Trailbreakers and impact makers: standout student success stories of 2024
2024 has been a year marked by remarkable student achievements. Whether they were creating a scholarship for Indigenous student athletes, advocating for children growing up in regions threatened by drug traffickers or making history as a trailblazer in U Sports football, UM students have been making an impact in Manitoba and around the world. Check out the year’s top stories showcasing student accomplishments in academics, community impact and personal pursuits.
Running toward Reconciliation: Tréchelle Bunn’s journey from athlete to advocate
Law student Tréchelle Bunn is the founder and race director of the Reconciliation Run, which she created to honour her grandparents who attended residential school. This year, she’s using the funds raised to create a scholarship for Indigenous student athletes.
Maya Turner: A trailblazer in U Sports football
In November, Maya Turner made history (again!) as the first female athlete ever to be named an all-star in U Sports football. Earlier this year, she reflected on the journey that brought her here.
The Rhode to 100
UM has produced more Rhodes Scholars than any other university in western Canada. Artist Joel Nichols, UM’s 100th recipient and the first ever from the School of Art, shares the creative complexities of his world.
Change through rematriation
Pahan PteSanWin was named a 2024 Vanier Scholar for her Indigenous rematriation and reparations research. Her work highlights the importance of envisioning what a future can look like past colonial violence.
From seeking Narcos to seeking peace at UM
As a marine in the Peruvian Navy, graduate student Omar Tejada saw the impact of narcoterrorism on children firsthand. Now he’s using his master’s thesis in Peace and Conflict Studies to draw attention to the situation in his home country of Peru and advocate for the youngest and most vulnerable victims of the drug wars.
Med student, inclusion advocate recognized by Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
Med student Tooba Razi says her identity as a Pakistani, Muslim woman has strengthened her commitment to creating safe spaces and mentorship opportunities for those who are underrepresented. In 2024, she was recognized for her hard work and dedication with a Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Award.
Taking the stage at the global Falling Walls Lab in Berlin
UM Falling Walls Lab grand-prize winner Nolan De Leon made connections and represented the university at the global Falling Walls Science Summit this fall. He was in good company among 100 passionate thinkers and dreamers from various countries trying to face the world’s greatest challenges head on.
New graduate hopes to inspire other Inuit to pursue engineering
A love of tinkering with offroad vehicles and learning how to optimize them for the arctic led RJ Oolooyuk to mechanical engineering. Now he’s the first Inuk student to graduate from the Price Faculty of Engineering and has returned home to Rankin Inlet, Nunavut to inspire his community.
The intersection of genetics and advocacy
While working through her degree, fourth-year genetics student Witta Irumva noted a lack of representation of Black women in her field. She aims to change that by combining her passion for science with her drive to create a more-equitable world.
Shaping Education: 2024 Undergraduate Research Award Recipients
Six Faculty of Education students received UM’s undergraduate research awards this year. Their projects delve into critical educational issues like supporting refugee students, gender-based violence and sexual education.