Albert Lager Prize for Student Initiative 2017
For details about the MAA Awards Ceremony, please click here or contact Amber Stuckey, 905-525-9140 ext. 21908 or stuckey@mcmaster.ca
Saly Halawa
Health Sciences, year 4
Saly Halawa completed the Bachelor of Health Sciences Program with a minor in French. With her volunteer time, she served as an emergency first responder, taught first aid, was a Wellness Outreach volunteer with the Student Wellness Centre, and a peer support listener. Earlier this year, she coordinated a national competition for university campus response teams.
Saly helped first-year students adjust to university life by serving as a community advisor in McKay Hall and as a leadership developer for the Horizons Leadership Conference. She also worked as the interfaith coordinator for the MSU’s Diversity Services and conducted pedagogical research through McMaster’s Paul R. MacPherson Institute. As the sponsorship coordinator for McMaster Relay for Life, she played a key role in raising more than $74,000 for cancer research.
Natacha Ngo
Science, year 4
A first-generation university student, Natacha Ngo just completed her honours degree in Kinesiology. While she has maintained a strong off-campus volunteer agenda including service with St. Joseph’s Healthcare, The Hospital for Sick Children and Canadian Blood Services, Natacha has developed a strong community legacy on campus as well. A two-term elected member of the Student Representative Assembly (SRA) and her program’s caucus leader, she served on the President’s Advisory Committee on Building an Inclusive Community (PACBIC) and on the Race, Racialization and Racism (R3) working group, where she contributed to the creation of and provided feedback on many policies and University-run events. Natacha was also a student reviewer for the Research Ethics Board.
Kornelia Palczewski
Humanities, year 4
Kornelia Palczewski is entering her first year in the Masters of Child Life and Pediatric Psychosocial Care program, having completed her undergraduate studies in Nursing and French. She was a member of the Student Representative Assembly (SRA), a Nursing Welcome Week representative and a member of the McMaster Undergraduate Nursing Students Society executive. With the McMaster Students Union, Kornelia served as a leadership developer for both the CLAY and Horizons conferences and was on the executive of the Teaching Awards Committee.
Kornelia was the president of the Society of Off-Campus Students (SOCS), where she introduced the First Year Committee. She served as the chair of the Mental Health Committee at the Student Health Education Centre and she helped her fellow students in both Humanities and Nursing as a mentor, particularly through the Navy Network Humanities Mentorship Initiative.
Ryan Rogers
Mechanical Engineering and Management, year 5
Ryan Rogers, who recently graduated from Engineering and Management in Mechanical Engineering, supported his home faculty and fellow Engineering students by serving as a first-year representative, associate vice-president for clubs and sponsors, vice-president external and ultimately, president of the McMaster Engineering Society. He was also a Welcome Week representative and a member of the Welcome Week Committee. In 2014, he received the McMaster Engineering Society’s President’s Award.
Ryan has been a five-year member of the Hatch Centre Steering Committee and played a key role in infusing that important project with the students’ perspective. Ryan has also been a research assistant in the Thermal Management Research Laboratory and a teaching assistant for Engineering I.
Jordana Satok
Health Sciences, year 3
Jordana Satok has completed her third year of the Bachelor of Health Sciences program. A busy volunteer off campus at Dr. Davey Elementary School, Glenwood Day School and the Beasley Community Centre, Jordy has built a diverse on-campus volunteer resumé as well. She was a Residence Orientation representative who also participated in MacServe service learning experiences in Hamilton and Montréal. She was part of the Student Walk Home Attendant Team (SWHAT) and volunteered with the Student Health Education Centre. She served as a student success leader with the Wellness Outreach Committee and worked as a campus tour guide.
Jordy has also been a volunteer in a kinesiology lab where she helped recruit participants for exercise studies and she volunteered with the team at PACE, the McMaster Physical Activity Centre of Excellence, where she helped individuals with Multiple Sclerosis or spinal cord injuries.
