News

By: Casey Spears

This past March, Dalhousie University, Faculty of Agriculture recognized several individuals for their help, contribution, dedication and leadership throughout the school year at the SAIL (Student Advancement in Leadership) Impact Student Leadership Awards. Mitchell Watt, a first year student in the International Food Business program was one of these deserving individuals. Growing up in Oakville, O.N., Watt became involved in Student Council in high school. This is where he learned his potential within student politics and began demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit.

At the Impact Awards Watt was given the Rising Leader award, which is awarded to a first year student who has demonstrated outstanding school spirit through involvement in campus life. Watt is an example of everything the Impact Awards stands for. Being a part of his high school’s Student Council and then holding the young leader position for eight years in his hometown’s competitive choir, it’s no surprise he continued his achievements when he came to college last September.

At the Agriculture Campus, Watt is a great supporter of residence activities, is secretary on House Council and newly elected graduate chair. “As secretary of Fraser House, I’ve been involved in and helped organize events including the house dinner, house gift and socials,” Watt explains. Furthermore, Watt ran grad socials and grad banquet where proceeds of over $1,500 went to the Colchester Community Workshop. He’s also involved with Cultiv8, an agricultural sandbox for entrepreneurs on Dal AC’s campus. Jolene MacEachern, Cultiv8 coordinator, says Watt is “an avid Cultiv8 participant” and “shows his enthusiasm for the world of business and always puts 110 per cent into everything, which is so important when looking to carve your own career path.”

With his enthusiastic attitude he’s able to provide an inclusive environment for students who want to get to Dal’s Halifax and Bible Hill campuses by sitting on student senate. Not only is he involved with campus activities, he also has an entrepreneurial spirit. “I’ve established a garden care and landscaping business in my neighbourhood and I’m also an online Amazon representative where I sell high-end Halloween items. Also, for the last six years I’ve held a Halloween haunt at my home for the month leading up to October 31,” Watt describes. MacEachern agrees with his knack for entrepreneurship by saying “he comes from a family of entrepreneurial minded people and it is obvious he inherited the gene.”

Because of his vast experience and incredible dedication to his personal business ventures and campus life at Dal AC, it’s obvious why Watt was the deserving student who won the Rising Leader award. As a focused, passionate and motivated leader, Watt describes what being a leader means to him by saying, “a leader is an individual who has a vision, a drive and a commitment to achieve that vision and the ability to make it happen.” And that’s exactly what he is.