Announcing the 2026 University College Student Leadership Awards Winners
by Georgia Laidlaw
UC is proud to announce our 2025-26 UC Student Leadership Award winners. Recognized among friends and family at a combined ceremony at the end of each academic year, the UC Student Leadership Awards celebrate the accomplishments of UC students who have made their mark in enriching the university experience at the college and beyond.
Please join us in congratulating our most recent cohort of awards winners!
University College Merit Awards
The 2026 University College Merit Award recipients are graduating students who have participated in clubs, committees, student organizations, student governance, or internship roles at the college. The Merit Awards were presented by the University College principal.
Sania Ahmad
Banke Akande
Ezinne Arki
Artemis Bahrami
Vera Burke
Yamini Coomar
Naayrieka Daruwalla
Laura De Araujo Petiot
Caitlin Devion
Ilil Guttman-Visoker
Behram Hathi
Aliyah Ianiro
Jewels Jacques
Damla Kalaylioglu
Alicia Kalendjian
Tarini Kapoor
Margaret Li
Stella Luke
Sara Melino
Katie Palmer
Avasa Sarawan
Krishi Shah
Anhadpreet Singh
Iriza Stessy
Ilyas Syed
Wilson Tepperman
Kushali Vyas
Maggie Wang
University of Toronto Student Leadership Awards
The University of Toronto Student Leadership Award continues U of T’s long-standing tradition of recognizing outstanding student leadership, volunteer service, and commitment to the university. This tradition began with the Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award, which ran from 1994 - 2019 and was named in honour of Mr. Gordon Cressy, former Vice-President, Development and University Relations.
In naming the award, the University of Toronto Alumni Association (UTAA) recognized Cressy's leadership and volunteer service across various spheres, as well as his term at the university. During the award’s 25-year history, it celebrated the exemplary contributions of more than 4,000 students whose commitment and volunteerism had a lasting impact on their peers and the university.
Recipients of the University of Toronto Student Leadership Award (UTSLA) join the distinguished community of past Cressy Award recipients in being honoured for their exemplary leadership and volunteer service to U of T.
Maria Eduarda Fonseca Carvalho
Divi Gupta
Ary Kwun
Alex Lewis
Mingjingzi Liu
Max Phan
Marriah Ramadan
Udaya Reddy
Nicole Stochmal
Esma Tuzunatac
Amilya Anne Wilson
Sina Zamiri
University College Program Awards
The 2026 University College Program Award recipients are graduating students who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to their program, peers, and community. The awards are presented by the UC program directors and faculty members of the affiliate centers.
Canadian Studies Program Award
Jasmyn Reardon-Manek
Cognitive Science Program Award
Murad Mastrouk
Public Health / Health Studies Award
Brandon Chan-Long
Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies Program
Andrea Perez
Donald C. Ainslie Leadership Awards
The Donald C. Ainslie Leadership Awards are awarded to second- and third-year University College students who have demonstrated exemplary extra-curricular and co-curricular leadership through their contributions to the college, university, or community. Recipients are expected to have maintained high academic standing.
The 2026 recipients are:
Alisha Brahmbhatt
Ingrid Jin
Warm congratulations to all our award recipients and a heartfelt thanks for your dedication to the UC and U of T community!