The University of Calgary is proud to announce the Spring 2025 recipients of the President's Award for Excellence in Student Leadership. Established in 2008, this prestigious award recognizes graduating students who demonstrate exceptional leadership, academic excellence, and a lasting commitment to enriching our campus and broader communities.
This spring, four remarkable individuals; Seleem Badawy; Luis Armando Sanchez Diaz; Thomas Tri; and Kate Wong, are being recognized for their transformative impact, visionary leadership, and tireless advocacy. Read on to learn more about their inspiring journeys.
From left: Luis Armando Sanchez Diaz, Thomas Tri, Seleem Badawy and Kate Wong
Seleem Badawy
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in digital engineering
From biomedical breakthroughs to inclusive community building, Seleem Badawy's undergraduate journey is defined by visionary leadership, research excellence and a drive to elevate those around him.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the Schulich School of Engineering, with a Digital Engineering minor, Seleem has made an extraordinary impact; on campus, in Calgary, and on the global stage. He is a member of the Scholars Academy, a past Amgen Scholar at the University of Toronto and SickKids, and a research intern at Stanford University, where he contributed to international collaborations in cardiovascular and regenerative medicine.
His passion for science began in high school and evolved into a mission-driven focus on translational research, which connects discovery to real-world patient care.
Mentored by Dr. Kristina Rinker since Seleem was in grade 10, his work has spanned cardiovascular tissue engineering, breast cancer biology, and rare genetic disorders, earning him multiple publications, conference presentations, and awards, including two poster prizes at the 2025 Biomedical Engineering Society Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering conference.
At UCalgary, Seleem played a key role in shaping the new Biomedical Engineering (BME) undergraduate program. As VP Events for the Biomedical Engineering Student Society, he organized 12 high-impact events, led wellness and mentorship initiatives, and launched BME's first Engineering Week team.
Seleem was the only Canadian undergraduate on the Diversity Committee of the international Biomedical Engineering Society, where he organized global events on inclusion and mental health in STEM.
He co-founded Ascend Calgary, a youth-led initiative connecting students with Calgary's innovation ecosystem, and served as a fund manager with the the UCeed Haskayne Student Fund, Western Canada's first student-run university private equity fund. He has also participated in accelerator programs from the local to the national level.
For Seleem, leadership is grounded in community. "The most meaningful work is rarely done in isolation," he says. "Collaboration is what enables truly lasting impact." That belief has shaped his work in research, entrepreneurship and mentorship and continues to guide his next steps.
This fall, Seleem plans to attend Harvard-MIT's Medical Engineering and Medical Physics PhD Program in Health Sciences and Technology uniquely designed to bridge engineering and medicine.
As Seleem prepares to leave Calgary, he says, "I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunities I had here, at UCalgary and in the broader community. It's where I learned to lead, to innovate, and to care deeply about the people behind the problems we're trying to solve."
Luis Armando Sanchez Diaz
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Whether advocating for equity, mentoring international students, or leading faculty-wide transformation, Luis Armando Sanchez Diaz has left a lasting legacy of compassion, courage, and change at the University of Calgary.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science with minors in Security Studies and Law & Society, an embedded certificate in Pluralism and Global Citizenship, and co-op experience Luis consistently earned Dean's List standing while leading some of UCalgary's most impactful student initiatives.
His academic journey culminated in a capstone project on food sensitivity and food sovereignty, exploring equitable food systems through a justice-oriented lens.
As President of the Faculty of Arts Students' Association (FASA), Luis represented nearly 9,000 students and launched two major initiatives: the Leadership in the Arts Program and Associate Director roles. These efforts expanded professional development and led to FASA's largest organizational growth since its creation. As VP Academic, he introduced FASA's first queer networking night, authored a queer academic guide, and led the Arts Undergraduate Research Symposium, securing new funding to showcase student research.
A prolific writer and communicator, Luis has published over 75 articles in The Gauntlet, earning accolades including the Yacowar Scholarship and Most Prolific Writer award. He has shared his advocacy more broadly through features with CBC Radio, Global News, and the Canadian Press.
Beyond his campus leadership, Luis serves as a peer facilitator with Calgary Outlink, (Calgary's Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity) mentors incoming international and first-generation students, and has spoken at events exploring the intersection of faith and 2SLGBTQIA+ identity. His leadership is deeply grounded in lived experience.
"It's incredibly difficult to aspire to a position when you can't see yourself represented there," he says.
Luis has responded by becoming the visible, values-driven leader he once sought, creating spaces where all students feel seen, supported and celebrated. Across dozens of initiatives, he has also completed advanced training in conflict management, suicide prevention, and community harm reduction, reflecting his holistic approach to care and justice.
This fall, he will begin a Master of Public Policy at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, where he plans to shape inclusive, sustainability-focused policy.
Thomas Tri
Bachelor of Social Work with minors in global development studies and gender and sexuality studies
Graduating with a Bachelor of Social Work, with minors in Global Development Studies and Gender and Sexuality Studies and a certificate in Pluralism and Global Citizenship, Thomas Tri has distinguished himself as a bold advocate, award-winning scholar, and transformative leader.
Bridging research, community engagement, and social justice, he champions equity and inclusion, particularly for equity-deserving communities such as disabled individuals, LGBTQIA+ migrants, and newcomer youth.
Thomas has published seven peer-reviewed journal articles including four as first author and presented at 11 academic conferences, advancing critical scholarship on disability, sexuality, and migration. His research has real-world impact, and so does his leadership.
On campus, he served as Co-President of the Global Development Society, Director with the Sustainable Development Goals Alliance, and a member of the Students' Union Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Task Force, where he advocated for student engagement, sustainability, and food security.
As Student Lab Lead with the Disability and Sexuality Lab, he mentored junior students, helped secure a grant to co-develop sexual health resources with caregivers of autistic youth, and co-developed accessible knowledge tools like podcasts and infographics for service providers.
As Research Associate at The Immigrant Education Society, Centre for Immigrant Research, he also helped with the curation of an art exhibit at UCalgary's Little Gallery, amplifying the voices of LGBTQIA+ migrants, a project that drew media attention from CTV and Global News. At the Q Centre, he offers peer support and helps foster inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ students.
During his time in UCalgary's Scholars Academy, Thomas led a project close to his heart: an environmental scan of educational barriers facing newcomer youth in Calgary. "It's especially personal to me," he says, "as it addresses challenges we witnessed in our communities firsthand growing up in Northeast Calgary."
Initially developed for the Map the System competition, the initiative evolved into a full-scale community-engaged research project with two local non-profits. "It reminded me of the powerful potential that emerges when people come together to address a shared concern," he reflects. "[And] just as importantly, it reaffirmed the need to centre community perspectives in research."
Thomas serves as a Youth Advisor to Plan International Canada and the Canadian Council of Young Feminists, where he has helped shape policy recommendations presented at the UN and to the Government of Canada. Named one of the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation's Top 30 Under 30 and a McCall MacBain Regional Award recipient, Thomas is already making a lasting impact in academic, activist, and policy spaces.
Looking ahead, he plans to continue bridging research, advocacy, and community engagement through graduate studies supported by the Canada Graduate Scholarship. "I hope to deepen my commitment to community-based and participatory approaches that centre the voices of those most impacted by systems of exclusion, particularly around disability, migration and sexuality."
Kate Wong
PhD, Nursing
From leading UCalgary's Alumni Association to shaping national conversations in pediatric palliative care, Dr. Kate Wong exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose, compassion and vision.
Kate is graduating with a PhD from the Faculty of Nursing, where her research focus explores how children with serious illness communicate through art, metaphor and silence. Her scholarly impact has been recognized internationally and is rooted in over a decade of experience as a pediatric palliative care nurse. "What's most important to me is that my actions result in better'," says Kate. "I don't have to change the world, but I should [at least] strive to make it better."
She fast-tracked from a master's program into a PhD and successfully defended a dissertation deemed "worthy of international recognition."
Her research brings visibility to the inner experiences of children navigating life-shortening (i.e. terminal) illness and challenges traditional models of pediatric care. She credits the UCalgary community and especially her supervisor, Dr. Nancy Moules with supporting her growth.
"I remember walking out of her class as an undergraduate student and thinking, I want to be the next Nancy Moules,'" says Kate. "It was 14 years of continuous encouragement and support from Dr. Moules that helped me get to where I am today."
Kate's leadership has extended far beyond the classroom and bedside. As President and Chair of the UCalgary Alumni Association, she has led with a strong focus on equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, modernizing governance processes and expanding representation across age, background and geography. She also co-led the establishment of the Student Food Security Fund with Chancellor Jon Cornish, helping raise more than $24,000 in its first Giving Day campaign.
"We know UCalgary is a great place to start something,' but I know our campus community and alumni maintain that momentum to drive lasting change I'll always want to be a part of that," she says.
A committed mentor, Kate has supported Chancellor's Scholars, graduate peers, and undergraduate students pursuing volunteer and research opportunities in health and community service. Several of her former preceptor students now work alongside her as nurses in pediatric palliative care.
Her mentorship is characterized by care, encouragement and advocacy, the same qualities that define her teaching and clinical work.
In recognition of her transformative contributions as a scholar, nurse, and engaged alumna, Kate has recently been appointed Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Nursing. She continues to shape the future of nursing through her teaching, mentorship, and research, including a current study on how families navigate the transition from pediatric to adult palliative care, an emerging challenge for young adults with life-shortening illnesses.
As she looks ahead to this next chapter, Kate remains grounded in the values that have defined her journey: compassion, curiosity, and action. "If I don't show up, if I don't intentionally place myself in a position to act, I can't live my values."
