Student Leadership Award Winners

George Thomas

George Thomas has shown clear “growth as a leader and mentor” within the Institute for the Study of University Pedagogy (ISUP) through his leadership in the Facilitated Study Group (FSG) program. He has become “an integral and highly dependable member of our team,” carrying out his responsibilities “with professionalism and care.” In supporting facilitator development and the delivery of Supplemental Instruction sessions, George brings “steady professionalism and perceptive contributions” and demonstrates a “wholehearted commitment to leadership.” He “consistently represents our centre with distinction” and is “most deserving of broader recognition for his leadership through this award.

Adriana Esperanza Ojeda Beltran

Adriana embodies the spirit of the ISUP Student Leadership Award. Her work at the IEC goes far beyond daily tasks; she actively fosters an inclusive campus culture by guiding students toward academic and professional success. She is not just a Global Learning Assistant, but a dependable leader who ensures every student feels welcome and informed at UTM.

Talla Enaya

Talla Enaya has demonstrated exceptional student leadership in a number of different capacities at the RGASC and ISUP. This includes her contributions to the Head Start Program, the Scholars Book Club, and the ISUP journal. The committee was particularly impressed by Talla’s work in supporting research and programming for students on AI in education. For example, Talla took the lead on developing a new session in the HeadStart program focused on the role of AI at the university level. In addition, Talla worked with Prof. Sarah Seeley and Prof. Chris Eaton on multiple research projects related to AI in higher education.

Shona Goodkin

Shona Goodkin has demonstrated extraordinary student leadership in a number of roles across UTM. Some of these roles include her work as a' residence education facilitator, as a research mentor through UTM Scholars Peer Methorship Program, and UTM’s Pre-law Organization Mentorship program to name a few. In these roles, Shona supported programming and individualized mentorship for students in supporting their learning strategies, academic goal setting, and research skills. Shona has also worked as a research assistant for a number of ISUP faculty and RGASC staff, collaborating on research projects related to suplemental instruction, faculty experiences with online instruction, and AI resources across learning centres.

A man wearing a blue vest and a woman wearing a black blazer posing next to one another, smiling, the woman is holding an awards certificate.

Victoria Gracie

Victoria was a unanimous winner for everyone on the adjudication team. We were struck by the success of the workshops and initiatives she put on. We appreciated how she collaborated with faculty and staff to support facilitators.

Maria Sillano & Tulip Marawi

2025-2026

2024-2025

2023-2024

2022-2023