Current students, faculty, and staff
At a dinner reception hosted by the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers on March 27, OCAD U honoured dozens of dedicated students who are creating strong communities, a sense of belonging, and engaging in meaningful advocacy and engagement towards constructive, material change.
The Student Leadership Awards invites nominations from the OCAD U community for a series of awards. This year, the University received 113 nominations for student leadership awards for 42 individual students -- more than twice as many as received in previous years, with three quarters of the nominations coming from students themselves. Congratulations everyone who was nominated and thank you to everyone who took the time to submit.
The celebration included a specially written and performed poem, called “For the good leader” by Creative Writing student Elliot Black, and a performance of Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell’s “Ain’t no mountain high enough” by O Cappella student group members Nazarri Najim, Mya Rojas and Aspen Dao.
The University thanks its longest serving peer mentors for their commitment to supporting new students. Arpit Nigamhas served for five years, while Efeaye Abu, Tasnimah Ahmed, Kelly Chen, Nancy Chen, Unity Chiu, Kelly La, Jamilah Lambert-Jackson, Vishwa Patel, Anna Petrosyan and Jay Saltanatkhah are celebrated for their three years of volunteerism as mentors.
Supported by Alumni Relations, these awards acknowledge Peer Mentors who have made outstanding contributions supporting new and first-year students with their transition to OCAD U, and helping build community.
Nominees:
Congratulations to award recipients Sreya Lizbeth and Jay Saltanatkhah!
Sreya’s nominator celebrated her welcoming and proactive approach, and described how she facilitated networking and skill-building opportunities, such as campus tours and invitations to film seminars. She made her mentees feel included and informed, sharing information about various events, clubs, and study spaces.
Jay’s nominators noted how they provided them with timely and useful advice for how to navigate the course catalogue during registration season, and for providing new students with resources, and opportunities to connect both online and in person, to create new relationships and friendships, including an invitation to a film festival and by making introductions among their peers.
This award is presented to a student group leader who excels, above and beyond, in their leadership role. Through facilitation and involvement, the leader demonstrates outstanding contributions, commitment and support to their group members and the OCAD U community.
Nominees:
Congratulations to Lily Li, President of the Student Association of Industrial Designers!
Lily’s many nominators spoke of her exceptional leadership and the incredible impact she’s had on the student community, and especially for the members of the Student Association of Industrial Designers. As the driving force behind the group, Lily has organized a wide range of events—from portfolio reviews and LinkedIn headshot sessions to study sessions, speaker series, and the Table Talk discussions—some of which have drawn over 80 attendees. Through her work, she has helped connect students with design professionals across tech, fashion, and service industries, creating valuable opportunities for mentorship and growth. Lily’s nominators cited her strong work ethic, punctuality, outstanding communication skills and ability to bring people together as key to elevating their experience as students.
This award, supported by the President’s office, celebrates an OCAD U student who demonstrates passion and commitment to promoting student wellness. With a collaborative and inspiring spirit, this student fosters inclusive, brave engagement, empowering the voices of students who identify as Indigenous, Black or people of colour, to support student wellness, build community, and encourage connection.
Nominees:
Congratulations to Aysia Tse!
A fourth-year student in Cross-Disciplinary Art: Life Studies, Aysia is a dedicated and impactful student leader, recognized for her exceptional contributions to and advocacy for student wellness, social justice, and mental health awareness. As a Peer Health Promoter, she has co-designed and delivered inclusive wellness programs, advocated for mental health resources, and developed protocols to support students in distress. Aysia's initiatives, such as the tiny cultural centre and various workshops, promote decolonial futures and community health. Her work integrates social justice knowledge, creating spaces for diverse people and perspectives, and fosters solidarity and wellness among her peers, in every sense of the word.
The Student Employee Excellence Award, supported by the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers and OPSEU Local 576, acknowledges the considerable contributions made by OCAD U student employees — also known as monitors — towards the operations of the University, by recognizing their employee excellence, achievement, leadership, and skills development.
Nominees:
Congratulations to the recipient, Vanessa Namseang, Student Monitor and Digital Futures Representative, Faculty of Arts & Science.
As a Digital Futures student representative for two years, Vanessa has actively engaged with both students and faculty, organizing feedback sessions to identify areas for improvement and inform curriculum changes. Vanessa’s advocacy for greater access to software, equipment, mentorship, and opportunities has ensured that all students—regardless of background or skill level—have the tools they need to succeed. Beyond that, Vanessa’s passion for emerging technologies, creative problem-solving, and interdisciplinary collaboration is noted as strengthening the program, fostering a more connected and innovative learning environment.
This award, supported by the OCAD U Indigenous Student Centre, recognizes an outstanding Indigenous student who has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills. Nominees will have actively participated in and contributed to the Indigenous student community at OCAD U, exemplifying a commitment to supporting its growth and development.
Congratulations to the recipient, third-year Indigenous Visual Culture student, Jordyn Hendricks!
Jordyn’s nominator praised their warmth, advocacy, and the support they bring to the Indigenous community at OCAD U. Their nominator shared how Jordyn always makes them feel like they always have a place here, and highlighted their contributions towards beading workshops, Two-Spirit committees, and tutoring sessions as reflective of their deep commitment to uplifting others. As a student monitor, Jordyn is a go-to resource for many Indigenous students, and is always sharing opportunities both on and off campus and inviting others to events in a way that feels welcoming and sincere.
Supported by OCAD Faculty Association, this award recognizes a student who courageously advocates for social justice and material change in defiance of structural and systemic inequality and the powers that uphold the status quo. This award recognizes changemakers’ activities on or off campus.
Nominees:
Congratulations to the 2025 Beautiful Trouble Award recipient, Aysia Tse!
Aysia is celebrated for her work advocating for meaningful student engagement in the delivery of the Mindful Campus Initiative. The selection committee noted how Aysia confronted the initial implementation of the program in a way that led to constructive, collective change. Her nominators cited such accomplishments as Aysia’s development and delivery of the Mindful Dumping Workshop, that brought students together to mindfully hand-make dumplings and discuss wellness over food and fellowship; her work as a student leader of the Shoes Off Collective collaborating with other campus organizations to hold a screening of the 1985 film Gaza Ghetto: Portrait of a Palestinian Family; her collaborations with South Korean artists to deliver programming around the installation of The Statue of a Girl for Peace that addressed the realities of Japan’s comfort women; and learning sessions and workshops collaborating with Indigenous communities among the many examples of Aysia’s “beautiful trouble.”
This award, supported by OCAD Student Union, Office of Diversity, Equity & Sustainability Initiatives and the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students & International, acknowledges an outstanding student whose advocacy and leadership promote and advance human rights, equity and social justice.
Congratulations to the 2025 recipient, Uzoma Ekpunobi!
A fourth-year Graphic Design student, Uzoma is a leader of the Almeda Black Student Collective, through which she has organized impactful events such as Black History Month exhibitions, student activities, and the Black OCAD U Homecoming celebration. Her nominators described her as fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity by actively addresses barriers for marginalized students, and by advocating for paid opportunities for artists, creating cross-cultural activities, and ensuring student involvement in school operations. Uzoma's consistent engagement in initiatives like the barbershop project and social networking events highlights her commitment to advancing understanding and promoting social change within the OCAD community.
This award, supported by Office of the President, aims to recognize the outstanding contributions of student leaders across the university in a variety of contexts, including but not limited to representing student perspectives in positions on OCAD U committees, working groups, task forces, governance bodies (such as the Senate or Board of Governors), or through publications, advocacy groups or the Student Union.
Nominees:
Congratulations to the 2025 recipient, Orus Mateo Castaño-Suárez!
Orus, who recently graduated from the Digital Futures Masters program, is recognized for their exceptional leadership in research, mentorship, and community-building. Through Orus’s work leading research initiatives, exhibitions, and events — especially within the School of Graduate Studies — they have created meaningful opportunities for students to engage and collaborate. As a co-founder of Collective 65, an artist incubator supporting retired Spanish-speaking photographers from underserved communities, Orus has demonstrated a deep commitment to inclusion and artistic empowerment. Orus’s dedication to mentoring graduate students, supporting undergraduates as a teaching assistant, and building fluid pathways for student engagement has left a lasting impact on the OCAD U community.
Congratulations to all nominees and 2024-25 award recipients. Thank you for all your contributions to the OCAD U campus community!
A very special thank you to all our selection committee members, presenters and award supporters, on behalf of the Campus Life office.