Meet the 2022 Emerging Leader Award Winners – Undergraduate
The Emerging Leader Award was introduced in 2006 to recognize the important work and outstanding contributions that student leaders make at UM and our communities. After 16 years it is an honour to recognize this year’s cohort of student leaders for their commitment to furthering UM’s educational mission by contributing to the social, cultural and economic well-being of communities on or off-campus. These students encourage cross-cultural understanding and demonstrate sustained leadership and initiative. Today we feature one of our outstanding Emerging Leaders: Gillian Laninga, fifth-year College of Nursing student.
Gillian is a fifth-year College of Nursing student who has served on the Nursing Students’ Association (NSA) council since 2020. She is excited to begin her role as Interprofessional Event Representative and continuing her work promoting mentoring opportunities for first year nursing students, and hosting events such as the virtual career fair. Outside of NSA, she is proud to be a mentor and advocate for nursing students as well as high school students who are aspiring nurses.
Reflecting on her time at UM, Laninga says, “Being a fifth-year student at UM, it has been a passion of mine to put my knowledge and experiences to good use by helping improve the university experience for other UM students. Being able to see the positive outcomes from different projects, events and programs I have been a part of make being a leader at UM so fulfilling to me.”
Laninga had some great things to say about the faculty and staff she has met along her educational journey noting, “I have been very fortunate to have met many encouraging faculty members within the College of Nursing; especially those who have offered me guidance when I needed it the most.” Laninga believes UM provides students with so many diverse opportunities to choose from when getting involved on campus, and she feels fortunate to have made so many supportive friends in the nursing program who have pushed her to be her best self.
Laninga’s advice to UM students is to get involved on campus. Being involved in your university community can help enhance your self-confidence, expand your circle of friends and provides the opportunities to make a difference.
Congratulations to all the students who received the award this year and thank you to the selection committee for your work choosing this year’s Emerging Leaders.
Learn more about the Emerging Leader Award here.
SELECTION COMMITTEE
Rebeka Gauthier
Katherine Chimney
Jaclyn Forbes
Judy Piasta
Justin Rasmussen
Leah Deanne
Lisa Tinley
Matthew Semchyshyn
Sherry Peters
Bailey Hendry
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT RECIPIENTS:
Gillian Laninga, College of Nursing
Randi Roy, Faculty of Science
Lauren Slegers, I. H. Asper School of Business
Aseespal Sehgal, Faculty of Science
Alex Rana, Faculty of Arts
Fardeen Zareef, Faculty of Arts
Miray Eskandar, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Shawn Singh, Faculty of Law
Camryn Anderson, Faculty of Arts
Chloe McElheron, Faculty of Science
Michael Badejo, Faculty of Law
Joseph Geodisico, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Amy Spearman, Faculty of Arts
Juanita Garcia, Faculty of Science
JR Salinas, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry
Cassadra Lu, I. H. Asper School of Business
Raven Morriseau, Faculty of Arts
Rebecca Seales, Faculty of Science
Hannah Belec, Faculty of Arts
Neelam Shahzadi, I. H. Asper School of Business
Robin Mann, Faculty of Science
Rohit Gupta, Faculty of Arts
Ameerah Andaya, Faculty of Social Work
Celeste Petrick, Faculty of Arts
Cleche Kokolo, Faculty of Arts
Esfir Goncharova, I. H. Asper School of Business
Geoffrey Pagcaliwagan, Faculty of Science
Hajrah Ata, Faculty of Science
Kasen Neufeld, Faculty of Social Work
Sophie George, Faculty of Arts
Cindy Atayan, Faculty of Science
Takudzwa Mushosho, Faculty of Arts
Annie Jiang, Faculty of Science
Morgan Traa, School of Art
Olivia Plotnik, Faculty of Arts
Rashi Chhabra, Faculty of Science
Taylor Catcheway, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Towani Mutale, Faculty of Arts
Megan Crooks, Faculty of Science
Prabhleen Maingi, I. H. Asper School of Business
Zackary Holmberg, Faculty of Science
Doris Goubran, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Fares Hossain, Faculty of Science
Kevin Wong, I. H. Asper School of Business
Rushie Tyagi, Faculty of Science
Serena Phillips, Faculty of Science
Amirali Paknahad, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry
Andrea Abellera, Faculty of Science
Arko Dutta, I. H. Asper School of Business
Adam Kowal, Faculty of Law
Faith Olarinde, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management
GRADUTE STUDENT RECIPIENTS:
Bonn Alvarez, College of Nursing
Vimala Bharathi, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Thilini Dissanayake, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Graham Taylor, I. H. Asper School of Business
Pamela Ryan, Faculty of Science
Kristine Doell, Faculty of Graduate Studies
Kevin Oliver, Faculty of Graduate Studies
Kayla Kostal, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Renée Boily, College of Nursing
Mehraz Sarker, Faculty of Arts