Bishop's University student Sonoma Brawley is a recipient of the prestigious 3M National Student Fellowship (2024), the highest national recognition of student educational leadership in Canada.
The 3M National Student Fellowship recognizes up to ten full-time students per year at Canadian post-secondary institutions who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their lives, at their post-secondary institution, and in their communities. These students embrace a vision of education that enhances their academic experience through leadership and community engagement.
Sonoma Brawley is a second-year student pursuing a BA in Music Performance with a Musical Theatre Concentration and English Minor at Bishop's University. Originally from Squamish, BC, she is a Chancellor's Excellence Scholar and recipient of Bishop's Exceptional Student Talent (B.E.S.T.) Fund that supports innovative experiential learning opportunities. Sonoma is also a Stephen A. Jarislowsky Student Fellow, a three-term Humanities Senator for the Student Representative Council, Junior Co-Captain of the competitive dance team, and Co-Lead of the Bishop's University Music Society.
Sonoma is being recognized for her transformative leadership as a research fellow for the Hope Circuits project, which seeks to re-wire universities for human flourishing, and for her contributions to the Online Learning Technology Consultant, a program that centers students in the design of 21st century classrooms.
In her dossier, Sonoma reflects on her journey as a student leader: "As a firstgeneration university student, the academic system seemed impenetrable and complex. Participating in the Hope Summits led by Dr. Jessica Riddell, my understanding of higher education frameworks expanded, and I realized that critical hope could rattle the cages to release new values and perspectives, and reinvent systems. Most importantly, I saw students as change agents and learners as hope in action. As a luminary, I hope to harness generativity to build meaningful change from the ground up by amplifying student voices."
Sonoma Brawley joins a stellar group of Bishop's students who have received this national recognition in recent years. Only ten fellowships are awarded each year from over 1.1 million eligible students attending Canadian post-secondary institutions, and Bishop's has welcomed eight student fellows in the past nine years, including Liam O'Toole (2023), Sufia Langevin (2022) Georges-Philippe Gadoury-Sansfaçon (2021), Maxim Jacques (2020), Ethan Pohl (2019), Théo Soucy (2018) and Jason Earl (2015).
Dr. Jessica Riddell, 3M National Teaching Fellow and professor at Bishop's University, nominated Sonoma for this award: "Sonoma is an exceptional student with a deep commitment to leadership, innovation, and advocacy, particularly in the field of humanities education. I have had the privilege of witnessing Sonoma's transformative journey and contributions to our academic community at Bishop's University and impact in the public sphere."
