Each year, Saint Mary’s University celebrates student achievement and community impact through the Student Leadership Recognition Awards (SLRA). Established in 2012, the SLRA honours up to 12 students annually across Arts, Science, the Sobey School of Business, and Graduate Studies & Research, who demonstrate exceptional leadership, inspire their peers, and contribute meaningfully to campus and beyond.
Organized in partnership between Career & Experiential Learning (CEL) and the Saint Mary’s University Student Association (SMUSA), the awards highlight the powerful role students play in shaping a vibrant, engaged university community. As Christy Starkey, Co-Curricular Record & Career360° Lead notes, “co-curricular involvement enriches the student experience by connecting academic content to real-world situations. It helps build professional connections and offers a meaningful way to give back to the community.”
This year’s ceremony also marked the introduction of two Community Partner Leadership Awards, recognizing organizations whose collaboration creates meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities for students.
In recognition of their impact, each organization received a $250 donation from Saint Mary’s, reinforcing the university’s commitment to community-engaged learning and reciprocal partnerships.
Together, the SLRA recipients and community partners reflect the shared values of leadership, collaboration, and service that define the Saint Mary’s experience.
Students are encouraged to continue building on their leadership journeys and enhancing their professional presence by documenting their involvement through the Saint Mary’s Experience Record.
Community organizations interested in partnering with Saint Mary’s are invited to explore opportunities through Career & Experiential Learning at SMU.
2026 Student Leadership Recognition Award (SLRA) – Student Biographies
Bachelor of Arts
Callum Burrell
Callum is in his final year of a Bachelor of Arts with an honours in Social Justice and Community Studies, and is heading to Dalhousie next year to pursue a legal education. He has worked as a Resident Assistant for three years and has served as the RA representative on the Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Advisory Committee since November 2024. This led to him joining the Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative as a Peer Educator for the 2025-2026 academic year. Callum serves as the Chair of the RainBEAU committee, organizing events for 2SLGBTQIA+ students on campus. Callum also helps facilitate the breakfast club with Sunal and the Community Food Room every Tuesday. Outside of SMU Campus, Callum is a loyal volunteer and staff member with the Humanity Project in Moncton. Callum aims to get his JD and develop a broader understanding about how his legal education can allow him to further serve his community and advance the cause of justice for all.
Darcy Eygun
Darcy Eygun is a francophone student from Nova Scotia, graduating this spring summa cum laude with a BA (Honours) in Political Science, with minors in Global Development Studies and Philosophy. His work focuses on the intersection of human rights and security, both locally and internationally, including projects with organizations such as the United Nations Association of Canada and NATO. During his time at Saint Mary’s University, he has engaged in social impact and research projects across Canada, Lithuania, The Gambia, Malawi, and Colombia. On campus, he volunteered as a Fair Trade Ambassador and supported student recruitment within the Faculty of Arts. His Honours thesis, completed in his third year, examined the role of the Canadian state in enabling corporate activity in Canadian mining operations in Ecuador, with a particular focus on the implications for Indigenous rights. He has since continued this work through advocacy and lobbying efforts with Amnesty International Canada.
Jaiden Kariuki-MacDonald
From pack leader to Black Student Society President to recipient of the Student Leadership Recognition Award, Jaiden Kariuki-MacDonald has proved herself to be a leader worth recognizing within the SMU community! She is a fifth-year student completing an honours in Anthropology, minor in Criminology, and the Forensic Science Certificate. Working hard to balance her academics, leadership roles, and her personal life, Jaiden's collaborative leadership approach has made a great impact at SMU. Notably, through the hiring of a Black student advisor and the development of the first official Black student dedicated space on campus. Her future goals are to continue working in leadership roles, and eventually enter a career in funeral care.
Bachelor of Commerce
Asmita Ale
Asmita is a 4th year Accounting & Finance student whose leadership is rooted in empathy and driven by impact. Her journey began as a SAGA volunteer, where supporting fellow international students inspired her to pursue broader community initiatives. She then took on the project manager role for Enactus Options Online, dedicating over 600 hours to launch 150+ microlearning courses and a paid mentorship program that impacted 25 Canadian youth. This earned her the 2024 Enactus Canada Silver Community Service Leader Badge. Building on this foundation, Asmita served as the Head of External Affairs for the Commerce Society, spearheading outreach for the 25th Wine & Cheese, and 50th Business Dinner, connecting over 350 students with professionals. She now leads as Co-Volunteer Director of Women in Business Society and Co-Director of Outreach for Investment Society. An aspiring CPA, Asmita aims to apply business leadership to organizations that create social impact.
Conrad Scotchburn
Conrad Scotchburn is a fourth-year Accounting and Finance student at Saint Mary’s University. He serves as President of the SMU AI Society and has been actively involved in strengthening the student community through other leadership roles, including Vice President of the SMU Accounting Society and Vice President of the SMU Sports Business Society. Conrad is passionate about supporting student success and is proud to have tutored and assisted more than 50 students in their learning during his time at SMU. He is also deeply interested in the responsible use of emerging technologies and regularly encourages students to explore how AI can enhance learning, productivity, and innovation. Alongside his academic work, Conrad founded Blyyss, a grocery affordability platform that delivers real value to his community by leveraging emerging technology. He also serves as a research assistant supporting faculty in taxation and artificial intelligence research.
Noor Khartabil
Noor Khartabil is a fourth-year Bachelor of Commerce student, double majoring in Human Resources and Marketing while completing the Human Resources Certificate and maintaining consistent Dean’s List standing. A dedicated campus leader and community builder, Noor has served as President of the SMU Muslim Students Association (MSA) for over two years, working to foster belonging and strengthen connections across the university’s diverse community. Through her leadership, she has organized over 20 large-scale initiatives that support Muslim students while advancing interfaith dialogue on campus. Among these is the annual Ramadan in Unity event, organized in collaboration with the International Student Centre, which brings together 200 members of the SMU community. She also collaborated with the Alumni Office to launch Saint Mary’s inaugural Islamic Heritage Month event. Alongside her leadership, Noor supports student success as a Teaching Assistant, Peer Note-Taker, BComm Ambassador, and Student Assistant at the Patrick Power Library. She plans to pursue a career in Human Resources, advocating for inclusive and equitable workplaces.
Bachelor of Science
Emily Fisher
Emily Luna Fisher is a fourth-year Honours Astrophysics student at Saint Mary’s University. During her time at SMU she has taken on multiple leadership roles, including several positions with ResLife and three years as an executive of the SMU Astronomy and Physics Society. Additionally, her work with the EDIA committee AP-IDEAS has contributed to making the Saint Mary’s campus a more accessible and inclusive environment. In recognition of these efforts, she has earned several experiential badges, including a Platinum Community Leader badge. Alongside her campus involvement, Emily has excelled academically, having earned three Dean’s List awards. Her Honours thesis is focused on analyzing structure formation and gas mixing in high-resolution simulations of colliding galaxy clusters. After graduating, Emily plans to pursue a Master of Science in astrophysics or climate physics. A lifelong science fiction fan, she also plans to spend more time writing and sharing her ideas with the world.
Kara MacLean
Kara MacLean is a fifth-year student at Saint Mary’s University completing a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Psychology and a Health, Wellness, and Sport Society Certificate. She is also a member of the Saint Mary’s Varsity Women’s Hockey Team. A dedicated leader on campus and in the community, Kara serves as a Lead Ambassador for Cam’s Kids, where she has helped expand the Nova Scotia branch, lead mental health campaigns and events, and speak publicly about youth engagement and wellness. At Saint Mary’s, she promotes inclusion and advocacy through her involvement with Motionball for Special Olympics and as a Sexual Violence Prevention Athletic Ambassador, raising awareness about sexual and gender-based violence through campus initiatives. As a varsity athlete, she mentors young female hockey players through camps and community outreach. Recognized for her academic excellence, Kara has earned Dean’s List honours and U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian recognition. She aspires to become a school psychologist.
Marisa McClocklin
Marisa McClocklin is a fourth-year Psychology Honours student at Saint Mary’s University. Throughout her time at SMU, she has sought opportunities to contribute meaningfully on campus and in the broader community. Marisa founded and serves as President of the Saint Mary’s Cam’s Kids Society in partnership with Kids Help Phone, where she leads student ambassadors and organizes initiatives that promote mental health awareness and connect students with support resources. She also contributes nationally as a youth member of the Kids Help Phone Clinical Services and Quality Committee, providing insight to improve frontline mental health services. As a varsity athlete, Marisa served as Assistant Captain of the Saint Mary’s Women’s Hockey Team for the past two seasons and will now serve as Captain for the upcoming season. She also sits on the Varsity Athletic Council and works as a Sexual Violence Athletics Team Ambassador. Following graduation, she plans to pursue graduate studies in psychology."
Graduate Studies & Research
Deana Symes
Deana is a second-year NSERC CGS-M funded Masters student in Applied Science, studying inorganic chemistry. Deana holds a BSc (Honours in Chemistry) from Saint Mary’s University, where she has consistently demonstrated leadership across academics, research, and athletics. As a consistent Dean’s List recipient, Deana has received multiple awards including the Cleary Family Scholarship (x2), Jack Ginsburg Memorial Scholarship, Ashwood Scholarship, and the Faculty Union Scholarship. In the Chemistry Department, Deana has worked as an NSERC USRA Research Assistant, held 19 TA positions, and served three years on the Chemistry Society executive team. Beyond academics, Deana is involved in the SMU community as a varsity rugby athlete, a Community Food Room volunteer, a Medical Campus Response Team volunteer, and a Research Ethics Board member. Beyond SMU, Deana has volunteered as a high school rugby assistant coach since 2021, supporting the development and confidence of young female athletes. Ultimately, Deana aims to pursue a career in the medical field.
Rebecca Rita ElChater
Rebecca is a first year Master of Science Student studying the impact of a novel plant growth-promoting bacterium and its applications in sustainable agriculture. She completed her double major in Biology and Psychology, with Honours in Biology, at Saint Mary’s University. Throughout her academic career, Rebecca has served as the treasurer of the biology society and volunteered in outreach initiatives, where she was committed to encouraging student engagement and promoting scientific learning. She currently works as a chemistry teaching assistant and as an exam invigilator at the Fred Smithers Centre. Off campus, Rebecca is dedicated to making a positive impact in her community through her volunteer work at the Hants Community Hospital, where she has taken on various roles such as a night lunch volunteer and meal assistant. In the future, Rebecca hopes to continue her studies and ultimately pursue a career in the medical field.
Reihaneh (Rihanna) Kolivandi
Rihanna is a PhD Candidate in Finance at the Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary's University. Her research explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and corporate social responsibility (CSR), focusing on how emerging technologies can support responsible and environmentally sustainable business practices. Alongside her academic work, Rihanna is deeply committed to student leadership and community engagement. She has served as a Lab Leader for the Exploring Sustainability course for multiple semesters, mentoring students and facilitating discussions on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) responsibility. She also contributes to the academic community as a Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant, supporting both student learning and collaborative research. In addition, Rihanna serves as an executive member and treasurer of the Iranian Society at Saint Mary’s University, helping organize cultural events that foster community connection and inclusion. She aspires to pursue an academic career advancing sustainable finance and responsible artificial intelligence.
Community Partner Leadership Awards
Chebucto Connections
Chebucto Connections was honoured for its long-standing partnership through the Pathways to Education program, having hosted more than 140 students since 2019 and fostering impactful initiatives such as English language learning programs for newcomers to Halifax.
Chisholm Services for Children
Chisholm Services for Children was also recognized for its mentorship and support of students in child development and psychology, offering inclusive placement experiences and pathways to employment while prioritizing student wellbeing and accessibility.
