outlets and vital connection for students, directly impacting fellow student’s lives on a regular basis

Science, Summerland, BC

• Exceptionally active with volunteer commitments while also achieving high accolades in varsity soccer
• Achieved dean’s list each year
• Granted Hector McInnes Memorial Scholarship, Dal Alumni Leadership Scholarship, Graham Family Athletic Award, Sir William Young Scholarship
• Academic-All Canadian Award winner, showcasing excellence in both academics and sport
• Engaged in community volunteer work, including Dal Student Athlete Mental Health Initiative, Varsity Council, St. Andrew’s Church Sunday Suppers

Science, Cotherstone, UK

• Mental Health Volunteer, Senior Mental Health Volunteer, and Director of Mental Health of Dalhousie Medical Campus Response Team (DMCRT)
• Peer supporter through the Stay Connected Program at Dalhousie
• Volunteer with the sexual assault and harassment phone line
• Managed mental health-related events, directed mental health volunteer team; initiated innovative healthy lifestyle event ideas including “Meet the Counsellors,” removing the stigma associated with mental health and encouraging students to use Dalhousie’s mental health resources
• Helped to create the Stay Connected Program for peer to peer support as one of its first employees and runs the program’s promotional activities

Health, Cairo, Egypt

• Involved in MUN society, Egyptian Dal Society, volunteers with Dal After Dark and International Centre
• Keynote speaker at DalLead conference
• Executive member, Dalhousie's Enactus society
• Project leader for Let’s Sprout, non-profit group promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility in youth, empowering socially tolerant change makers
• Organized a youth empowerment art auction where young students were inspired to express themselves through art; proceeds went to Greater Love, a local non-profit providing food and resources for homeless
• International student leader, advising new students on the challenges of immersion in a new culture, and helping others get involved

• Hosts various fundraisers on campus and at sporting events for Canadian Cancer Society, supporting cancer research at Dalhousie as well as patient/caregiver services at the Lodge that Gives
• Chapter re-opened March 2019. Raised $31,000; plans to double that this year when 200 people participate in Relay for Life youth event
• This small group is dedicated to raising funds for important research while creating successful community bonding events

Arts & Social Sciences, Ipswich, Suffolk, England

• Developed a series of workshops on making low-waste wellness products such as soaps and toothpaste
• Completed four-month internship with CEED in Uganda as Community Events Intern, creating environmental sustainability, youth advocacy and communications, youth entrepreneurship, and video documentary projects
• Created open-source data sets for homeless shelter resources in Halifax
• Finance and Development Director, and Executive Director for Trips by Transit; helped increase trip attendance, created membership program, promoted environment sustainability through walks and talks addressing environmental racism and gentrification
• Planned and executed rallies and fundraisers for Divest Dal
• Steering Committee member, part-time staff, and Breakfast Club Commissioner for Dalhousie Student Union Sustainability Office (DSUSO); organized the 2019 Green Gala and addressed food security issues on Sexton Campus by providing free breakfast three days a week

Architecture & Planning, Saskatoon, SK

• Divest Dal participant, volunteer for DSU Market, trip leader for Trips by Transit
• Made a 4,300 km trek from Halifax to Saskatoon to promote cycling to others
• Secretary and President of Dal Bike Centre
• Vice-President of Dalhousie Indigenous Student Collective and DSU Indigenous Representative
• Dalhousie BIPOCUS group – 2019 Chair of Education and Knowledge.
• Devoted to environmentally inspired initiatives focused on Indigenous perspectives, including leading bike ride for the RedDress project, co-organizing Indigenous sovereignty and resistance panel that raised funds for Unist’ot’en camp and for local Grassroots Grandmothers

Science, Singapore

• Vice-President Events and President, Dalhousie International Students' Association (DISA)
• Organized DISA Holiday Celebration, International Night Gala, Fight the Fees Campaign
• Chinese New Year celebration – Singapore Style (Winter 2019): Cultural food appreciation event
• Presenter on international student leadership at East Coast Student Leadership Conference
• Helped organize off-campus activities: skating at the Oval, skiing at Ski Martock, Kejimkukik camping trip, apple picking, Maritimes road trip
• Undergraduate student representative for International Students Support Rapid Task Force
• Member of DSU Policy Issues Committee, Orientation Week Steering Committee, Dal Mental Health Awareness Week Committee
• Collaborated with NSPRIG to create a repository of resources for international students living in Nova Scotia

• Committed to increasing diversity and student interaction in technological fields through equality, learning and engagement
• Membership increased approximately 250% since 2017–18 with 70 current registered members
• Launched peer mentorship for female-identifying students, supporting academic journey, increasing sense of community, improving retention  
• Contributed heavily to recruitment, outreach events and to wider conversations around gender gap in technology and current issues faced by female computer science students
• Welcomed over 100 female high school students for annual Women in Tech Day
• Hosted “We Talk Tech” to help students connect with industry professionals including IBM, MDA and a host of local start-ups and covers important topics relevant to supporting students with their next steps
• Many members participate as mentors for community organizations such as Canada Learning Code

Management, Toronto, ON

• Creating a water filtration device with support of partners in Halifax and Dalhousie
• Entrepreneurship Major allowed him to receive university credit for his innovation.
• Completed work term partnering with the Norman Newman Centre at Dalhousie working on his project
• Working with engineers and other professionals trying to streamline his design
• Passionate about creating something useful and possible life-changing for many people

• Largest Chinese students’ community in Atlantic area, established 1989
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• Builds and improves Chinese students’ community at Dalhousie, helping new students adjust to Canadian life
• Fostered positive relationships with Chinese embassy, Chinese Society of Nova Scotia, Dalhousie International Centre, Dal Security, Dalhousie Student Union, Chinese Students Association from other universities, and local businesses who help to sponsor events
• Assisted with online New Student Orientation program; conducted three live streams to new students and their parents in China
• Created and delivered New Student Handbook for new Chinese students to Canada, Nova Scotia, Halifax, and Dalhousie; preparing English version for all incoming international students
• Partnered with International Centre to host International Students Orientation for over 300 new students

Science, Toronto, ON

• King’s University entrance scholarship, the Dr. W. Bruce Almon Scholarship; and the Margaret and Elwin Malone Memorial Scholarship
• ESRI Canada Centres of Excellence student associate; recognized as an advanced student scholar in geographic information systems theory and technology
• Helped organize a youth retreat at the Thinkers Lodge in Pugwash, NS, to discuss the climate crisis
• Instrumental in expanding the Climate Reality Project Canada through iMatter Canada, present in over 25 cities across Canada
• Helped to encourage the city of Halifax to pass a motion to achieve net zero CO2 emissions for municipal operations by 2040

• Facilitates the success of female engineering students, promotes diversity and equality within the engineering industry and encourages engineering as a career choice to local youth
• Active organization on Sexton Campus for over 10 years; this year the society grew from 30 students to 100
• Asked to participate in the monthly Engineer Nova Scotia Women in Engineering meetings
• Initiated the first "Skill Building Workshops" for female engineering students; provided them with a non-judgmental environment to to gain hands-on technical skills with the help of professional female engineers
• Hosted Go Eng Girl event where over 115 girls and 35 parents attended the day-long campus orientation to engineering, including presentations from female students on the disciplines of engineering offered at Dal
• Invited to participate in the national December 6 memorial service, due to Dalhousie’s diligence in hosting an annual public December 6 memorial service

Arts & Social Sciences, Nassau, Bahamas

• Positive attitude, contagious smile, eager to help and work, great example of a Dalhousie employee and student leader
• Has held various positions: Organizing DSU market; VP Finance, operations commissioner
• Runs BIPOCUS, focusing on black and indigenous issues/celebrations and improving experiences on campus. Volunteers for Trips by Transit
• Works with immigrant children at YMCA to acquaint them with Canadian culture

• Created Dalhousie Political Networking Initiative (DPNI) to provide political science students with employment opportunities with provincial and federal politicians
• Hosted monthly political or faculty-related events, such as “Meet the Profs,” to foster meaningful community engagement between students and faculty
• Developing a political outreach and education program with Halifax high schools to teach students about their political institutions, filling a curriculum gap in Nova Scotian schools
• Produces student political science journal, “The Podium,” where undergraduate students can share, publish, and celebrate their political science research

Health, Dartmouth, NS

• Founded the Health Promotion Society, a student group for health promotion students that sent students to the PEI Global Health Forum
• Chaired the Annual Crossroads Interdisciplinary Health Research Conference, an international student-led conference hosted at Dal
• President of the HPI Student Research Scholars; organized many training sessions requested by students from career development to networking and social events
• Research assistant, teaching assistant, and member of several hiring committees for tenure-track faculty members
• Currently developing a journal that will be a capacity building and mentorship opportunity for population health research students
• Operations Coordinator at the Healthy Populations Institute (multi-faculty research institute between Medicine, Dentistry and Health)
• Treasurer for SAHHPER for many years including running CPR classes for students that needed the certificate to graduate, advocating to help cover the cost of these fees
• Volunteered to speak to honours students on a "Welcome to Grad School" panel for incoming graduate students
• Presented on a panel at CPHA on being a student/ future health promoter and how to support students/early careers transition into careers and build health promotion in the future.

Science, Halifax, NS

• Represented Faculty of Science at various recruitment events for prospective students and families
• Sports Representative, Vice-President, and President of Dalhousie Undergraduate Neuroscience Society
• Helped organize fundraisers for Direction 180, a harm reduction-based methadone clinic that supports members of the Mi’kmaq population
• Helped found the Brain Tri(athlon), a for-fun triathlon to encourage professors and students to get acquainted in a relaxed and fun setting
• Raised funds for Brain Injury Nova Scotia and Laing House
• Volunteered with Undergraduate Program Committee, working with faculty members in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience to implement new ideas, curriculum changes, and improve the department’s overall student experience
• Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, the Boys & Girls Club, Channel One Food Bank, Seasons Hospice and Listos Preschool and Childcare
• Member of the Greater Love Street Team, providing outreach, support and a listening ear to individuals experiencing homelessness
• Selected as an Academic All-Canadian 2018–19 while playing varsity soccer

Grand Bay-Westfield, NB

• Dedication and outstanding leadership shown through involvement in WUSC, DalLead, AgriLead and East Coast Student Leadership Conference Committee member
• Peer Educator, Golden Ram Editor, and supporter of many campus activities
• Passion and dedication towards making the Faculty of Agriculture a better place and improving student life
• Keynote speaker at leadership conferences; attended training opportunities to further develop leadership skills
• Involved in outreach activities such as Coldest Night of the Year, Climate Action, Take Back the Night
• Worked in Ethiopia as part of the ATTSVE internship which helped to develop lifelong friendships and collegiality with fellow universities and colleges