The UNB Saint John Graduating Student Leadership Awards recognize students who have made outstanding voluntary extracurricular contributions to their academic program/department, or to UNB Saint John as a whole.
The awards program was created in 2005 by the UNB Associated Alumni to acknowledge and encourage student participation in university affairs. More than 350 alumni are now members of this exclusive group of ‘UNB Saint John Graduating Student Leaders'.
Tosin Abe is a leader on the field and across campus. Playing for the Seawolves men’s soccer team, Tosin served as captain for two seasons from 2022-2024. He’s volunteered for several initiatives within his faculty, and for orientation, and has held the positions of public relations officer and later vice president of the African Caribbean Society.
Leen BT has grown and honed her own leadership skills throughout her experiences at UNB Saint John. As current president of the Women in Business Society, she has led a number of events and initiatives motivating her fellow students. Outside of the society, Leen is an economics tutor and a proud volunteer with the Food Pantry and the Grad Class Committee.
Abdullah Al Sheikh Zein is a passionate leader in many corners of the campus community. Advocating for students’ rights, Abdullah is currently co-president of the Global Society and vice-president external of the Muslim Student Association. A member of five different SRC committees, they’ve also assisted with the restructuring of the Promise Partnership and initiated the idea of a volunteer transport fund.
Jennifer Burpee has used her experience in event coordination to engage fellow students at UNB. In addition to her volunteer efforts with the UNB Esports Society and the UNBSJ Women in Business Society, Jennifer has represented UNB on the national stage at a Marketing Case Competition.
Allison Cooke strives to be a leader who can help better the lives or experiences of those around her. At UNBSJ, she spearheaded a new club, Club 316, joined the Business Administration Society as their VP of special projects and served as the social media coordinator for the Women in Business Society this past year.
Angel Cote can be found in many corners of the university community. Since the beginning of her time on campus, she has volunteered her time as a tutor with the Promise Partnership, as a residence assistant and later head residence assistant, as an orientation volunteer and as the SRC’s first wellness coordinator. Most recently, Angel is the VP student life and the 2024 grad class coordinator.
Avery DeMerchant has been deeply engaged in the student community. She helped to restart the UNBSJ Global Brigades chapter, where she previously served as co-president and now as social media coordinator. She’s also volunteered her time as an orientation leader and as a teaching assistant in her department within the SASE faculty.
Kahlan Edwards has been involved in many aspects of campus life at UNB Saint John. Through their extracurricular roles as a peer note taker, head of the SafeRide program, a member of the Women in Business Society, and as the current VP finance and operations for the SRC, Kahlan has certainly contributed to student life.
Kylie Ellis is dedicated to fostering a sense of community on campus. Throughout her university career, she’s served as a mentor for the Promise Partnership, as an orientation volunteer and co-op program speaker, as members of both the UNBSJ Finance Committee and the Grad Class Committee, and as vice president and social media coordinator for the Women in Business Society.
Lydia Flanagan is an avid volunteer on campus and in the community. At UNB Saint John, she has served as director of communications of the Bachelor of Health Society, participated in a medical volunteer trip with the UNBSJ Global Brigades and helped raise money for the Terry Fox Run held on campus in 2023.
Walter Fuerniss is known for helping others and making positive change. Throughout his time at UNB, he re-founded the Business Administration Society in 2023, has served as an avid volunteer in his faculty, with the co-op program and within the residence community, and is currently the VP External for the SRC.
Emma Harper quickly became involved in student life during her first year of studies at UNB. She’s served in several roles on the Green Society, of which she has been president for the last two consecutive years, serves on the Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and is a proud volunteer with the Promise Partnership.
Hayden Hovey is a leader and advocate for equity and diversity. Throughout their time at UNBSJ, they advocated for policy changes to chosen name recognition, gender neutral bathroom access, accessible spaces, cultural spaces, and the rewriting of Research Ethics Board policies surrounding research with Indigenous communities.
Jack Fury-Miller has played a prevalent role in the athletics community at UNB Saint John. A dedicated four-year member of the Seawolves men’s basketball team, Jack was awarded three CCAA All Academic awards in recognition of his athletic and academic success. Off the court, he served as the secretary of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee this past year.
Manjot Kaur is passionate about creating a positive university experience for those around him and immersing himself in campus activities. An avid volunteer, he has served on the orientation committee, the events committee, the International Student Committee and the Global Society throughout his academic career.
Sungmok Lee exemplifies leadership on and off campus. In addition to their volunteer work as a digital art instructor in a senior care facility, Sungmok is also the founder and president of the UNBSJ Community Service Club. Executing a number of community service initiatives, Sungmok has inspired fellow students to engage in meaningful, local volunteer work.
Julianne MacCallum believes leadership is a continuous journey of growth and development – and she’s certainly proven just that. As captain of the Seawolves women’s soccer team, Julianne has excelled on the field and engaged in community events such as Think Pink and Bell Let's Talk. She also re-founded the UNBSJ Global Medical Brigades Chapter, leading a mission to Honduras.
Sarah Mahmood strives to support the community and important causes – and this is very evident in her numerous leadership and volunteer roles at UNB. Sarah has volunteered with the Promise Partnership, the SRC Breakfast Program, and the Science Society, and she has served as the EDI representative on the SRC, as treasurer of the Green Society and as co-chair of the Menstrual Health Society.
James Martin has been an incredible contributor to UNB. He has served as the only Indigenous peer mental health counsellor on campus, and has given his time as a volunteer for orientation week, the Saint John Indigenous Health Advisory Circle and the Wolastoqiyik Tribal Council midwinter gathering. Prominent in the residence community, James also advocated for establishing a smudging room.
Kaitlyn McIntosh has made significant contributions to the faculty of nursing. She’s served on the Nursing Society as both first year and second year representative, as well as the student representative on the curriculum committee, the Associate Dean of Health Research Review Committee and the Nursing and Health Sciences Chair Search Committee. On campus, Kaitlyn has volunteered with the Promise Partnership and the Grad Class Committee.
Andrene Mosher uses her voice to advocate for students. She served as the Mature Student Representative on the SRC and was later elected to the UNB Senate advocating for students’ abilities and strengths. As member of the Indigenous Healing Circle, she also helped further urban health initiatives for the local population.
Camryn Newlands has given back her time to several initiatives on campus. She is currently president of the Science Society, where she helped develop of a society blood donation team, the alternate faculty council student representative, a Let’s Talk Science outreach volunteer and an active member of the Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Tega Tiete has played a vital role in creating a vibrant and diverse community on campus. In the positions of vice president and subsequently as president of the African Caribbean Society, Tega has spearheaded numerous events and brought students together to celebrate diversity. As a campus leader, they’ve prioritized creating a welcoming environment for international students.
Rebecca White is well deserving of the Graduating Student Leadership Award. As the wellness coordinator with the SRC, she implemented and has helped maintain the Food Pantry fighting food insecurity on campus. Also serving as VP social for the Women in Business Society and as a Grad Class Committee member, Rebecca is helping to enhance student life through the organization of several social and professional events.
Emily Wheaton has left a positive impact on the university throughout her time as a student. She is co-founder and president of the Political Science Society, making meaningful contributions to the department, the faculty and the campus. She has also served as a Learning Communities leader and for the last two years has been editor-in-chief of UNBSJ’s independent student press, The Baron.
Madison Worth is passionate about building strong communities. Throughout her time at UNBSJ, she founded and served as president of the Science Society, as SASE representative on the SRC and as a mentor with Learning Communities. As current president of the Students’ Representative Council, her leadership has led to the creation of the UNBSJ Food Pantry, the weekly SRC Breakfast Program, the Discount Initiative and important student advocacy work.
