(L-R) Karissa Kirkup, Mario Solis Nepote, Charlene Hallett and Anjali Yadav at the Emerging Leaders event.
Our emerging leader students celebrated
On Thursday, March 16, more than 140 students, faculty and staff gathered to recognize and be inspired by our future leaders.
Guest speaker and two time alumna Andi Sharma shared her personal story of leadership and how her time as a student helped her overcome adversity.
“I am so grateful that my time spent here at the U of M helped forge a clear path for me to follow my heart,” said Sharma, a policy analyst and food security activist who graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Masters of Public Administration.
Sharma’s message to students about difficult chapters in life is simple: “What I learned … was that life is filled with unexpected challenges that will push you to your limits and require you to be stronger and braver than you ever thought possible. These moments will help shape the person you will be; respect them, learn from them and always keep going. Honour the space between what is no longer and what is yet to be.”
Sharma elaborated on her current work with the Northern Healthy Foods Initiative, her Ted Talk and the opportunity to share her research at the United Nations. In essence, food insecurity is such an intractable social problem that we need solutions that are designed to be coordinated and have collective impact in order to address it.
She spoke directly to the students: “You select few tonight are poised to not only be leaders in your chosen fields, but as global citizens, community builders and world changers. Whatever your future holds for you, always remember that the responsibility of privilege is to fight for justice. Wield your privilege in the name of justice and you will never have to doubt your course, whichever path you choose.”
”[Sharma’s remarks} “served as an empowering reminder that the most difficult obstacles to overcome could be the most integral components to growing both as a leader and as individuals,” said Amy Lam, a 2017 Emerging Leader Award (ELA) recipient. “We should embrace our growth from these obstacles to continue making meaningful contributions to our communities.”
Taylor Morisseau, Faculty of Science student, and award recipient said, “”It is a rare occurrence to come together with leaders from across this campus in such a warm celebration. In sharing a meal, we can express our thoughts and experiences, reflect on our accomplishments, and look forward with a renewed drive for positive change.”
Engineering student Marc Pelland said that for him the best part was “meeting other exceptional students to celebrate and reaffirm our commitment to being leaders in our spheres.”
In addition to attending the dinner, Emerging Leader Award recipients are presented with a framed certificate.
The evening closed with powerful words shared by Andi Sharma: “Now more than ever, we need bold ideas dreamed up by daring thinkers who also have the courage to act. I think, without a doubt, that you are up to this task. I am so proud of what Manitoba has to offer the world through your work.”
In 2017, 40 emerging leaders were announced.
Undergraduate student recipients
Alyssa Cao, 3rd Year, Faculty of Science
Amy Lam, 4th Year, Faculty of Science
Andrew Samuel, 3rd Year, Faculty of Science
Anthony Cao, 4th Year, Faculty of Science
Arthur Coelho Reis, 2nd Year, I. H. Asper School of Business
Atoosa Jalayeri, 3rd Year, Faculty of Science
Bariadora (Sam) Gbara, 4th Year, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences: College of Nursing
Charlene Hallett, 2nd Year, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences: Max Rady College of Medicine
Chelsey Meade, 4th Year, Faculty of Arts
Dharma Aguilar-Cardenas, 3rd Year, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Emelia (Emma) Ross, 3rd Year, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources
Emma Ausen, 3rd Year, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources
Harley Bray, 2nd Year, Faculty of Science
Haylea Clyne, 4th Year, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences: College of Nursing
Jaidan Merry, 3rd Year, Faculty of Arts
Johnpaul Okorie, 4th Year, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences: College of Nursing
Karissa Kirkup, 3rd Year, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management
Katherine VanKoughnet, 4th Year, Faculty of Arts
Lea Soliman, 2nd Year, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences: College of Rehabilitation Sciences
Lindsay Bristow, 4th Year, Faculty of Science
Marc Pelland, 3rd Year, Faculty of Engineering
Mihskakwan James Harper, 4th Year, Faculty of Engineering
Muhammad Irfan, 3rd Year, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Nicole Stonyk, 5th Year, Faculty of Extended Education
Oreoluwa Akanbi, 3rd Year, Faculty of Science
Rachel Mangiacotti, 3rd Year, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences: College of Nursing
Shayna Pierce, 3rd Year, Faculty of Science
Taylor Morriseau, 4th Year, Faculty of Science
Graduate student recipients
Ahmed Elwali – PhD Candidate (Biomedical Engineering), Faculty of Engineering
Allison (Alli)Balasko – MSc Candidate (Medical Microbiology), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences : Max Rady College of Medicine
Anderson Agbugba – MPA Candidate (Public Administration), Faculty of Arts
Anjali Y. Bhagirath – PhD Candidate (Oral Biology), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences: College of Denistry
Daria Goncharova – MA Candidate (Political Studies), Faculty of Arts
Elizabeth (Liz) Huynh – MA Candidate (Kinesiology), Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management
Katherine Kenyon – PhD Candidate (Psychology), Faculty of Arts
Mario Alejandro Solis Nepote – MSc Candidate (Biomedical Engineering), Faculty of Engineering
Nasim Abdollahi – PhD Candidate (Electrical and Computer Engineering), Faculty of Engineering
Olena Kloss – PhD Candidate (Human Nutritional Sciences), Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Ranju Upadhyaya – MA Candidate (Sociology), Faculty of Arts
Tabitha Martens – PhD Candidate (Social Work), Faculty of Social Work
