Congratulating our 2026 Community Impact Scholarship recipients

Raised by a single mother who rebuilt their lives without a support network, Jaime learned early how profoundly one person’s kindness can matter. When Jaime was six, an anonymous donor arranged for a Salvation Army hamper to arrive during the family’s first Christmas on their own. Filled with food, winter coats and a few toys — including a torn pink koala bear — the hamper offered relief during an uncertain time and helped shape Jaime’s understanding of community support.

“That experience taught me that meaningful leadership is not about giving people a handout. It is about offering a hand up.”

For more than a decade, Jennifer Andrews has worked in child welfare and intimate partner violence services, bringing both frontline and leadership experience to her work supporting children and families. Throughout her career, she has seen firsthand how organizational structures, policies and access to resources can shape the experiences of children and families. These experiences have strengthened her commitment to collaboration, advocacy and creating systems that better respond to the needs of those they serve.

“This work reinforced that meaningful community impact does not come from individual intervention alone, but from systems that are intentionally designed to respond earlier, work collaboratively and reduce gaps in service.”

Catherine believes leadership matters most when it creates space for others to thrive. Service has never been separate from her career. It is central to who she is and to her dream of one day leading a non-profit organization.

“My aspiration is not simply to advance professionally, but to lead organizations that improve lives, strengthen communities and create opportunities for future generations.”

When members of Faiza’s Community Safety Team shared that they had experienced racism, Faiza listened and acted. They led the Culture Shift: Anti-Racism in Residence project at Dalhousie University, introducing new accountability measures and reporting structures. Faiza later developed more than 20 recommendations aimed at creating a more inclusive residence experience.

“My long-term career aspiration is to work in Equity and People & Culture leadership within higher education, where I can influence institutional policies, workplace practices, and organizational culture to create more equitable experiences for employees and students.”