Dalhousie students, faculty, staff, and other members of the community gathered on March 25 for the 15th annual Impact Awards, celebrating high-achieving Dal students and their endeavors outside of course work.
Co-presented by Dalhousie and the Dalhousie Student Union, this event shines a spotlight on student accomplishments in the categories of academic life, student life and community service, student societies, and residence life.
Other awards and achievements celebrated during the evening included the President’s Awards for the Advancement of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA), the Board of Governors’ Awards, and Student Leadership Academy – High-Performance Leadership students.
Dalhousie student leaders do remarkable things within our university community, and the world.
“Dalhousie student leaders do remarkable things within our university community, and the world. We are thrilled to celebrate the impact of our award nominees and winners,” said Dr. Rick Ezekiel, vice-provost, student affairs. “Uncertainty in the world around us demands leaders who are purpose-driven, and skillful in motivating change. I am proud to be among such a talented and impactful group of leaders at Dalhousie who are getting in the metaphorical arena and solving important problems.”
Black and Gold Dance Team, Most Impactful Sports Society.
Related reading: Purpose‑driven leadership: Dal students reshaping campus — and beyond — earn top Board of Governors honour
Keep reading below for the full list of 2026 Impact Awards winners:
Residence Life Impact Awards
Presented to current members of each residence hall community who have made outstanding contributions to the life of their residence community, led by example by encouraging and empowering residents to get involved, promoted respect and created opportunities for their peers.
- Rabjot Kaur
Lucknow, India
Computer Science, Faculty of Computer Science
- Nooralzahraa Fadhil
Baghdad, Iraq
Psychology, Faculty of Science
Residence Life Leadership Award
Awarded to current residence students in positions of leadership (such as a Community Assistant Team member) who have best demonstrated an exceptional level of maturity and professionalism. They encourage and empower students to engage in student life, lead by example, and work to improve the life of the residence hall.
- Zain Abideen
Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Computer Science, Faculty of Computer Science
Student Entrepreneur of the Year presented by Pomerleau
Awarded to a student who has demonstrated excellence in generating an innovative idea, concept, or business. The student uses their leadership, vision, and focus to make their ideas come to fruition.
- Nicoletta Dini
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Doctor of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
Community Service Award
This award recognizes an outstanding off-campus student leader who has demonstrated significant leadership, commitment and service aimed at improving the community they live in.
- Kylie Cole
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Kinesiology, Faculty of Health
- Nathan Cromwell Tesfazion
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Science
Student Activist Award
Awarded to a student who demonstrates passion and commitment to social justice and action, and who leads by example, organizes students in an inclusive way, acts with integrity, raises awareness, and inspires others to create change.
- Beatrice Hao
Mississauga, Ontario
Medical Sciences, Faculty of Science
Sustainability Award presented by Build Nova Scotia
Awarded to a student who has made a significant contribution to improving awareness on sustainability issues at Dalhousie. This person's actions reflect their passion for the environment and inspire others to make positive change.
- Nicoletta Dini (shown right)
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Doctor of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
International Student of the Year
Awarded to an international student who has demonstrated excellence in leadership, shown engagement in the community, inspired others, and is a respected voice for international students at Dalhousie.
- Patricia Porto de Barros Ayaz
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Political Science, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Dalhousie Student Union Council Member Award
Awarded by the Dalhousie Student Union to the Councillor who has demonstrated a commitment to collaborative problem solving, active representation of their constituency, and initiative in the pursuit of innovation.
- Eve Wedderburn
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Medical Sciences, Faculty of Science
Dalhousie Student Union Rising Star Awards
Awarded to first-, second-, and third-year students who have demonstrated an outstanding level of commitment, leadership, creativity, and initiative to the DSU, as well as to the campus and community at large.
- Retaje Ibrahem
Alexandria, Egypt
Medical Sciences, Faculty of Science
- Alice Noble Irwin
Toronto, Ontario
Environment, Sustainability, & Society, Faculty of Management
- Abby Farrell-Powell
Marystown, Newfoundland and Labrador
Political Science & Law, Justice and Society, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Dal-King’s Impact Award
Awarded to the King’s student who is most highly engaged and takes on a leadership role at Dalhousie. This is the sister award to the KSU Community Engagement Award for Dalhousie students at King’s which acknowledges the contribution of a Dalhousie student to the community at King’s College.
- Sara Bregaw
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Ultrasound, Faculty of Health
Varsity Athlete Award
Awarded to a Dalhousie varsity student athlete who demonstrates significant contributions to the community, has increased awareness at Dalhousie of a given charity or cause, demonstrates positive leadership, and inspires others to get involved.
- Emilie Schofield
Miramichi, New Brunswick
Kinesiology, Faculty of Health
Intramural & Sports Club Award
Awarded to a Dalhousie intramural or sports club participant who demonstrates significant commitment to Dalhousie's intramural or sports club programs, exemplifies the role of intramurals and/or sports clubs in developing and promoting student engagement and fun on campus, demonstrates positive leadership, and inspires others to get involved.
- Kate Frost
Montreal, Quebec
Marine Management, Faculty of Science
Student Wellness Award
The Student Wellness Award is presented to the student who best demonstrates leadership in promoting and contributing to a healthy campus. The recipient of this award is a role model for health and wellness both in practice and by impacting others to lead a healthy lifestyle. This impact may be evidenced through peer-to-peer education, volunteering, service learning, global outreach, or any activity that enhances quality of life and development.
- Eshaa Amer
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Neuroscience, Faculty of Science
Student Employee Award
Presented to a student employee who has demonstrated leadership and fostered community spirit in their work on campus. This student will be employed in any capacity on campus and, through their work, contributes to the Dalhousie student experience.
- Ella (Sunghyun) Kang
Seoul, South Korea
Medical Sciences, Faculty of Science
Dalhousie Student Union Campus Impact Award
Awarded to students who demonstrate an elite level of involvement and achievement in campus life throughout their university career, with outstanding extracurricular contributions to the community.
- An-Kita Das
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Psychology, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
- Yunseop (Peter) Shin
Moncton, New Brunswick
Medical Sciences, Faculty of Science
Outstanding Student of Distinction Award
Awarded to a student that has shown an elite level of consistent campus involvement over the course of their university career, and has made outstanding and impactful extracurricular contributions in the community either through student advocacy, academic justice, leadership, or other student involvement. This award is based on the academic and community accomplishments of Dalhousie alumni Lillu Ju, Level Chan, and Malcolm Honour.
- Rikuto Nakayasu
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Most Impactful Community Service Society
Honours a society dedicated to volunteerism, charitable work, or community outreach that created a positive and measurable impact for students or the broader community.
- Dalhousie Building Smiles Society
Representative: Pearla El-Rabahi
Most Impactful Faculty Society
Recognizes a faculty, departmental, or program-based society that demonstrated strong leadership, academic engagement, and meaningful support for students within their discipline.
- The Dalhousie Commerce Society
Most Impactful Cultural & Spiritual Society
Honours a cultural, ethnocultural, or spiritual society that strengthened campus inclusion, celebrated identity, and supported its community through events and programming.
- The Dalhousie South Asian Society
Most Impactful Sports & Recreation Society
Awarded to a society that promoted wellness, teamwork, and active engagement through sports, recreation, or physical activity.
- Black and Gold Dance Team (BGDT)
Most Impactful Special Interest Society
Awarded to a hobby-based, creative, or interest-focused society that enriched student life through unique programming, community-building, and consistent engagement.
- Dalhousie Campus Clean-up Club
Representative: Connor MacDonald
Most Impactful Professional Development Society
Recognizes a society that supported student career growth through networking, mentorship, leadership development, or industry-focused programming.
- Dalhousie Science Scholars & Leaders Society
Most Impactful Social Justice & Advocacy Society
Recognizes a society that advanced equity, awareness, and advocacy work on campus through campaigns, education, or direct support for marginalized groups.
- Dalhousie Black Law Student Association
Faculty Leadership Impact Awards
Awarded to undergraduate or graduate students in good academic standing for each Dalhousie faculty. Part-time students are eligible for this award. These students exemplify the highest level of passion for their discipline, take initiative in creating new opportunities, and encourage their peers to engage in faculty initiatives. Faculty Leadership Impact Award winners positively impact other students in their faculty and the reputation of their faculty at Dalhousie outside of the classroom.
- Agriculture: Tyler Schmidt-Schaun
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Architecture & Planning: Mahmoud Istanbouli
Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Arts & Social Sciences: Maya Bellamy
Hanover, Ontario
- Computer Science: Rabjot Kaur
Lucknow, India
- Dentistry: Nadine Ayoub
Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Engineering: Eamon Quill
Barrie, Ontario
- Health: Juliet Rowe
Calgary, Alberta
- Law: Katherine Silins
Ottawa, Ontario
- Management: Cole Noble
Bathurst, New Brunswick
- Medicine (Medical Student): Eshan Arora
Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Medicine (Graduate Student): Annika Benson
Bedford, Nova Scotia
- Science: Steven Mata
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Outstanding Graduate Student Award
Awarded to a graduate student in either a professional or research program. These students exemplify the highest level of passion for their discipline and are engaged in initiatives that improve the quality of the graduate student experience at Dalhousie. Outstanding Graduate Student Award winners positively impact other graduate students with activities that extend beyond their academic programs.
Timi Idris
Lagos, Nigeria
Health, Faculty of Health
President’s EDIA Award
At Dalhousie, we believe that equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility are fundamental to education and employment, and therefore, are essential institutional values. To support our collective community efforts to advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, Dalhousie is pleased to present the President’s Awards for the Advancement of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA).
- Rowan Pratt (shown right)
Ottawa, Ontario
Engineering