Arts students recognized at the 2026 Student Experience Awards
The Student Experience Awards took place on April 1, shining a light on outstanding student leadership. This year marked the 10th annual awards celebration, and the Faculty of Arts was well represented, with 22 awards distributed and 19 students being recognized for their contributions to the campus community:
Dennis Mock Student Leadership Awards
Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, Philosophy student Charles Liu (middle) and one of the recipients of the Dennis Mock Student Leadership Awards, with Dennis Mock (right), Professor and Vice-President, Academic Emeritus.
The Dennis Mock Student Leadership Awards recognize graduating students who have made outstanding voluntary extracurricular contributions to their school or academic program department, their faculty, or to TMU as a whole. The awards acknowledge and encourage student participation in university affairs.
In naming the awards after Dennis Mock, TMU recognizes his commitment to higher education. His leadership and dedication, demonstrated during his 28 years at the university, are qualities embodied in students chosen to receive this award - students committed to ‘making a difference.
Recipients:
- Laaibah Shami - Arts and Contemporary Studies
- Aastha Singh - Criminology
- Oindrilla Ray - English
- Charlotte Squires - Environment and Urban Sustainability
- Mursal Abadi - Geographic Analysis
- Abigail Apalit - History (and English)
- Ingrid Neagu - Language and Intercultural Relations
- Charles Liu - Philosophy
- Tina Emerson Ortiz - Politics and Governance
- Johanna Danika Lewis - Psychology
- Ayushi Sandeep Parmar - Criminology
- Thomas Nguyen - Economics and Finance
Tom Sosa Black Student Excellence
This award honours and celebrates Black-identified students who enhance initiatives that support both Black students and the university community. This award recognizes accomplishments in academics as well as contributions to positive community development, whether on campus or beyond.
Recipient:
- Elijah Major - Geographic Analysis
Global Undergraduate Award, Highly Commended
The Global Undergraduate Awards is the world’s leading pan-disciplinary awards programme celebrating exceptional undergraduate research and recognizing emerging talent. Highly Commended Awards recognize exceptional work within the top 10% of submissions in each category. These students have demonstrated significant potential, originality, and academic rigour in their work, earning them a place among the best undergraduate scholars globally.
Recipient:
- Vedaant Vyas - English
OVPS Student Leadership: Emerging Leader Award
This award recognizes and celebrates the contributions of new leaders at TMU. Recipients will be in their first or second year at TMU and have made an impact on their surrounding community through burgeoning leadership involvement.
Recipient:
- Isabella Whiten - History
OVPS Student Leadership: Team Student Leadership Award
The Team Student Leadership Award is awarded to a student group at TMU that has shown a steadfast commitment to improving the experience of students. Through initiatives, projects and campaigns, this group has made our campus a better place to study, learn, and socialize. The following students were part of a team of Peer Academic Coaches & Digital Media Assistants within OVPS.
Recipients:
- Tia Bend - Philosophy
- Isabella Whiten - History
OVPS Student Leadership: Marion Creery Awards
This award is named in honour of Marion Creery who served as the Director of Student Services from 1988 to 2008. In keeping with the example set by Marion, this award is presented annually to two students whose leadership demonstrates passion, creativity, and perseverance in making TMU a better place for students to learn and realize their potential.
Recipient:
- Thomas Nguyen - Economics and Finance
Scotiabank International Scholarship
The Scotiabank International Student Scholarship is a scholarship that supports 12 full-time, upper-year international students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Recipient:
- Oliver Bullington-McGuire - Sociology
Viola Desmond Award TMU Student Bursary Award
The Viola Desmond Student Bursary Award recognizes a Black woman or gender-diverse person who is an active leader in their community in making a positive difference in areas such as equity, diversity, inclusion, human rights, social justice and community development and engagement.
Recipient:
- Naomi Wokocha - English and Philosophy
Defining Your Success Award for Creative Excellence (Indigenous)
This award recognizes the remarkable achievements, creativity and innovation of Indigenous students at TMU, actively involved in a host of scholarly, research and creative pursuits.
Recipient:
- Olivia Huemmert - Sociology
Congratulations to all of the award recipients!