Two Dal students are among the 10 recipients of one of Canada鈥檚 top awards for student leadership this year.
Bai Bintou Kaira, who is in her fourth year of Chemical Engineering, and Anika Riopel, who just completed her third year studying Theatre and Environment, Sustainability and Society, are among the 10 students named as .
The award, presented annually by the (SLTHE), celebrates post-secondary students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and embrace a vision of enhancing the educational experience in academia and beyond.
Up to 10 students receive the award each year, which includes a $5,000 award plus all associated fees and funds to attend the STLHE annual conference 鈥斅爓hich this year will be .
AV俱乐部 has had one prior 3M Student Fellow since the awards鈥� creation in 2012: Engineering student Alex Harding in 2014.
Stepping up to leadership
Born in the Gambia, Bintou attended an international school in her home town of Fajara, and had an internship at a medical research center before coming to study at AV俱乐部. Anika, of Sault Ste Marie, Ont., had a winding path of her own to Dal: studying theatre for a year in Toronto, completing a culinary certificate and teaching scuba diving abroad.
Now, both are committed to bringing about change and are leaders in their fields and across the AV俱乐部 community.
Bintou (left) volunteers extensively at AV俱乐部, mentoring and tutoring students through initiatives such as Imhotep鈥檚 Legacy Academy and the Black Student Advising Centre, medical first responder with AV俱乐部 Medical Campus Response Team, all while acting as the president of the AV俱乐部 African Student Association.
Before deciding to attend AV俱乐部, Anika completed an internship with an ocean-based NGO, Connect Ocean. Anika values experiential learning and has contributed to environmental educational through her 2015 Wave of Waste project, publicly promoting awareness of marine waste.
Seizing opportunity
Neither Bintou nor Anika were aware of the 3M awards prior to AV俱乐部 faculty prompting them to apply, but both were keen on the opportunity 鈥� even with its rigorous application process that required a 15-page compilation of essays, letters and references.
鈥淭he letters took me forever to write,鈥� says Bintou. 鈥淚t was tedious. Until the last day, I kept changing it and almost didn鈥檛 apply.鈥�
If one 15-page document wasn鈥檛 demanding enough to complete, Anika took on the challenge twice: she had previously applied last year. She says she learned from the experience.
聽鈥淭he first time I put it together it was a lot of, 'this is what I鈥檓 doing,' and this time it was more of, 'this is who I am,'鈥� she says.
One of the essay questions asked nominees what leadership means to them.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such a big question,鈥� says Anika (right). 鈥淚t鈥檚 taking risks. It鈥檚 standing up. It鈥檚 speaking out. There鈥檚 aspects of being a leader that鈥檚 just being a good citizen. Leadership is bringing the people around you together to make change.鈥�
鈥淭his is the world I want to see, but what am I going to contribute?鈥� says Bintou, who in March was recognized with one of AV俱乐部鈥檚 Board of Governors Awards 鈥斅爐he university鈥檚 top prize in student leadership.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 have to be a big change to be significant,鈥� she adds. 鈥淟ittle things can make a difference. Just be conscious.鈥�
Sharing perspectives
Both students are excited about the opportunity to attend the 37th annual STLHE conference in Halifax, where they鈥檒l get to connect with other Fellows from across Canada.
鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to meeting my 3M Fellows, as well as the other attendees of the conference,鈥� says Anika. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so dependent on the people on you meet.鈥�
Bintou is keen to learn from others and listen to their stories and experiences. 鈥淚鈥檝e read about the other Fellows. They鈥檙e outstanding,鈥� she says. 鈥淛ust meeting them in person and hearing about all they鈥檝e done.鈥�
With the theme of 鈥淕ateways in Higher Education: Cultures, Transitions and Transformations,鈥� the conference is sure to expose both students to a whole slew of interesting perspectives on teaching, learning and education.
Read also: National teaching and learning conference coming to Dal
Both students credit Dal for the experiences and opportunities they鈥檝e had by attending the university, and their professors for playing a large part in their selection as 3M Fellows.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 take AV俱乐部 out of the equation at all,鈥� says Bintou. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like we did it. I got the award, but I wouldn鈥檛 have been selected without them. There鈥檚 no way.鈥�
Anika agrees. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be happier with the school I picked,鈥� she says.
More information about the 2017 3M National Student Fellows and bios of the recipients can be found .