Leadership
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OCAD U celebrates student leaders whose outstanding commitment to leadership, student life, advocacy, equity and wellness helps improve our campus community. We're proud to recognize student leadership and excellence beyond the classroom through several awards. Nominations are accepted from all members of the OCAD U community.
This award recognizes a student who courageously advocates for social justice and material change in defiance of structural and systemic inequality and the
The recipient is announced at OCAD U's annual Student Leadership Awards ceremony, is acknowledged with an award certificate, and receives a cash prize up to
OCAD U gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the OCAD Faculty Association (OCADFA) for this award.
Eligibility:
This award is open to:
- Part-time or full-time OCAD U undergraduate (BA, BDes, BFA) and graduate students (MA, MDes, MFA) who have been enrolled during the 2025-26 academic
year (May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026). - Elected members of the Board of Directors of the OCAD Student Union.
Criteria:
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- A commitment to social justice advocacy and/or activism either on or off campus.
- Working towards and/or involvement in building community efforts to promote economic and/or social justice and welfare.
- Engagement in public action emphasizing justice and respect in support of progressive change, including collective action.
- A record of addressing and defying systemic or structural barriers as a champion for others.
- Promotion of the cause of peace, freedom, decolonization, and human rights in the world, whether internationally or in Canada.
- Creative use of art and/or design to advocate against structural and systemic inequality.
Deadline: February 22, 2026, 11:45 p.m.
Submit a Nomination
Presented annually, this award acknowledges and recognizes an outstanding Peer Mentor who demonstrated dedication and excellence by applying their leadership
The recipient is announced at OCAD U's annual Student Leadership Awards ceremony, is acknowledged with an award certificate, and receives a cash prize up to
OCAD U gratefully acknowledges the generous support of OCAD U Alumni Relations for this award.
Eligibility:
This award is open to Peer Mentors who participated in the 2025-26 undergraduate Student Mentor Program.
Criteria:
The successful candidate demonstrates:
- An impactful approach to developing mentees’ confidence, personal growth, navigation and help-seeking or self-advocacy skills.
- Consistent, timely and informative communications with mentees.
- Appropriate referrals to student services and support offices as needed, such as Student Advising, Student Wellness, Financial Aid & Awards, a faculty office,
etc. - Encouragement to participate in the campus experience, such as joining activities and events, clubs, or other opportunities to meet others, develop a sense of
belonging and build relationships. - Leadership competencies such as emotional intelligence, community building, facilitation and collaboration.
Deadline: February 22, 2026, 11:45 p.m.
Submit a Nomination
This award acknowledges an outstanding student whose advocacy and leadership on campus promote and advance human rights, equity and social justice.
The recipient is announced at OCAD U's annual Student Leadership Awards ceremony, is acknowledged with an award certificate, and receives a cash prize up to
OCAD U gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the OCAD Student Union (OCADSU) and Office of the Vice-Provost, Students & International for this award.
Eligibility:
This award is open to:
- Part-time or full-time OCAD U undergraduate (BA, BDes, BFA) and graduate students (MA, MDes, MFA) who have been enrolled during the 2025-26 academic
year (May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026) - Elected members of the Board of Directors of the OCAD Student Union.
Criteria:
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Advocacy and leadership in promoting human rights, equity and social justice;
- Active and consistent commitment to attaining meaningful inclusion of students from systemically, structurally and historically marginalized communities by
identifying and addressing barriers and finding pathways to access for all students; - Consistent and/or impactful engagement in creating or supporting opportunities on- and off-campus to advance understanding and promote social change.
Deadline: February 22, 2026, 11:45 p.m.
Submit a Nomination
This award honours a recognized student group leader whose strategic vision, inclusive leadership, and mentorship deliver lasting impact for their group, its
The recipient is announced at OCAD U's annual Student Leadership Awards ceremony, is acknowledged with an award certificate, and receives a cash prize up to
OCAD U gratefully acknowledges the generous support of OCAD U Alumni Relations for this award.
Eligibility:
This award is open to registered leaders of approved 2025-26 student groups as per the Policy on the Recognition of Student Groups (https://www.ocadu.ca/about-
Criteria:
The successful candidate demonstrates:
- Strategic leadership competencies such as group goal setting; effective communication; creative confidence; critical thinking, group facilitation and
synthesizing; cultural humility and emotional intelligence; community building, collaboration and effective conflict resolution skills. - Commitment to inclusivity and equity by promoting accessible, welcoming activities, identifying and removing barriers, and encouraging engagement across a
wide range of perspectives and ideas. - Commitment to member growth, development, mentorship.
- Group governance, stewardship and succession planning.
Deadline: February 22, 2026, 11:45 p.m.
Submit a Nomination
This award recognizes an outstanding Indigenous student who has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills. Nominees will have actively participated in and
The recipient is announced at OCAD U's annual Student Leadership Awards ceremony, is acknowledged with an award certificate, and receives a cash prize up to
OCAD U gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Indigenous Student Centre for this award.
Eligibility:
This award is open to Indigenous part-time or full-time OCAD U undergraduate (BA, BDes, BFA) and graduate students (MA, MDes, MFA) who have been enrolled
Criteria:
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Commitment to building relationships within OCAD U's Indigenous student community;
- Advocacy and support for Indigenous OCAD U students;
- Initiative in developing and supporting opportunities for Indigenous students to create a positive student experience.
Deadline: February 22, 2026, 11:45 p.m.
Submit a Nomination
This award recognizes the outstanding contributions of student leaders across the university in a variety of contexts, including but not limited to representing
The recipient is announced at OCAD U's annual Student Leadership Awards ceremony, is acknowledged with an award certificate, and receives a cash prize up to
OCAD U gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Office of the President & Vice-Chancellor for this award.
Eligibility:
This award is open to:
- Part-time or full-time OCAD U undergraduate (BA, BDes, BFA) and graduate students (MA, MDes, MFA) who have been enrolled during the 2025-26 academic
year (May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026) - Elected members of the Board of Directors of the OCAD Student Union.
Criteria:
The successful candidate demonstrates:
- The ability to inspire and empower others, especially students, to get involved and engaged within the broader OCAD U community;
- A commitment to and passion for representing student perspectives in discussions of issues and decisions at the university;
- Commitment to an enriched sense of community among all members of the OCAD U community;
- Strategic leadership competencies such as effective communication; facilitation and synthesizing ideas to support solving challenges; cultural humility and
emotional intelligence; community building, collaboration and effective conflict resolution skills. - Creative confidence, critical thinking, and empathic, collegial approaches to problem-solving that support the advancement of the university and its
community, as a whole.
Deadline: February 22, 2026, 11:45 p.m.
Submit a Nomination
This award acknowledges the considerable contributions made by OCAD U student employees (monitors) towards the operations of the University by recognizing
The recipient is announced at OCAD U's annual Student Leadership Awards ceremony, is acknowledged with an award certificate, and receives a cash prize up to
OCAD U gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the OPSEU Local 576 and the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers for this award.
Eligibility:
This award is open to part-time or full-time OCAD U undergraduate (BA, BDes, BFA) and graduate students (MA, MDes, MFA) who have been employed at OCAD
Criteria:
The successful nominee will demonstrates:
- Exceptional commitment and enthusiasm for their role, demonstrating clear impact on University operations and service provision to the community;
- Commitment to and embodiment of at least one of the University's fundamental values and themes: equity, diversity and inclusion, entrepreneurship and
innovation, imagination and creativity, sustainability, wellness, health and safety, interdisciplinarity and collaboration; - Demonstrated dedication to self-improvement and skills development.
Deadline: February 22, 2026, 11:45 p.m.
Submit a Nomination
This award recognizes and celebrates an OCAD U student who demonstrates passion and commitment to promoting student wellness. With a collaborative and
The recipient is announced at OCAD U's annual Student Leadership Awards ceremony, is acknowledged with an award certificate, and receives a cash prize up to
OCAD U gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Office of the President & Vice-Chancellor for this award.
Eligibility:
This award is open to:
- Part-time or full-time OCAD U undergraduate (BA, BDes, BFA) and graduate students (MA, MDes, MFA) who have been enrolled during the 2025-26 academic
year (May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026) - Elected members of the Board of Directors of the OCAD Student Union.
Criteria:
The successful candidate may demonstrate some or all of the following:
- Commitment to supporting student well-being through health promotion initiatives, including mental health awareness, harm reduction, accessibility and
holistic well-being. Delivered in creative, culturally responsive and innovative ways that positively impact the OCAD U community. - Collaborative engagement across the wider OCADU community, this may include (but not limited to) peers, student groups, faculty, staff, campus services and
community partners. - Leadership in addressing stigma, barriers and inequities related to mental health, substance use, disability and/or overall wellness. Their work may reflect
harm reduction principles, accessibility, autonomy and/or collective care. - Meaningful contributions that build community, create brave and inclusive spaces, and inspire others to participate in wellness initiatives, such as peer
support, programming, events, education, advocacy, or creative projects.
Deadline: February 22, 2026, 11:45 p.m.
Submit a Nomination
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Before you begin a nomination
- Draft your nomination statement in advance with consideration to how your nominee demonstrates success according to the various criteria. This nomination statement can be emailed to campuslife@ocadu.ca as an addendum to the nomination form. Be sure to clearly identify the file with the nominee’s name.
- Review the Student Leadership Awards Scoring Rubric (applied to each criterion, for all awards).
- Take some time to gather specific details. Your nomination is enhanced with strong examples of activities and initiatives undertaken by your nominee that support their nomination.
- If there is a group of you nominating a candidate, work together. Please do not copy, paste and re-submit the same nomination as another person. Your candidate’s nomination will be greatly enhanced if you jointly compose and submit a single, well-considered and written nomination (all contributors may be listed as “the nominator”).
- Prepare support documents, such as examples of the nominee’s work that illustrate how they fulfill the criteria for the award, examples of projects, activities, publications or articles, testimonials from others who support the nomination, or other materials you feel would be relevant in supporting your nomination. Nomination statements and support documents clearly identified by name of the nominee can be emailed separately to campuslife@ocadu.ca.