Meet the 2019 Emerging Leaders

The University of Manitoba has announced the 2019 recipients of the Emerging Leader Awards.

The Emerging Leader Award is a way the University of Manitoba recognizes the outstanding contributions that students make to the enhancement of the institution and our community. It was introduced in 2006 to recognize students who are committed to furthering our educational mission by contributing to the social, cultural or economic well-being of communities on and/or off campus, while encouraging cross cultural understanding and demonstrating sustained leadership and initiative that is worthy of recognition.

A University of Manitoba Emerging Leader is any current full-time or part-time University of Manitoba undergraduate or graduate student with a minimum 2.5 GPA, in any faculty, school or program that supports the University’s educational mission by contributing to the social, cultural or economic well-being of communities on campus (and/or additionally off campus); encourages cross-cultural understanding; demonstrates sustained leadership and initiative that is worthy of recognition, and has completed at least one year of study at the University of Manitoba.

Emily Hyde, who is doing her Master’s in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, is one of the recipients. She has volunteered since 2017 as the Professional Education chair for the Manitoba Chapter of the Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nurses. For 2018-2019, she co-chairs the Graduate Student Nursing Association. Hyde has also done community presentations for the ICD Support Group of Manitoba and the Heart Failure Support Group Care Giver day. She says her time at the U of M has elevated her practise as a nurse.

“I believe that you are only as successful as the people around you, and I am lucky to have an incredible group of people around me at the U of M,” said Hyde. “I am better able to communicate my thoughts and am better able to reach out to the resources that exist and utilize them to improve patient care. The support I have received at U of M from the faculty members at the College of Nursing has provided me more inspiration of the person and the nurse that I want to be.”

Recipient Thomas Roberts from the Faculty of Science has volunteered with Ronald McDonald Family Room at the Children’s Hospital for almost three years, which he says is a fulfilling activity which reinforced his goal of working as a physician in the pediatric setting.

“Hearing the experiences of families, especially from remote communities, has given me a unique perspective on the struggles faced by Indigenous people in this province and the health disparities many face in travelling far away from their home communities to receive treatment,” said Roberts. “In addition to volunteering, involvement in university-related extracurricular activities led me in 2017 to my current position as Métis Inclusion Project Assistant at the Indigenous Student Centre and more recently as Executive Coordinator of the Métis University Students Association, member of both the Indigenous Circle of Empowerment and MMF Bison Local, and mentor for the Neechiwaken peer mentorship program. Involvement in these groups has taught me to utilize my leadership skills, empower others in my Indigenous community on campus to become involved, and have a hand in creating positive change alongside a cohort of strong, resilient Indigenous student leaders.”

Harley Bray, a 2019 Emerging Leader, and Faculty of Science student, has volunteered at a variety of areas. On campus, these include Science Rendezvous, U of M Volunteer Program, Let’s Talk Science, and off campus at Riverview Health Centre, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winnipeg and the Manitoba Agricultural Museum. Bray says when it comes to volunteering, she is most passionate about the philosophies of science and working with diverse groups of people.

“Being co-chair of the Science Rendezvous Team incorporates both of these,” says Bray. “Helping to promote enthusiasm in learning through this national project has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my academic career at the University of Manitoba. I work to engage and transform the general public from passive supporters of science and engineering to active, passionate champions with an understanding of the important role that science plays in our rapidly changing world.”

Recipient Carmine Slipski, PhD candidate in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, has been involved with several events promoting Science and health research to middle and high school students from across Winnipeg and Manitoba. He’s helped with Take Your Kids to Work Day and Discovery Days among several others. Slipski says he has learned many skills during his time at the U of M, but stepping outside of his comfort zone has really helped him develop his interpersonal and time management skills.

“This experience has also exposed me to some of the inner workings/decision making at our institution and has taught me that even though it can feel like a student’s voice is too small for large issues, that there are effective avenues to have your concerns heard and that there are always ways to improve policy and affect positive changes,” said Slipski.

Learn more about the Emerging Leader Awards here.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT RECIPIENTS:

Oluwabunmi Afolabi, Faculty of Arts
Antoine Allard, Asper School of Business
Henry Amogu, Faculty of Architecture
Vibhuti Arya, Faculty of Science
Rashawna Blair, Faculty of Science
Harley Bray, Faculty of Science
Michael Campbell, Faculty of Arts
Jelynn Dela Cruz, Faculty of Arts
Stephen Gatphoh, Faculty of Arts
Kinza Hayat, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Bailey Hendry, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Michelle La, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Kayla Lariviere, Faculty of Arts
Justin Lin, Faculty of Science
Kristine Ivy Macalinao, Faculty of Science
Carly McFall, Faculty of Arts
Gillian Mcivor, Faculty of Science
Bobby McNair, Division of Extended Education
Reanna Merasty, Faculty of Architecture
Francis Nahurski, Faculty of Arts
Victoria Nwabuisi, Faculty of Arts
Oreofe Okunnu, College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Krystal Pelepiuk, School of Agriculture
Bhanu Pilli, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Thomas Roberts, Faculty of Science
Alexander Rozbacher, Faculty of Science
Sidhant Sharma, Asper School of Business
Mathieu Simard, School of Agriculture
Kaeley Simpson, Faculty of Arts
Julia Strecker, School of Agriculture
Rachel Veitch, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Brendan Wood, Faculty of Arts

GRADUATE STUDENT RECIPIENTS:

Allison Balasko, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences: Medical Microbiology (PhD candidate)
Ahmed Bediwy, Faculty of Engineering: Civil Engineering (PhD candidate)
Jasmine Frost, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences: Medical Microbiology (PhD candidate)
Tara Horrill, College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences (PhD candidate)
Michelle Lam, Faculty of Education (PhD candidate)
Chidi Nwaiwu, Faculty of Engineering: Mechanical Engineering (PhD candidate)
Carmine Slipski, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences: Medical Microbiology (PhD candidate)
Matthew Granger, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences: Human Nutritional Sciences (Master’s candidate)
Emily Hyde, College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences (Master’s candidate)
Stephanie Lelond, College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences (Master’s candidate)
Jordyn Lerner, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences (Master’s candidate)
Anita Murdock, Faculty of Science: Microbiology (Master’s candidate)

Chris Reid