St. Mike’s came together to celebrate its brightest stars at the annual STAR (Student Leader Appreciation and Recognition) Night and Reception, held in Father Madden Hall on April 1. Honourees and guests gathered for a memorable evening recognizing outstanding student contributions to leadership, student life, athletics, academics, and service.
“Tonight is a celebration of you, your gifts, and your commitment to develop those gifts. You have made St. Mike’s proud,” said St. Mike’s President David Sylvester in his welcoming remarks.
The evening shone a spotlight on the recipients of the SMC Student Leadership Awards, recognizing non-graduating students who have gone above and beyond in areas including social justice, peer mentorship, mental and physical wellbeing, and student publications. This year’s recipients were Michelle Angelica Abolas, Elizabeth Amponsah, Lauren Daunt, Mysha Khan, Pik Yu Vanecia Lai, Arshad Nafis Saleh, Mackenzie Saleh, Alice Zhao, and Julia Jingyi Zhu.
The night also celebrated the seven St. Michael’s students named University of Toronto Student Leaders, recognized for their remarkable impact on the St. Michael’s community.
The winners of the SMC Undergraduate Research Colloquium, held in March, were also announced:
Best Lighting Talk
- From Victorian Detective to WWII Spy: The Cultural Adaptability of Sherlock Holmes
Samiha Akbhar
Best Posters
- Contested Seas: Authority, Morality, and Justice in the Early Modern Atlantic
Sharmeen Imran - The Intersection of Class Bias and Morality in the Criminalization of Irish Convict Women Transported to Australia
Sabrina McLennon - Sherlock Holmes: Weaponizing Logic for British National Identity
Katherine Rose
Best Presentations
- Witness Creation and Abet It: Alternative Printing in 1970s Toronto
Mayumi Ramos - Let There Be Light: Staging Outdoor Lighting in the York Plays
Vivian Zhi
Student Choice Awards
- Baby Steps in Game Theory: An Inside Scoop on Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location
Charlotte Yu - Optimizing a CO₂ Activation Assay to Quantify Host-Seeking Behavior in Anopheles Gambiae
Sarah Fidora
The St. Mike’s Athletic Intramural Awards rounded out the evening, with Eden Bloomer, George Thordarson, Ophelia Cheung, and the SMC Women’s Division 2 Soccer Team all taking home honours.
Attendees also had the chance to vote on the STAR Night Peer Award recipients whose guidance, energy and impact have made a meaningful difference in the St. Michael’s College community.