Engaged students, dedicated volunteers and valued community partners were celebrated during Brock University’s annual Student Life and Success Recognition Event.

Held Monday, April 12, the virtual awards ceremony aimed to recognize those who play a role in the University’s engagement, sharing their skills and passion to support the Brock and wider Niagara community.

More than 80 people attended the online event, which saw awards virtually presented to dozens of recipients.

Among those honoured was Beverly Marsden, a fourth-year Public Health student minoring in Canadian Studies, who earned the First-generation Student Leadership Award. The recognition is annually presented to a first-generation student who has significantly contributed to the betterment of first-generation students at Brock as a role model, advocate and mentor.

“I was shocked to be nominated for the leadership award and feel so grateful for this honour,” Marsden said. “I was over the moon to be given an amazing opportunity to share my experiences and insight with my fellow peers.”

Marsden has been making the most of her time at Brock. She was inducted as a member of the Brock University Golden Key International Honour Society, which recognizes students in the top 15 per cent of their class, and is a research assistant for Brock’s Centre for Canadian Studies.

Marsden is also involved with the Brock Institute for Healthcare Improvement, which has allowed her to engage in research alongside Niagara Health and recently present an academic paper during the Crossing Borders Conference. The conference is a forum for undergraduate and graduate students to present their research on Canadian Studies, American Studies, Indigenous Studies and aspects of cross-border relations.

“I have truly enjoyed my experience with the staff, faculty and peers I have had the chance to engage within my department and beyond,” she said. “I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a student at Brock and have found a home away from home as a result of the tight-knit caring community we have established at our University.”

Also recognized for her contributions was Vaidehi Jatinbhai Ajmeri, a Public Health student who received the Campus-Wide Co-Curriculum (CWC) Rising Star Award. The honour is presented to a first-year student who has made substantial progress in the CWC.

The following is a collection of major award winners from the Student Life and Success Recognition Event:

• First-generation Student Leadership Award — Beverly Marsden
• Rising Star Award — Vaidehi Jatinbhai Ajmeri
• Community Partner Award — Linda Vespoli Burch (Pathstone Mental Health) and Emily Glencross (Learning Disabilities Association of Niagara)
• Community Achievement Award — Jaime Martin (Community Living St. Catharines), Emily Davis (Alzheimer’s Society Niagara Region) and Jill Skoblenick (TD Niagara Jazz Festival)
• Leadership, Innovation and Community Award — Leaders at Brock Club
• A-Z Learning Services Educational Perseverance Award — Logan Lois Wright, Hailey Smith and Lauren Gerger
• Transfer Student Leadership Award — Mohadeseh Zakizadeh
• Transfer Student Involvement Award — Tyler Bell
• Student Conduct Council Award — Maddie Bell
• Diversity, Inclusion and Religious Equity Award — Ehtesham Baig and Anna Grant
• New Student Engagement Award — Aastha Shah, Amanda Rosati, Amber Enakimio, Angelo Ilersich, Anna Abraham, Anthony Palmieri, Anusha Pahuja, Carleigh Charlton, Cassandra Edge, Deborah Lyons, Dordaneh Mirbabaei Ghafghazi, Francesca Mangiapane, Grace Saad, Ishraq Malik, Judith Kwofie, Kaitlin Ives, Lasata Deshar, Olivia Schmidt, Paris Forlin, Rajalakshmy Menon, Shahzadi Mahnoor Baloch, Stacia Jacob, Tara Shivafard and Uchenna Dike.