Celebrating our Student Leaders at the University College Student Leadership Awards
by Georgia Laidlaw
Students, staff, faculty and family rejoiced at the annual UC Student Leadership Awards earlier this term. Friends and family of award recipients gathered at the college with the nominators to celebrate our community's young leaders over delicious food and beverages.
Four awards were presented at this year's awards ceremony, including the University College Merit Awards, the University of Toronto Student Leadership Award, the University College Program Award, and the Donald C. Ainslie Leadership Awards. Congratulations to all of our recipients!
A full list of 2025 award recipients and award details can be found below:
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE MERIT AWARD
The Merit Award recognizes contributions to the University College community through any role or capacity that demonstrates leadership. Recipients are graduating students who have participated in clubs, committees, student organizations, student governance, or internship roles at the college.
2025 Recipients
Karl Abian
Ethan Blanchard
Grace Deol
Sarah Elliott
Katherine Hartig
Talha Hasnat
Owen Hill
Nour Haj Ibrahim
Adrian Khani
Cherry Lam
Maggie Li
Danielle Lui
Shivesh Prakash
Hargun Rekhi
Sabrina Shahidan
Katie Wang
Eric Waszak
Valerie Yao
Patrick Zhou
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD
The University of Toronto Student Leadership Award continues the University’s long-standing tradition of recognizing outstanding student leadership, volunteer service, and commitment to the university. This award first ran in 1994 the Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award and continues to today.
2025 Recipients
Kiara Andrade
Selen Bayram
Elžbieta Chernyak
Ryan Cho
Angelica Hu
Dongjia (Daphne) Jiang
Harris Johnston
Lisanne Koehler
Cameron Miranda-
Radbord
Kaitlyn Nitta
Eshika Sehgal
Hao-Yuan River Zhang
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE PROGRAM AWARD
The University College program award is granted to graduating students who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to their program, peers, and community and have been nominated by their program’s director for this award.
Canadian Studies
Program Award
Anahit Hakobyan
Asian Canadian Studies
Program Award
Tisya Raina
Black Canadian Studies
Program Award
Dacian Dawes
Cognitive Science
Program Award
Sebin Im
Ayesha Narang
Health Studies
Program Award
Kaela De Carlos
Centre for Drama,
Theatre & Performance
Studies Program Award
Elžbieta Chernyak
Mark S. Bonham Centre
for Sexual Diversity
Studies Program Award
Luna Okazaki
DONALD C. AINSLIE LEADERSHIP AWARDS IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
The Donald C. Ainslie leadership awards are either second or third-year students who have demonstrated exemplary extra-curricular and co-curricular leadership through their contributions to the college, university, or community, all while maintaining excellent academic standing.
2025 Recipients
Agnesa Astvatsatryan
Max Phan