The UNB Saint John Graduating Student Leadership Awards recognize students who have made outstanding voluntary extracurricular contributions to their academic program/department, or to UNB Saint John as a whole.
An advocate for LGBTQ+ members on the Saint John campus, Ariel has been committed to ensuring safe and inclusive events for the student community. She has been a long-time executive member of the campus LGBTQ+ club, and is a member of the equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) committee. Her time at UNB Saint John has been spent helping to promote an inclusive culture on campus and encouraging active engagement from students. Ariel collaborated with other student leaders on planning campus events and mentored young children through the Promise Partnership.
Jessica has been described as a leader and as a mentor to her peers since first entering the nursing program at UNB Saint John. She has been an active member of the nursing society and with the Tucker Parker Interprofessional Collaboration, organizing events with UNB, NBCC and DalMed. Jessica was a member of a research team examining nursing students and clinical placements in long-term care facilities, and has co-authored three peer-reviewed papers from this work, with one additional paper in review. Her clinical work was recognized in 2019 with a FutureReadyNB student excellence award.
Through her experiences on campus and while studying abroad in France, Maria was inspired to make an impact at UNB Saint John. She, along with a fellow student, started the Women in Business Society in 2019, to empower and educate students. Through their work, they have informed their peers about inequality issues and provided resources to tackle the inconsistencies and barriers women continue to face in the workforce. Maria was also a student-athlete in her first year and represented her faculty as a business representative on the SRC.
At UNB Saint John, Chloe discovered a passion for serving her community and especially for helping children. The recipient of several prestigious scholarships, Chloe has shown incredible leadership and an eagerness to make a difference in the lives of youth in our community. Through her work with the Promise Partnership, Let's Talk Science, and Swimming with a Mission, she has dedicated her time outside of the classroom to encourage and support children in Saint John. Chloe was also the VP Logistics and a founding player for the UNBSJ Women's Field Hockey Team, and assumed volunteer roles with her faculty at both the annual Math Competition and Science Fair. The Associated Alumni also recognized Chloe’s outstanding campus contributions with the Alumni Student Leadership Award in 2020.
Janet believes in giving back and supporting her fellow students. Her friends describe her as hard-working, diligent, and considerate. These qualities are evident in how she contributes to the campus community and the ways in which she supports her peers. As current president of the Golden Key Society, she has worked tirelessly to create a sense of inclusion and support for the members, always striving to set a positive example and use this experience to enhance her leadership skills. As a long-time tutor and mentor with the Promise Partnership, Janet is intent on teaching others though her experiences.
A respected member of the Seawolves basketball team, Emily spent her five years on campus as a student-athlete with the program. She demonstrated a commitment to her team and through the program was involved with fundraising efforts like the ‘Think Pink’ campaign. The Faculty of Business recently recognized her contributions by awarding her the Vincent Georgie Marketing Master Award. Emily also served as VP, Finance with the Women in Business Society and was a volunteer with the MEDLIFE campus chapter.
Brianna immersed herself into the campus community, becoming very involved in all aspects of student life. It is part of her nature to try her best to make an impact and help others along the way. As a senior member of the UNB Reds track and field team, Brianna has led by example and has been a mentor to her younger teammates. Her roles with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), UNB MEDLIFE, and Global Brigades has tremendously impacted and inspired Brianna to continue serving her community beyond UNB Saint John. Her campus contributions also included serving as the S.A.S.E Councilor on the SRC as well as a student representative on the UNB Board of Governors. The Associated Alumni also recognized Brianna’s outstanding campus contributions with the Alumni Student Leadership Award in 2020.
Hanna is a fourth-year veteran and team captain of the Seawolves women's basketball program. An incredible student leader, Hanna has balanced success in the classroom, competitiveness on the court, volunteerism, and involvement. She is highly respected by her peers and teammates. A two-time CCAA National Scholar Award recipient, Hanna has given back to her campus community as a mentor with the Promise Partnership, as vice president of the Golden Key Society, and as a member of MEDLIFE. She also serves as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory committee. The Associated Alumni recognized her outstanding campus contributions with the Alumni Student Leadership Award in 2020.
An ambassador for science, technology, engineering and math, Lauren has inspired and engaged youth, as a volunteer with UNB’s Let’s Talk Science initiative, helping them to discover the relevance of science. Her interest in mentoring youth also led to her involvement with the Promise Partnership, and SWAM Saint John, a swimming program that teaches children with disabilities how to swim and to become more comfortable in the water. Lauren has proven to be committed and engaged in student life at UNB Saint John also serving as an executive member of the Global Brigades program on campus and as a volunteer with Relay for Life.
There are few others who are as passionate and proud of UNB Saint John than Patrick. As president of the SRC for two terms, one while leading through a pandemic, he has been a positive and effective leader within the student community. He is well-deserving of the respect he has earned throughout his time at UNB Saint John. He is a strong advocate for all students, as evidenced by his work as chair of the Board of Directors for the New Brunswick Student Alliance. Always displaying a high level of professionalism, Patrick took his role as the voice of the students at UNB Saint John very seriously, representing their interests on the Board of Governors, Saint John Senate, Associated Alumni Council and numerous campus committees.
Seen as both a positive role model and an engaged student within the science faculty, Max served as former vice-president of the UNBSJ Global Brigades chapter, participated in several research projects at the university, and was a volunteer with the Horizon Health Network. For three years, he has been a loyal and inspiring mentor with the Promise Partnership. His eagerness and commitment to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged youth is commendable.
Allyson’s volunteer focus has been on mental health, supporting fellow students by giving her time to the Peer Support Centre at UNB Fredericton. There, she provides virtual and free peer-based support to all UNB students. Allyson also mentors with the Promise Partnership and is a member of UNBSJ's mental health advocating group, Jack.org. She is also committed to improving the quality of the student experience though her work as a Learning Community Leader, providing educational sessions to first-year students and acting as an upper-year student advisor.
An avid contributor to many organizations at UNB Saint John, Jennifer’s most notable role has been with the Let’s Talk Science initiative. She was responsible for taking the program to communities in Charlotte County and sharing her love of science to children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to participate. Her work contributed to enhanced interest from educators in the area to bring the program into their classrooms. Jennifer was recognized for her ingenuity and named Volunteer of the Year at UNBSJ and as a finalist for the Let's Talk Science National Outreach Volunteer of the Year Award. She has also volunteered and been a strong advocate for mental health through the Jack.org platform, representing UNBSJ at the national summit in Toronto.
Sobana has been a tremendous ambassador and positive influence within the residence community. Always going above and beyond in her role as resident assistant, Sobana consistently aims to improve and enrich the student experience in residence by creating a warm and welcoming environment. She has also been a supportive volunteer outside of residence helping fellow students as a peer note taker for the last two years.
Jordan’s struggles early on in his academic program only made his experience at UNB Saint John more impactful. He felt compelled to give back to a place that supported and encouraged him to succeed. For two years, he worked as editor of The Baron, taking it from a declining newspaper to one he and his fellow students are proud of. Jordan also assumed the role of unofficial ambassador to international students, helping to acquaint them to the local community. Jordan’s eagerness to share his time and inspire others drove him to volunteer with the Promise Partnership. It is no surprise that Jordan’s contributions were recognized this past year when he received the Sir Howard Douglas Award in March 2021.
From the beginning of her nursing degree, Kate has taken on leadership roles within the department. As class representative and as an active member of the nursing society, she has been a passionate student advocate and leader amongst her peers. She earned the respect and admiration of faculty in the nursing department for her leadership abilities and contributions to student issues. In the clinical setting, Kate excelled and was an ambassador for UNB, recently participating in a video aimed at helping to prepare year one students entering the clinical setting for the first time. Her volunteer experience on and off campus is extensive and includes such activities as the Promise Partnership, peer-note taker, and medical missions to Haiti and Ethiopia.
Kimberly has been an engaged member of the campus community, volunteering for various events on campus like Shinerama, and serving as an executive or committee member for various organizations and societies. She is proud of the contributions she made through her time with the Psychology Society, Jack.org and the SRC equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) committee. Along with her academic roles in research, Kimberly is grateful for her involvement and experience on campus.
An outstanding and well-rounded student citizen, Harold has proven his athleticism on the field as a member of the soccer team, in addition to being very involved on campus and in the local community. He is a two-time recipient of the Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association's (CCAA) National Scholar Award and was recognized for his campus contributions with the UNB Saint John SRC Student Leadership Award in 2020. Harold values opportunities to inspire his mentees as part of the Promise Partnership program and to represent his sport on the Student Athletic Advisory Council. Throughout his time at UNB Saint John, Harold has continuously shown himself as a leader, whether it be on the field, in the classroom or in the community.
Logan is dedicated to making his campus and community a better place. Recognized as one of the most talented soccer players in the country, Logan was one of two UNB Saint John athletes who received the CCAA's coveted Academic All-Canadian Award for being among the best in Canada, while maintaining a high academic standing. His personal highlight is his involvement and leadership with the Global Brigade chapter, an organization that enables students to travel to various developing countries to provide public health support and water services. Logan served as president of the campus chapter and most recently as campus chairperson. Through his experiences, Logan is determined to give nothing less than his absolute best efforts towards his volunteer commitments and leadership initiatives.
Upon returning to UNB to complete her degree, Lauren did not anticipate she would have the kind of experience she has enjoyed these last two years. Her mindset shifted from just finishing her degree to making the most of her time on campus. As a volunteer assistant with the faculty, she has felt personally rewarded by the interactions and impact she has had helping fellow students. Her role meant countless hours advising, mentoring and tutoring students. Lauren also spent time as a peer note taker and was a member of the SRC finance committee.
Both as a leader in residence and as a student-athlete, Keshaun has had a positive impact on the residence and campus community. For five years, he has lived in residence and during that time served as vice-president and resident assistant. Both roles involved providing a safe and comfortable home for students, and creating activities to support residence students. In addition to being a member of the Seawolves varsity basketball team, Keshaun is also an active leader on the Student Athletic Advisory Council, advocating for his fellow athletes and promoting sport to youth in the local community.
Sarah is quite simply one of UNB’s top undergraduate students. Her achievements academically are incredible, but Sarah still manages to dedicate time outside of the classroom to serve others as a mentor/tutor with the Promise Partnership, as a member of the executive with the Golden Key Honour Society, and as a volunteer with several other local organizations. She is a strong ambassador and student advocate within her faculty, assisting and conducting research, and enthusiastically participates in several aspects of student life.
Hannah is a shining example of a student-athlete who shows dedication to her academics, has tremendous pride for UNB Saint John and strives to enhance her community. As captain of the women’s varsity soccer team, Hannah has shown tremendous leadership, always going above and beyond for her teammates. At all times willing to immerse herself into extracurricular activities, Hannah has been an active student leader during her time on campus. She is an executive member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, a mentor with the Promise Partnership and current vice president of the Women in Business society.
Ryan managed to squeeze a lot into his two years at UNB Saint John. He impacted the student culture within his faculty through volunteering as vice-president of the business society and working as chair of the council for the SRC. The pandemic created challenges, but Ryan was committed to connecting his fellow students virtually as much as possible. In Ryan’s role with the business society, he facilitated a multitude of events that helped augment the student experience, often collaborating with other student groups. As the chair of the SRC, he advocated on students’ behalf and was part of a decision-making process that will impact the student community for years to come.
Patrick Hickey
A respected member of the Seawolves volleyball team, Dayna recently received the ACAA All-Conference Player Award as one of the top players this past season. A four-time National Scholar Award recipient, Dayna’s commitment to UNB Saint John extends beyond the court.
She is a member of the UNB Saint John Women in Business Club, a dedicated four-year volunteer with the Wolfpack volleyball program, a two-time chair of TEDxUNBSaint John, and an executive member of the student-athlete advisory committee. Dayna was recently recognized as a 2020 Sir Howard Douglas Scholar for her extracurricular involvement and academic performance.
Alex is another athlete that UNB Saint John is proud to call one of its own. A four-year varsity soccer player, and recipient of the CCAA All-Canadian Award, Alex captained the team for the last two years, and in 2019 was voted ACAA Men’s Player of the Year.
His commitment to UNB Saint John does not end on the pitch. Alex has been actively involved in student government, as a member of the SRC and the SRC finance committee, as well as a volunteer mentor with The Promise Partnership.
Joelynn has contributed immensely to the culture of the university. She has been a tremendous volunteer with The Promise Partnership since 2017. An inspiring mentor and tutor, Joelynn has been a true asset to the program. Joelynn also served as an ambassador and volunteer with UNB’s Let’s Talk Science, an initiative that helps youth in the community discover the relevance of science.
Joelynn continued to impact the student body with her involvement as President of the Golden Key Society and as a member of the MEDLIFE UNB Saint John chapter, an organization that partners with low-income communities around the world to improve their access to medicine, education and community development initiatives.
Bailey has demonstrated a willingness to help others through her role as VP external of Jack.org, a youth-led mental health advocacy organization that helps to provide mental health services and awareness on campus.
The organization successfully organized UNB Saint John’s first Let’s Talk event. A committed volunteer with MEDLIFE UNB Saint John and Let’s Talk Science, Bailey also currently serves as a student senator on UNB Saint John’s senate, proudly advocating for her fellow students on academic matters.
Ashley has made numerous contributions to UNB Saint John through her participation in student government, student-run clubs and societies, and university committees.
Throughout her four years on campus, Ashley has been an active leader, devoting much of her time to enhancing the student experience and advocating to keep student issues at the forefront of university administration and public discussion.
As SRC VP external and nursing/health science representative, Ashley passionately supports her fellow students and often represents their interests with government officials locally, provincially and federally.
Kendra is proud to have committed to serving the campus community as a volunteer through several initiatives. Most notably is her role as a tutor with The Promise Partnership over the last four years. Kendra has made a difference in the lives of underprivileged youth in our community through her generous spirit.
Through her work as current vice-president of the Golden Key Society and as a volunteer with Let’s Talk Science, Kendra has been a positive role model, supporting her fellow students and serving as an ambassador for the faculty and the field of science.
Gabrielle strives to positively impact the student experience on campus. This past year, she created a new club called Women in Business, and assumed the role as President. Providing networking opportunities, enhancing skill development and preparing students for the workplace are all priorities for this new club.
In addition, Gabrielle has been a keen mentor and tutor for The Promise Partnership for four years, has served as VP of special projects for the Business Society and as student representative on the disciplinary code committee.
In 2019, Gabrielle received the Devan Zanatta Marketing Master Award from the campus business society for her continuous work promoting and enhancing student engagement.
A demonstrated student leader and a very proud UNB Saint John student, Emma is grateful for all the opportunities she has embraced during her years on campus.
A recipient of the Carl Fraser Award, and most recently, the Barry Hoyt Student Leadership Award, Emma has been an active participant on several university committees and has served as SRC Council Chair.
Most notably, Emma participated in the #GirlsBelongHere movement and was selected as President of Unilever Canada for a day. Emma’s appreciation for the impact UNB Saint John has had on her student experience drives her to give back to her community as much as possible.
Cassie has made a significant impact on the residence community at UNB Saint John, as president of the residence council, SRC residence chair and as SRC SASE representative.
Cassie’s volunteer contributions also extend to serving as a board member and content writer for The Baron and as promotions officer with the Golden Key Society. Cassie is also a champion for TEDxUNBSaintJohn as a speaker delegate and having delivered her own TEDx talk entitled ‘Rediscovering Calculus’ in 2018.
Although a student in the faculty of business, Chantel is a passionate supporter of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and joined the Let’s Talk Science program during her first year on campus. She continues to advocate and volunteer with the program, inspiring and engaging youth to discover the relevance of science.
Her commitment to the program led her to be nominated for a national ‘leader of the year’ award in 2017. Her contributions on campus continued with the newly formed Jack.Org group, where she served as vice-president of marketing this past year.
Empowering young leaders to revolutionize mental health in their community and at UNB Saint John, Chantel and the Jack.Org team worked with other campus clubs to help students take care of their own mental health.
Madison is proud to have committed to serving the campus community as a volunteer and leader with several initiatives. Along with a peer, she started the first MEDLIFE chapter at UNB Saint John. An organization that partners with low-income communities around the world, MEDLIFE helps to improve access to medicine, education and community development initiatives.
Many activities can be attributed to the work of the campus MEDLIFE organization, such as a service-learning trip to Peru and clothing drives in our local community. Madison also demonstrated her willingness to give back to others as a tutor with The Promise Partnership, an advocate for science with the Let’s Talk Science program and an orientation leader with the SRC.
An incredible student-athlete and ambassador for UNB Saint John, Justin has been a consistent role model for his teammates and fellow students. Throughout his four years on the team, Justin promoted the program to other prospective players, and demonstrated his obvious pride for UNB and for Seawolves soccer.
A strong leader and volunteer, Justin is driven to enhance campus spirit both within the residence community as athletics representative and as residence council president. Justin also served as orientation leader with the SRC, as a member of the student-athlete advisory committee, and as a volunteer with both the MEDLIFE campus chapter and Global Brigades.
Kathryn is a five-year veteran of the Seawolves basketball program and an accomplished leader on and off the court. Four CCAA National Scholar Awards to her credit, she embodies the role of an ideal student-athlete. Kathryn has effectively balanced success in the classroom, competitiveness on the court and volunteerism. Her work ethic is admirable.
In 2019, she was recognized by the Chartered Professional Accountants Association for the highest mark in accounting. A two-time recipient of the ACAA’s prestigious Rod Shoveller Memorial Award for her dedication to her sport and her community, Kathryn has given back to UNB Saint John in numerous ways.
A dedicated volunteer with the student-athlete advisory committee, MEDLIFE (medicine, education and development for low income families), and The Promise Partnership, Kathryn’s contributions are impressive.
An incredible ambassador for UNB Saint John, Montanna is a five-year veteran and team captain with the volleyball program. Through her leadership, Montanna always pushes her teammates and coaches to be their very best on and off the court.
She leads by example and strives to enhance the student experience by being involved with the Women in Business Club, volunteering with the wolfpack volleyball program, and serving as president of the student-athlete advisory committee. Her many achievements include receiving the Carl Fraser Award for three consecutive years for her contributions to student activities at UNB Saint John.
From the beginning of her nursing degree, Abigail has demonstrated an eagerness to be involved in the campus community. She initiated the start of a field hockey team at UNB Saint John, assuming the role of player, coach and the additional responsibility of recruiting prospective players.
Abigail is a passionate advocate for her nursing peers, as former class representative and current vice-president of the nursing society. She is the lead organizer for the annual pin dinner, planning fundraisers and managing all logistics for this very important event. Abigail has also been engaged in creating a peer mentoring program for the nursing department.
As an international student, Elisabeth knows first-hand how important it is to feel part of a new community. Since her first year, she has been a welcoming face for fellow international students during fall and spring orientations, volunteering at all events.
From day one, Elisabeth immersed herself into campus life, mentoring children as part of The Promise Partnership and sitting as a member on the newly established Student Advisory Board through the Student Services office.
This past year, Elisabeth saw a need that was not being met on campus; she created True Colours, a club that provides a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community on campus and in Saint John.
A varsity soccer player for three seasons, Luke is an excellent student-athlete ambassador who has dedicated his time to volunteering with several campus organizations. This past October, he was one of two finalists for the ACAA’s Bob Coe Award for his dedication to his sport and volunteerism.
Off the soccer field, Luke and a fellow student started the MEDLIFE (medicine, education and development for low Income families) chapter on campus and has been an active executive member of the student athletic advisory council. As an inspiring mentor through The Promise Partnership, Luke has consistently shown himself to be someone who finds value in helping others.
From the start of her nursing degree, Allison has taken on numerous roles on campus and within her department. As president of the nursing society and as student representative for the nursing curriculum committee, Allison has been a passionate student advocate and a leader amongst her peers.
Her most impactful experience as a student is with the Swimming with a Mission (SWAM) organization that pairs university students with children in the Saint John community who have various cognitive and physical abilities. First as an instructor, and most recently as vice-president, Allison is proud to have made a meaningful contribution to the lives of local children, in addition to promoting SWAM with fellow UNB Saint John students.
Montana Meyer
Nominations are now closed for 2021.
Students who meet the following selection criteria can nominate themselves for this award or be nominated by a member of the UNB Saint John community including students, faculty, staff or alumni. The application must be submitted along with a current resume that includes all extracurricular activities completed on campus. Transcript is not necessary.
Only students who are graduating in spring or fall of the award year are eligible;
Recipients must currently be actively enrolled at UNB Saint John in either a full-time or part-time undergraduate degree program and be in good academic standing at the time of nomination;
Students have made voluntary extracurricular contributions to their academic program/department, or to UNB Saint John as a whole;
The student's voluntary contribution(s) may take the form of any one, or a combination, of the following: leadership on committees, or influence on student or university affairs; improvement in the quality of life of students; encouragement of fellow students to become involved in extracurricular activities; and contribution to the sense of community at UNB Saint John.
Leadership and involvement should be considered in relation to good academic standing. The value of the student's contribution, rather than an office held, should be the major criterion considered. See full selection guidelines.
