Award-winning student leaders

Celebrating student leadership

UTSLA recipients reflect on community and belonging at Innis

BY EMMA PAULUS (HBA ’22 INNIS)

SHIVANI BALDEO

The Innis community has given me a place to call home. I’ve never had a stable place to call home, but from my first day at Innis, student leaders welcomed me and made me feel like I belonged. As I got involved, I found new parts of Innis that made me feel even more included and appreciated. I was able to give back and hopefully create a place to call home for someone else.

NANA KOOMSON

I remember screaming “Innis is dynamite!” at orientation during my first year of university. I marvelled at the student leaders, and was in awe of how much they knew about the University and their willingness to lend a helping hand and a listening ear. I never imagined that the following year, I would still be screaming “Innis is dynamite!” but, this time, as a student leader myself.

JANET CHO

Innis provided me with many unforgettable, rewarding experiences. I am especially grateful for the opportunities to support different students through the WUSC Student Refugee Program over the four years of my undergraduate career. I cannot wait to apply the new set of skills that I have gained with the support of the Innis community to creating memorable experiences for others.

ELLA MA

As an international student, finding solid ground to stand on is the crucial first step in succeeding at U of T. For me, that was being part of the Innis community. Innis was a home away from home, and my circle of inspirational staff and peers taught me so much more than what could be learned in lectures and textbooks. The challenges that we overcame together made memories that will last a lifetime.

The Innis community has provided me with lifelong friends, memories I’ll cherish forever, and support through the highs and lows of university. Innis also provided me with invaluable opportunities to get involved and give back, contributing to the lives of students facing what I faced. Being part of this community meant that I had a strong foundation for personal development and success, and people to lean on and grow with.

MUKTI PATEL

Being part of the Innis community was a way for me to become a part of a family that exists much past my time at the University of Toronto. Innis offered me an opportunity to make meaningful and lasting connections, for which I will always be grateful.

EMMA PAULUS

Innis has been a second home to me for the past four years. It’s where I met most of my friends throughout undergrad, and where I had the opportunity to get involved in leadership roles. I am so grateful to the community for making me feel welcomed, and giving me somewhere on campus where I belonged.

University of Toronto Student Leadership Awards (UTSLA) recognize graduating student leaders demonstrating exemplary service and commitments to their communities within the University.

My first-year self would never have imagined the impact and influence the Innis community would have on me. Through my time in a variety of orientation activities and on the Innis College Council, I was able to make and nurture good relationships with both students and staff. My time at Innis has truly uplifted my university experience because of the sense of belonging the community gave me.

ANDREW YIN

Living off campus throughout my time at U of T, I had a home on campus at Innis. I loved the College’s informal vibe; the bright foyer with plenty of seating; the familyrun Innis Café; and the tremendous support I received from the Registrar’s Office staff. It’s easy to feel lost at U of T, especially while I was exploring my sexual and cultural identities, but I always felt at ease at Innis.

NANCY ZHAO

Being a part of the Innis community has meant growth, learning, and support. It was such a formative time—one that my first-year-student self could not have imagined, and that my post-graduation self is immensely thankful for. I’m grateful to everyone at Innis whom I met throughout the years and who has shaped my experience in so many great ways. I’ll always remember the feeling of togetherness that came along with being at Innis.