Each year the Students’ Society of McGill University awards students and student groups who have dedicated themselves to improving life on campus. The Awards aim to recognize students, student groups and student-run events that have proven themselves to be outstanding. Completed applications for any of the Awards listed below must be submitted through this form by March 10, 2023 at 11:59pm. Late applications will not be accepted.
Feel free to contact Cat Williams, SSMU Vice-President (Internal Affairs), by email at internal@ssmu.ca or the SSMU Vice-Preside (University Affairs) at ua@ssmu.ca with any questions or concerns about SSMU Awards or about the application.
The Volunteer of the Year Award will be presented to an individual who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to SSMU activities, events, clubs, or campus groups. This person need not have been the coordinator of an undertaking, but should have played a consistently supportive role in its development. This person should not be an elected student leader, but rather a committed volunteer who does not have a mandate to do the task. Coordinators and elected student leaders should apply for Executive of the Year.
The Coordinator of the Year Award will be presented to a SSMU coordinator or commissioner who has demonstrated leadership and organizational skills, as well as innovation and creativity to ensure the success of their program or portfolio.
The Roma Nadeem Memorial Award will be presented to a Club, Service, Faculty Association, or Departmental Association Executive Member who has demonstrated leadership and innovation throughout their term, and who has gone above and beyond their duty to contribute to campus life for the members of their association or group.
The Lev Bukhman Councillor of the Year Award, named in honour of past SSMU executive and McGill donor Lev Bukhman, will be presented to a member of the Legislative Council who has had a constructive presence and contributed to a positive Council environment
The Fred Sagel Memorial Award for Senator of the Year is named in memory and honour of Fred Sagel, a former SSMU executive who went on to study at Oxford and work at the World Bank before being taken from us too early, at the young age of 26. The award will be presented to a SSMU Senator who is respected by their peers, a productive and diligent member of Senate, and a kind and caring person.
Group Awards
The Committee of the Year Award will recognize an SSMU committee which has made outstanding contributions throughout the year.
The SSMU Club of the Year Award will be presented to a club which has fostered a solid membership, which has demonstrated its organization to be capable of growth, and which has sought to have an impact on the McGill community and broader society. Special consideration will be given to clubs who have demonstrated growth and/or innovation in their quest to serve their constituents.
The SSMU Service of the Year Award will be presented to the SSMU service that has shown itself to be continually self-improving, and persistently serving the needs of students within SSMU, the McGill community at large, and Montreal.
The Publication of the Year Award will be presented to a campus publication demonstrating an outstanding quality of editorial content and presentation as well as the positive impact of the publication’s content on the SSMU student body.
The Executive Team of the Year Award will be presented to a Club, Service, Faculty Association, or Departmental Association Executive who have demonstrated leadership and innovation throughout their term. The award will honor the executive team that has worked to support teamwork among its constituents while striving to maintain a link with the larger McGill campus. The executive team will have demonstrated an ability to work within tough circumstances and to develop initiatives designed to inform, serve, and involve the students it represents.
The Community Building Group of the Year Award will be presented to a Student Group on campus that effectively created a space and environment through events and general activities for folks to connect with others, advocate, and find resources. The award will be presented to the group based on the resources offered, advocacy done and community building initiatives instigated by the group.
Events Awards
The In-Person Social Event of the Year Award will recognize an in-person activity sponsored by campus groups that benefited McGill and its students and was successful, either because of the cooperation it fostered, the interest it aroused, or the creativity and execution of the event.
The Virtual or Hybrid Social Event of the Year Award will recognize an online or hybrid activity sponsored by campus groups that benefited McGill and its students and was successful, either because of the cooperation it fostered, the interest it aroused, or the creativity and execution of the event.
The Charitable Event of the Year Award will recognize activities run by on-campus groups that are charitable in nature. The charity in question can be local or international, but must be (or be sponsored by) a SSMU recognized or internationally recognized club or group. Winner will be determined not only by funds raised, but with such factors as scope, interest and creativity.
The SSMU Funding Project of the Year Award will be presented to a project sponsored by the SSMU through the any of our existing funds (Ambassador Fund, Campus Life Fund, Club Fund, Environment Fund, Space Fund, Charity Fund and Equity Fund) that has shown itself to be a significant addition to campus life and of exceptional benefit to students. The winner will be chosen based on both the creativeness of the project, its success, and its ability to be sustainable.
General Awards
The SSMU Community Engagement Award will be presented to an individual, group or event that seeks to promote or improve the state of community engagement on campus. The award will look for nominees that have made a substantial positive impact on campus, the Montreal community and/or community engagement in general.
The Wallace Sealy Award for Health and Safety, named in honour of Wallace Sealy, SSMU’s Building Director and one of its longest-serving employees, will recognize an individual, group, or event that has contributed to a safer, healthier, and/or more accessible campus environment.
The Advocacy of the Year Award will be presented to an individual or group that has mobilized the McGill community around a specific issue. The award will look for nominees that have made substantial advocacy around social justice issues on and/or off-campus.
awards ceremony
The awards ceremony will be held on April 4, 2023 in the SSMU Ballroom. The top 3 nominees for each award will be invited with their team (or a guest) to an in-person semi-formal banquet in the SSMU University centre with free drink tickets and catering on April 4th. At the ceremony, we will be announcing the winners of each award.
Hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served, and coat check will be available. The Ballroom is wheelchair accessible. Please be advised that photos will be taken at the event and published on the SSMU social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), website, and/or promotional material. If you see a photo of yourself that you would like to have removed, please contact via the SSMU Facebook page at @ssmuaeum or email at communications@ssmu.ca.
SSMU Awards of Distinction
SSMU Awards of Distinction will also be conferred at this time. The SSMU Awards of Distinction are designed to recognize students who have demonstrated a combination of strengths in both extra-curricular activities and academics at McGill University. Scholarships valued at two thousand dollars each, will be awarded. To be eligible, a candidate must be an SSMU member who will have completed twelve credits during the current academic year and who is not graduating.
The deadline to submit is March 27th at 11:59pm.
If you have any questions please contact the Funding Commissioners at fundcom@ssmu.ca.
