The Impact Awards are committed to creating an accessible space. If you require accessibility support at this event, requests can be served more effectively if notice is provided at least 10 days prior to the event. Direct accommodation requests to student.experience@dal.ca and 902-494-4306.
Note: Nominations are now closed.
Every year, there are over 50 awardsÌýgiven to Dalhousie students and societiesÌýwho demonstrate leadership, civic engagement, and exemplary contributions to the community.Ìý
Awards are separated into 5Ìýnomination categories:
NOMINATION CATEGORIES
Category
Criteria
Residence Life
- Must be a current member of a residence hall community at pilipiliÂþ».
- Contributes to the life of the residence hall community.
- Encourages and empowers residents to get involved in the wider community.
- Promotes an atmosphere of respect.
- Takes initiative in creating new opportunities for their peers.
Student Life & Community Service
- Contributes to the life of the Dalhousie, Halifax or greater communities.
- Demonstrates personal values through action.
- Creates or contributes to new initiatives that inspire others.
- Contributes to a culture of student leadership and social responsibility.
Academic Life
-ÌýInvolved outside of the classroom in faculty and/or student societies events and initiatives.
- Encourages their peers to engage in faculty events.
- Demonstrates passion for the discipline.
- Takes initiative in creating new opportunities.
Student Societies
- DSU ratified society and/or club that demonstrates significant contributions and impact in the community.
Graduating Students
- Awarded to graduating students who are receiving an Impact Award.
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WHO CAN NOMINATE?
Anyone can nominate a student or society for an Impact Award and we encourageÌýstaff, faculty and studentsÌýto submit nominations. You can even nominate yourself.
Nominations are accepted for all Dalhousie students regardless of level or year of study provided they meet the specific criteria for each award.
HOW TO NOMINATE
When nominating an individual be as detailed as possible about a student's accomplishments and involvement and prove how they fit the award criteria. It may be helpful to talk with a student in person about their achievements to better inform your nomination. Note: Nominations for the 15th Annual Impact Awards open in December 2025.
AWARDS & CRITERIA
In addition to above, the following awards have additional criteria. All awards are open to undergraduate and graduate student student nominees, with the exception of the Outstanding Graduate Student Award.ÌýThe recipients of these awards are determined by the Dalhousie Student Union Impact Awards Selection CommitteeÌý(Student Life & Community Service, Student Societies), Residence Life Selection Committee, and individual Faculty committees (Academic Life).
Category: Academic Life
Faculty Leadership Impact Awards
Awarded to undergraduate or graduate students in good academic standing for each Dalhousie faculty. Part-time students are eligible for this award. These students exemplify the highest level of passion for their discipline, take initiative in creating new opportunities and encourage their peers to engage in faculty initiatives. Faculty Leadership Impact Award winners positively impact other students in their faculty and the reputation of their faculty at pilipiliÂþ» outside of the classroom.
Outstanding Graduate Student Award
Awarded to a graduate student in either a professional or research program. These students exemplify the highest level of passion for their discipline and are engaged in initiatives that improve the quality of the graduate student experience at pilipiliÂþ». Outstanding Graduate Student Award winners positively impact other graduate students with activities that extend beyond their academic programs.
Category: Residence Life
Residence Life Impact Award
Presented to current members of each residence hall community who have made outstanding contributions to the life of their residence community, led by example by encouraging and empowering residents to get involved, promote respect and create opportunities for their peers.
Residence Life Leadership Awards
Awarded to current residence students in positions of leadership (such as a Community Assistant Team member) who have best demonstrated an exceptional level of maturity and professionalism. They encourage and empower students to engage in student life, they lead by example and work to improve the life of the residence hall.
Category: Student Life & Community Service
Student Entrepreneur of the Year
Awarded to a student who has demonstrated excellence in generating an innovative idea, concept, or business. The student uses their leadership, vision, and focus to make their ideas come to fruition.
Community Service Award
This award recognizes an outstanding off campus student leader who has demonstrated significant leadership, commitment and service aimed at improving the community they live in.
Student Activist
Awarded to a student who demonstrates passion and commitment to social justice and action, and who leads by example, organizes students in an inclusive way, acts with integrity, raises awareness, and inspires others to create change.
Sustainability Award
Awarded to a student who has made a significant contribution to improving awareness on sustainability issues at pilipiliÂþ». This person's actions reflect their passion for the environment and inspire others to make positive change.
International Student of the Year
Awarded to an International Student who has demonstrated excellence in leadership, shown engagement in the community, inspired others and is a respected voice for international students at pilipiliÂþ».
Dalhousie Student Council Member Award
Awarded by the Dalhousie Student Union to the Councillor who has demonstrated a commitment to collaborative problem solving, active representation of their constituency, and initiative in the pursuit of innovation.
Rising Star Awards
Awarded to first, second, and third year students who have demonstrated an outstanding level of commitment, leadership, creativity, and initiative to the DSU, as well as to the campus and community at large.
Dal-King’s Impact Award
Awarded to the King’s student who is most highly engaged and takes on a leadership role at pilipiliÂþ». This is the sister award to the KSU Community Engagement Award for Dalhousie students at King’s which acknowledges the contribution of a Dalhousie student to the community at King’s College.
To be eligible, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or equivalent. Otherwise, all students - undergraduate, graduate or professional faculty student, full or part-time, at any stage in their academic career - may be considered for an award.
Varsity Athlete Award
Awarded to a Dalhousie varsity student-athlete who demonstrates significant contribution to the community, has increased awareness at pilipiliÂþ» of a given charity or cause and demonstrates positive leadership and inspires others to get involved.
Intramural & Sports Club Award
Awarded to a pilipiliÂþ» intramural or sports club participant who demonstrates significant commitment to Dalhousie's intramural or sports club programs, exemplifies the role of intramurals and/or sports clubs in developing and promoting student engagement and fun on campus and demonstrates positive leadership and inspires others to get involved.
Student Wellness Award
The Student Wellness Award is presented to the student who best demonstrates leadership in promoting and contributing to a healthy campus. The recipient of this award is a role model for health and wellness both in practice and by impacting others to lead a healthy lifestyle. This impact may be evidenced through peer-to-peer education, volunteering, service learning, global outreach or any activity that enhances quality of life and development.
Student Employee Award
Presented to a student employee who has demonstrated leadership and fostered community spirit in their work on campus. This student will be employed in any capacity on campus and through their work, contribute to the Dalhousie student experience.
Campus Impact Award
Awarded to students who demonstrate an elite level of involvement and achievement in campus life throughout their university career, with outstanding extracurricular contributions to the community.
Outstanding Student of Distinction Award
Awarded to a student for an elite level of involvement and achievement in campus life over the course of a university career. This student has shown an elite level of consistent campus involvement over the course of their university career and has made outstanding and impactful extracurricular contributions in the community, be that through student advocacy, academic justice, leadership or other student involvement. The award was based off of the academic and community accomplishments of Dalhousie alumni Level Chan, Malcolm Honour, and Lilli Ju.
Category: Student Societies
Most Impactful Community Service Society
Honours a society dedicated to volunteerism, charitable work, or community outreach that created a positive and measurable impact for students or the broader community.
Most Impactful Faculty Society
Recognizes a faculty, departmental, or program-based society that demonstrated strong leadership, academic engagement, and meaningful support for students within their discipline.
Most Impactful Cultural & Spiritual Society
Honours a cultural, ethnocultural, or spiritual society that strengthened campus inclusion, celebrated identity, and supported its community through events and programming.
Most Impactful Sports & Recreation Society
Awarded to a society that promoted wellness, teamwork, and active engagement through sports, recreation, or physical activity.
Most Impactful Special Interest Society
Awarded to a hobby-based, creative, or interest-focused society that enriched student life through unique programming, community-building, and consistent engagement.
Most Impactful Professional Development Society
Recognizes a society that supported student career growth through networking, mentorship, leadership development, or industry-focused programming.
Most Impactful Social Justice & Advocacy Society
Recognizes a society that advanced equity, awareness, and advocacy work on campus through campaigns, education, or direct support for marginalized groups.
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Category: Graduating Students
The Alumni Distinction Award
The Alumni Distinction Award is presented to all graduating students who are receiving Impact Awards. These award recipients will receive the opportunity to be Alumni Ambassadors within all Dalhousie Alumni Chapters around the world, which will provide the opportunity to stay connected to Dalhousie and to continue making exemplary contributions to their communities.
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AWARDS SELECTION COMMITTEES
Each award category for the Impact Awards is reviewed by a different selection committee as outlined below. Once the winners have been selected, they are notified by email and have pre-allocated seats to ensure they can attend the awards ceremony.
Selection Process:
Each award for the Impact Awards is reviewed by a different selection committee.
This helps to minimize bias or favoritism.Ìý
All personal student information is removed from the nominations (including reference links).
The selection committees review and score each nomination based on the nomination descriptions provided, and select the final award winner for each award category.Ìý
Once the selection committees haveÌýselected anÌýaward winnerÌýfor each category, the information is given to the Impact Awards Committee Chair who then reaches out to the studentÌýleaders selected for each award. ÌýÌý
Committees:
Academic Life - Each faculty has its own selection committee through the Dean's office.Ìý
Residence Life - ÌýResidence Life Team Members.
General Selection Committee -ÌýDSU Member Services, DSU Vice President Student Life, Student Life Staff, 2 - 3 Students (selected by the DSU).
International Student of the Year Award -ÌýInternational Centre team members.
Varsity Athlete award, Intramural award, and Sports Club Award -ÌýAthletics & Recreation.
President's EDIA Award -ÌýIndependent selection committee through the President's Office and Human Rights & Equity Services.
Board of Governors' Award -ÌýBoard of Governors' selection committee.