Alexandra Leone (BSc ’24) and Brielle Kaminsky (BA ’21, MEd ’24) are determined to help create a positive future for all.

The two student changemakers received the Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medal in recognition of their exemplary leadership and community impact during Brock’s 116th Convocation on Friday, Oct. 18.

A Biological Sciences graduate on a mission to make STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education more accessible and inclusive, Leone said the award represents hope.

“I am honoured to have been selected and it makes me hopeful that the work I do — and the importance I place on equity in STEM — is reciprocated by those who have the power to prioritize it at an institutional level,” she said.

Master of Education graduate Kaminsky, who won the undergraduate Spirit of Brock medal in 2021, echoed the value of advocating for a meaningful educational experience for all students.

“Being a part of making change and improving the student experience is one of my main motivations,” she said.

Both Leone and Kaminsky previously received the President’s Surgite Award for their leadership and involvement in various organizations across the University.

As Co-ordinator of Let’s Talk Science, Leone has grown Brock’s STEM outreach by developing programs that engage equity-deserving groups —  including women, girls, and Indigenous and remote communities  —  and expanding the reach of free workshops in new communities.

Leone is also the founder and president of STEMpower Women, which aims to empower girls by connecting them with STEM students and professionals to encourage participation in male-dominated fields such as computer science, engineering and chemistry.

Her many additional community initiatives, including working with Canadian Blood Services to increase plasma and blood donation at Brock through on-campus blood drives, are reflected in Brock’s campus wide co-curriculum, which she completed last year.

Leone is also passionate about environmental stewardship and has participated in several programs and initiatives involved with attaining the World Wildlife Fund Canada Living Planet Leaders Certification.

Kaminsky — recipient of the Brock University Students’ Union Pinnacle Award and Student Life Global Achievement Award — founded the Days for Girls Brock Chapter, a social justice volunteer program where students help make feminine hygiene kits to donate to women and girls in developing countries.

Inspired by her time working for Brock International, Kaminsky served as an Advanced Education Tutor in the Faculty of Education where she supported students learning English.

This past year, Kaminsky also volunteered as a student representative on the Master of Education Graduate Program Committee and on the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) Board of Directors, where she contributed to discussions on issues affecting students.

This work was familiar to Kaminsky as a previous student representative on advisory committees for the Deans of Humanities and Education and as the longest running councillor on the Brock University Students’ Administrative Council.

Kaminsky’s other leadership roles included serving as President of the Brock University Chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society for three years where she collaborated with many other student leaders. She also served as the Chair of the Golden Key International Council of Student Leaders (ICSL) and Student Representative on the International Leadership Council (ILC) and served as the Canada Representative on ICSL.

Now the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Brock University Students’ Union (BUSU), Kaminsky served as Chair of the BUSU Appeals Committee and served three years as an executive, including as Vice-President, for the Brock Leaders Citizenship Society.

Kaminsky was a varsity athlete on the Brock squash team and won the Coach’s Special Recognition Award.

“I feel honoured to win the Spirit of Brock medal and encourage first-year students to take risks and believe in yourself. You can do great things if you take chances,” Kaminsky said.