Outstanding Student Leader Award

This award recognizes a current Queen’s student whose volunteerism and leadership has contributed in a positive way to one or more aspects of the Queen’s community in all its diversity and/or the broader Kingston community. This volunteer activity and leadership may include but is not limited to promotion of student and alumni connections. The student’s contribution(s) can be made in the year of nomination or over several years.

In 2022 the Queen's University Alumni Assocation (QUAA) renamed and adjusted the criteria for this award from the previous Outstanding Student Award. The QUAA respectfully acknowledges the past recipients of the Outstanding Student Award and looks forward to celebrating recipients under the new terms. 

Award eligibility and criteria

Candidates should be:

  • A current student of Queen’s University in a recognized degree, diploma or certificate program
  • Recognized by their peers as someone who is an inspiration to the Queen’s student community in all its diversity

2024 Recipient

Owen Crawford-Lem

  • Artsci'24

Owen Crawford-Lem smiling, wearing a white shirt and blue jacket

Owen Crawford-Lem recently completed his Bachelor of Arts Honours in Political Studies with a minor in Sociology. Most notably, he’s held the position of Queen’s rector since 2022. In this role, Owen served as a member of the Board of Trustees, advocating for his fellow students, and earning a reputation as a respected leader on campus. During his time as rector, Owen brought important student perspectives to conversations about the university’s future, chaired the Alma Mater Society (AMS) Housing Crisis Committee, and supported peers navigating unique and complex policy and procedural grievances.  

Between 2020 and 2022, Owen was a member of the Queen’s Student Alumni Association (QSAA), first as a giving ambassador, supporting a fundraising campaign for the Robert Sutherland – Harry Jerome Entrance Award, and then as the inaugural mentorship director. In this role, Owen created the QSAA’s first-ever mentorship program, connecting students with alumni and fostering meaningful professional and personal relationships. Owen has also served as the co-chair for the Queen’s Sustainability Conference, where he led a team of students in planning and delivering a dynamic on-line conference with over $3,000 in delegate prizes. 

Outside of Queen’s, Owen has been an active contributor with the Kingston United Way. He volunteered on the Community Investment Program Committee, where he reviewed funding requests from partner agencies, and served for one year on their Youth Homelessness Committee. Owen was also a participant in the 2022 United Way Day of Caring and helped bring a student perspective to the development of the organization’s 2023-2026 strategic plan.  

As a proud new Queen’s alumni, Owen hopes to continue mentoring the next generation of student leaders in the same manner he has so generously been supported by the Queen’s alumni community himself.