Ten graduating St. Michael’s students have received top honours for their commitments to building community, spearheading inclusivity, and creating engagement through art. The students are the recipients of this year’s University of Toronto Student Leadership Awards, which recognize outstanding student leadership, volunteer service, and commitment to the university.
Recipients are nominated by staff, faculty, librarians and alumni from U of T’s faculties, colleges, campuses and Hart House. Of the 10 St. Mike’s winners, seven were nominated by St. Michael’s College, two by the Faculty of Arts & Science and one by Hart House.
Meet the student leaders whose contributions have made an impact:
Nejat Ahmed serves as St. Michael’s College Student Union’s (SMCSU) first Vice President of Equity. In this role, she advocates for equal access for all college students and has built an impressive portfolio that will set a precedent for those who follow.
As an extension of his Human Biology studies, Bay Bahri founded the Global Health Students’ Association, which serves as the primary contact between students and their Global Health programs, empowering his peers to access academic support, build community, and advance their academic and career goals.
Sariha Dewan demonstrated her commitment to enhancing first-year students’ experiences as a 2024 Orientation Coordinator. In this role she ensured students had a positive first impression of the St. Michael’s community.
Yusuf Durmus has made an impact on the St. Mike’s community by empowering students to drive meaningful change throughout his term as President of SMCSU. He is a welcoming presence on campus and quick to greet students and administrators alike.
Arib Hassam has championed 2SLGBTQ+ visibility on campus through his leadership role in Pride SMC. He currently serves as SMCSU’s VP of Community Life and works to build an inclusive and supportive culture at St. Michael’s.
As Co-Chair of the Hart House Literary & Library Committee, Helia Karami organizes events to connect students through storytelling and literature. She amplifies voices from marginalized, people of colour, and Indigenous groups when making selections for the social justice reading list and Indigenous book club.
As SMCSU Vice-President, Vaishu Koduri works tirelessly behind the scenes to bring student-led projects to fruition. She applies her organization and interpersonal skills to ensure these projects are a success.
Diana Radenko has made her mark as a storyteller working on various student publications, including as senior editor of St. Michael’s College Yearbook. At the University of Toronto’s Innovation Hub, she uses multimedia to create a documentary telling international students’ stories about life after graduation.
Rhea Raghunauth brings together campus and local communities by facilitating student volunteerism at hospitals and senior homes. As Co-Founder and Co-President of The Canadian Courage Project University of St. George Chapter, she led a book drive on campus to collect books to establish in-house libraries at local shelters.
As Executive Producer of the SMC Troubadours, Christina Shnaider promotes theatre on campus and provide more opportunities for students to get involved in the arts.
St. Michael’s will present the winners with their awards at a banquet hosted by SMCSU and the Office of the Dean of Students on March 14.
For more information about the Student Leadership Award and the 2025 recipients, visit University of Toronto Student Leadership Awards | University of Toronto Alumni.