During their time with Brock’s Goodman School of Business, graduates Jason Ineh (BBA ’24) and Hitesh Inder (MBA ’24) showed dedication to the enhancing the student experience on campus.

Their lasting impact was recognized on Monday, June 10, when each was honoured with a Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medal.

Brock University Board of Trustees member Réjeanne Aimey (left) presented Hitesh Inder (MBA ’24) with the Spirit of Brock medal Monday, June 10 during the University’s 115th Convocation.

Presented during the University’s 115th Convocation, the award recognizes students who demonstrate leadership, innovation, inspiration and community involvement.

Ineh, a Bachelor of Business Administration Co-op grad who specialized in Finance, came to Brock for the opportunity he saw to grow both personally and professionally at the University. During first year, he enjoyed campus life, but societal events that took place during the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 changed a lot of things about the Black experience for him, prompting Ineh to take action.

So, along with fellow business student Joseph Brobbey, Ineh co-founded the Brock’s Black Student Association (BLSA) and became the organization’s President. The club inspires and enables Black students and students of all ethnicities to use their voices to make a difference in society.

“Problems aren’t always problems, they are opportunities for growth,” Ineh said.

The BLSA grew quickly, amassing more than 600 student members in less than three years, facilitating mentorship programs, organizing community service projects and promoting cultural exchange. Ineh’s successful contributions to the BLSA laid the groundwork for his participation in the working group that established Brock’s Black Student Success Centre (BSSC), which has become a campus hub for the advancement of the Black and BIPOC community at the University since opening in October.

“I’ve been able to see the growth of the Nigerian Student Association and the East African Student Community, and truly show that being Black isn’t a monolith, there’s so much diversity,” Ineh said. “There’s always change to make and there’s so much more that we can do, and new connections to make and I’m happy that students can see that now.”

In addition to his work with the BLSA and BSSC, he also volunteered with World University Service of Canada, Brock’s President’s Advisory Committee on Human Rights, Equity and Decolonization (PACHRED), and worked as an Anti-Racism and Inclusion Research Assistant.

Just as Ineh has left his impact on Brock, the University has left an impact on him.

From his student involvement, co-op work terms and exchange semester in Tokyo, Japan, he’s leaving Brock with enhanced intercultural competencies and a newfound ability to inspire and relate to people, he said.

Inder, a Goodman Master of Business Administration (MBA) grad, has made his mark at Brock through his involvement with student leadership and the national MBA Games competition.

After arriving at Goodman from India, he was eager to get involved in student clubs and jumped at the chance to participate on the School’s MBA Games team, serving as Vice Captain in 2023, when the Brock team won its first-ever national title.

With the winning school also receiving the opportunity to host the games, the returning MBA students were tasked with the significant work of planning the 2024 games. Inder along with co-chair Shania Pearl (MBA ’24) headed the 2024 MBA Games planning committee that resulted in hundreds of students from 16 schools across Canada, descending on Brock to compete for the Queens Cup in January.

Inder had always found it easy to develop technical skills, but he looked to Goodman’s MBA program and the opportunities it presented to develop cross-functional leadership and relationship development skills.

Receiving the Spirit of Brock medal was something he didn’t expect.

“I was just doing the things that I enjoyed, but it’s such an honour and accomplishment to be selected to join this group of prestigious graduates,” he said. “It gives you validation that you are doing the right things.”

Inder was also inducted into Goodman’s Beta Gamma Sigma Honours Chapter, recognition given to the top 20 per cent of graduate students, and served as a Graduate Student Ambassador for the business school.

His advice to students entering or studying in the MBA program? Get involved.

“There’s opportunity everywhere,” he said. “But you also need to take part in that first activity or the first event to start the ball rolling, then it keeps rolling and you get the hang of things,” he said. “Go out and express yourself. There’s a lot of potential that goes to waste if you don’t actively involve yourself in things that come up.”

Brock’s Convocation continues until Friday, June 14. For a full schedule, visit brocku.ca/convocation

Discover the full collection of Convocation photos by ceremony on Brock University’s official Facebook page or view recordings of the ceremonies at brocku.ca/livestream