Nominated by Student Services staff Sandra Gravel and Trudy Ste. Croix, Dawson student Kiera Robak received the Lieutenant Governor's Youth Medal at a ceremony on April 20.
The commendation recognizes sustained volunteer involvement or an inspiring and determined attitude with a positive influence on society.
Sandra and Trudy called Kiera "a dedicated student who has a passion for social justice" in their nomination: "She has accumulated over 300 hours of volunteering on campus at Dawson College, without compromising her academic success. She began her volunteering journey during Dawson's First Year Student Orientation Days in August 2022, despite being a first-year student herself.
"As part of the Law, Society and Justice program, Kiera is focused on intersectionality, civic responsibility, and critical thinking. It is in Kiera's nature to step up and help whenever it is needed with a real aptitude for teamwork.
"An avid environmentalist, she joined Sustainable Dawson and the Green Earth Club to educate herself about the impacts of climate change and to get involved. She is an active volunteer with the Blue Ring Society and a member of the Dawson Feminist Union. She volunteered for the fundraising event Artists in Bloom and spearheaded numerous other fundraising endeavours, such as working towards implementing the distribution of free menstrual products for Dawson students and running donation drives for the local homeless population.
"One of Kiera's most impressive projects was the Mahsa Amini Initiative, which she founded along with four other students. This trifold project focused on spreading awareness of global women's rights issues highlighted by the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran, fundraising over 15 thousand dollars to subsidize a scholarship for refugee and international students, and progressing toward the creation of an interactive student mentorship program. The project won the provincial Forces Avenir award in the category of Mutual Aid, Peace and Justice."
