Student AffairsThe Ban Righ Foundation Spring Awards celebrate the achievements and determination of mature women students at Queen's.
Spring Awards 2025
You are Invited!
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Join us for a special afternoon, celebrating the achievements of mature women students at Queen’s! The Ban Righ Foundation is hosting its annual Spring Celebration.
Date: Saturday, April 26th
Time: 2:00-4:00 PM (Doors open at 1:30 PM)
Location: Grant Hall, Queen’s University
It’s a time to come together - student award winners, their families and mentors, Ban Righ Centre staff and Foundation board members, donors, and members of the Queen’s and Kingston communities - to applaud the successes of mature women students at Queen’s University.
No registration required.
Light refreshments will be served.
Invite your friends, family, and colleagues to share in the joy of this feel-good event. Spread the word and help us celebrate the incredible women students.
Master of Ceremonies - Alex McDonald
- Alex McDonald is in her 2nd year MSc Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen's where she studies acquired genetic changes in the blood system and their relation to neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s Disease. She also work as a TA with fourth year students, and with individuals with Alzheimer’s in our Kingston community. To read Alex's story, check out our 2025 Winter Community Newsletter.
Performance by - Michelle en Rose
- Michelle en Rose is an award-winning Jazz and Pop singer. Enjoyed by audiences for her on-stage charm and smooth vocals, Michelle is passionate about sharing her love of music, fashion, and sustainability through her journey as an entertainer and songwriter. Michelle is currently based in Toronto, and completing her Master's degree in Arts Leadership, while dreaming up her next music release. For more information visit Michelle en Rose's website.
Reading by - Juliane Okot Bitek
- Juliane is an assistant professor in Black Studies, joint appointed in English and Gender Studies and a Ban Righ Foundation Board member. She is an award winning poet who has written 3 books of poetry, and earlier this year released her first novel, We, the Kindling. Visit Juliane's website to learn more about her.
Esther Odan-Egwurube - The Elizabeth Wallace Bursary
Monica Coral Young - The Marian Catherine Webb Bursary
Maryam Farwa - The Dorothy Matheson Parnell Bursary
Claire-Elizabeth Djaballah - The Dorothy Matheson Parnell Bursary
Tibeb Debele - The Barbara Paul Memorial Award
Janna Andre - The Barbara Paul Prize
Joanna Lopez - The Barbara Schlafer Book Prize
Desiree Moses - Mildred Blackadder/Zonta Club Award
Alanna Stuart - The Carole Kinnear Award
Pauline Irungu - Troup-Ballantyne Award
Birgit Umaigba - The Diane McKenzie Award
Daria Juudi-Hope - The Diane McKenzie Award
Alex McDonald - The Janet Bilton-Holst Citation
Spring Awards 2024
Faten Mitwasi - The Elizabeth Wallace Bursary
Upamdeep Kaur - The Marian Catherine Webb Bursary
Kelsey Osmond - The Dorothy Matheson Parnell Bursary
Clare Marion - The Dorothy Matheson Parnell Bursary
Marcie Costello - The Barbara Paul Memorial Award
Meena Durrani - The Barbara Paul Prize
Azin Mardani - The Barbara Schlafer Book Prize
Mahsa Fayaz Dastgerdi - The Barbara Schlafer Book Prize
Stephanie Wiatr - Mildred Blackadder/Zonta Club Award
Hayden Read - The Carole Kinnear Award
Maryam Farwa - Troup- Ballantyne Award
Alexandra McDonald - The Diane McKenzie Award
Delphine Ang - The Diane McKenzie Award
Shannon Marginson - The Janet Bilton-Holst Citation
Kristen Ritchie Photography
Awards & Descriptions
Established by the Queen's Women's Association (founded 1939 as the Faculty Women's Club) in honour of Elizabeth Wallace, wife of Queen's University Principal R.C. Wallace, to honour a student embarking on her academic journey in her first year/first degree.
Acknowledging the challenges associated with transitioning to a new environment and being away from all that is familiar, this award is intended for a student who is a newcomer to Canada, or is the daughter of a newcomer, and is over the age of 25 years.
Established by Dorothy Matheson Parnell, B.A., 1940, and awarded in acknowledgement of the challenges associated with working towards a degree while also singlehandedly parenting children. Preference given to a single mother.
Established in memory of Effie Barbara Paul (Paithouski), B.A. '74 (Carleton) by her son, N. Joseph Paithouski, B.A. '79, B.Sc. (Eng.) '80, and awarded to a student 25 years of age or older. This award is intended to assist a graduating student who combines academia and family or work responsibilities in finishing her degree.
Established in memory of Effie Barbara Paul (Paithouski) B.A. '74 (Carleton) by her son, N. Joseph Paithouski, B.A. '79, B.Sc. (Eng.) '80. The Prize is a beautiful medallion handcrafted by local goldsmith Kim Snyder and cast in sterling silver and 18 carat gold. It has been established to acknowledge and celebrate a graduating student who combines academics with family responsibilities and who has faced and overcome significant barriers. Please include personal and academic information and letters of support from faculty and colleagues from the university and/or the community.
Established by friends of the Ban Righ Centre, co-workers at Queen’s University and by Barb Schlafer’s family and friends, to honour the work Barb has done over the course of nearly thirty years at the Ban Righ Centre. This gift certificate to Novel Idea Bookstore is awarded to a female student who is studying at Queen’s University and who would benefit from an opportunity to extend her learning through reading.
Created to honour the volunteer work of Mildred Blackadder, this award was established by the Zonta Club of Kingston and is awarded (preferably) to an Indigenous student.
Established by J. Paul Kinnear, B.Com. 1963, in honour of his wife's graduation from the Faculty of Arts and Science in May 1998. Awarded to honour her persistence and dedication. Awarded to a woman who, after an interruption in her formal education, is beginning or returning to University studies. Preference will be given to a student completing a degree in Gender Studies.
A citation and monetary award given in the spirit of Janet Bilton- Holst to a woman who enriches the Ban Righ Centre by her presence, and contributes to the well-being of her fellow students.
Established by Diane McKenzie, B.N.Sc. 1964, MPA 1992, to honour Dr. Jean Hill, Dean of Nursing 1968-1977, and celebrate 2 determined women students with preference given to students in the School of Nursing.
Created by Mary Ballantyne to honour her parents who placed a high value on women’s education. It is intended for a woman in Health Sciences, who demonstrates academic merit.