Friday, March 27, 2026
Last night, OCAD University was pleased to honour the nominees and recipients of its 15th annual Student Leadership Awards at a dinner and ceremony at the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers.
The Student Leadership Awards mark an important moment each year to recognize the students who lead with purpose, creativity, and care at OCAD University. The program honours students whose contributions strengthen campus life, advance equity and wellness, and inspire positive change within the university community. Through peer, group, Indigenous, advocacy, and employment leadership, award recipients exemplify the values that help make OCAD U a better place. Congratulations to all of our 31 students who were nominated by their peers!
The celebration included a reading of the poem A Ritual to Read to Each Other by William E. Stafford by Charlie Sheldon of the OCAD U Drama Club, and a fantastic vegan meal catered by the OCAD Student Union Hot Lunch team.
The University thanks its longest serving peer mentors for their commitment to supporting new students. Arpit Nigam has served for six years, while Nancy Chen and Peter Brickell are recognized for serving four years. Bani, Shanti Clyke, Zenaida Desravines, Sina Labbaf, Arwen Muir Karaszewski, Sally Nguyen, Jay Saltanatkhah, Dani Salvatore, Gregory Welsch and Cindy Xue are celebrated for their three years of volunteerism as mentors.
This award, supported by Alumni Relations, recognizes a student group leader whose strategic vision, inclusive leadership, and mentorship deliver lasting impact for their group, its members, and the OCAD U community.
Nominees:
Congratulations to Aaryan Pashine, 100m Studio!
Aaryan is a student in the Graphic Design program in his final year. His nominators described his exceptional ability to bring people together through thoughtful, inclusive leadership, and of the care he consistently shows for the growth and wellbeing of his peers. They highlighted Aaryan’s role in leading collaborative projects and exhibitions, including co-curating an international student exhibition at Stackt Market, as well as his sustained mentorship of other students and his stewardship of 100m Studios. Aaryan’s nominators affirmed his leadership has strengthened student community, amplified diverse voices, and helped ensure the long-term sustainability of student-led initiatives.
This award, supported by the Office of the President, recognizes and 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 and empowers members of the OCAD U community.
Nominees:
Congratulations to Arwen Muir Karaszewski!
A student in the Illustration program, Arwen is recognized for their sustained commitment to peer wellness and community-building at OCAD U and beyond. They highlighted Arwen’s leadership in creating initiatives such as Project Hope, their trauma‑informed workshops and meditation sessions, and their role in shaping shared spaces like the OCAD U Student Living Room that foster connection and care. Arwen’s work as a peer mentor, community educator, and Climate 75 Fellow reflects a deeply empathetic approach to supporting student wellbeing.
This award, supported by OPSEU Local 576 and the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers, acknowledges the considerable contributions made by OCAD U student employees—also known as monitors—towards the operations of the University by recognizing student employee excellence, achievement, leadership and skills development.
Nominees:
Congratulations to the recipient, Sally Nguyen, Tour Guide in the Admissions & Recruitment office.
Sally is an Advertising student in her final year at OCAD U. Her nominators wrote of her exceptional leadership, warmth, and impact as a Tour Guide in Admissions & Recruitment. They highlighted her ability to foster trust and collaboration among her peers, her inclusive and engaging approach with prospective students and visitors, and her strong commitment to equity and accessibility—particularly her initiative in helping redesign campus tour routes to better support visitors with mobility needs. Through her communication skills, empathy, and dedication to continuous improvement, Sally has meaningfully strengthened both the visitor experience and the sense of community at OCAD University.
This award, supported by the 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, Interdisciplinary Master’s in Art Media & Design student Nadia McLaren!
Nadia is recognized for her community-centred leadership, generosity, and deep commitment to strengthening Indigenous knowledge and student experience at OCAD University. Nadia’s nominators highlighted the care and cultural integrity she brings to creating safe, welcoming spaces for learning, as well as her leadership in facilitating dialogue, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing grounded in respect, humility, and reciprocity. Through Nadia’s advocacy, teaching, and creative practice, she is described as someone who inspires confidence, connection, and meaningful engagement across the university community.
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 2026 Beautiful Trouble Award recipient, Jugraj (Jug) Singh Khinda!
Jug, a student in the Industrial Design program, was recognized by his nominators for his advocacy for student voices across nearly every level of university governance. Jug’s nominators highlighted his leadership in activating formal democratic mechanisms, including collective student mobilization, to ensure accountability and meaningful participation in institutional decision-making. Among his accomplishments, Jug’s nominators noted his effort to remove restrictive thesis prerequisites in Industrial Design, an initiative that expanded equitable pathways to graduation for his peers. Jug, your nominators described your work as courageous, deeply consultative, and rooted in a commitment to accountability, collective care, and meaningful structural change within the OCAD U community.
This award, supported by OCAD Student Union and the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students & International, acknowledges an outstanding student whose advocacy and leadership on campus promote and advance human rights, equity and social justice.
Nominees:
Congratulations to the recipient, Zaira Shariff!
Zaira, who is a student in the Drawing & Painting Program and currently holds the position of Executive Director of Diversity and Equity in the OCAD Student Union, is praised by her nominators for her transformative, empathetic leadership in rebuilding OCADSU and for employing a deeply collaborative approach to creating meaningful, equity‑centred opportunities for her peers. Her nominations cite her efforts to create a more visible, accessible and responsive Student Union, for restoring trust, and for empowering students to engage with governance, advocacy and campus initiatives. Examples of her work included coordinating Pride events, collaborating with the International Student Services Office on Cultural Day, supporting diverse student groups like Masc Block and the Muslim Student Association’s Ramadan gatherings, for expanding the Student Pantry and Community Fridge to support student food security, and for intentionally centring Black, Indigenous and People of Colour in drop-in and Black History Month programming.
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 recipient, Ines Tang!
Ines, who is a third-year Illustration student and Executive Director, Campaigns at the OCAD Student Union, was recognized by her nominators for her outstanding advocacy and community‑building leadership. Her nominations cited her leadership of the “More Sections, Smaller Sections” campaign and her success in engaging more than 900 students in meaningful dialogue about accessibility and class size. They also noted her work translating complex institutional and government policy—through initiatives such as student zines, surveys on generative AI, and advocacy around Bill 33 and OSAP—into clear, creative, and student‑focused action. Ines’s leadership was described as thoughtful, inclusive, and deeply trusted by the community she serves.
Congratulations to all 2025-26 nominees and 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.