Two graduating Queen’s University students are the recipients of the $25,000 OceanPath Fellowship, providing them with the opportunity to pursue a community-focused experiential learning opportunity.

Nicole Townsend, who is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Psychology, will develop and run a youth leadership training program on the Muskrat Dam First Nation in Northern Ontario; Adam Beaudoin, who is receiving a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Kinesiology, will travel to the Cook Islands and work with health-care providers to develop a program to help reduce non-communicable disease through behavioural change.

“Queen’s is grateful to the Pathy Family Foundation for providing Adam, Nicole, and the other OceanPath Fellowship recipients, with support to help them foster sustainable and positive community-based change,” says Ann Tierney, Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs. “Experiential learning is an important part of the learning environment at Queen’s and across the higher education sector. The OceanPath Fellowship helps students transition from university to their careers by giving them a year-long experience through which they can apply what they’ve learned in the classroom and deepen their skills and knowledge.”

Ms. Townsend says she is looking forward to making a difference.

“The goal of the Samson Beardy Youth Leadership and After-School Program is to support youth mentors in developing leadership skills, self-efficacy, and opportunities for community engagement,” she says. “These mentors will be trained to design and run after-school programs for the reserve’s elementary school students to reinforce what they are learning in the classroom, and create as many pathways of skill development and expressive outlets as possible. An engaging program with cultural continuity can provide the opportunity for youth in Muskrat Dam feel more connected to their schools and believe that they can be positive change-makers within their community.”

Mr. Beaudoin will be implementting a motivational interview training program to assist clinicians in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, develop skills to support patients and improve patient health behaviours.

“I hope the program will help prevent or reduce complications of non-communicable diseases such as type-2 diabetes,” he says. “OceanPath is an incredible opportunity that allows me to follow my passions in global health and hopefully have a tangible community impact. The upcoming experience will facilitiate personal growth and provides Nicole and me with important information to help guide our transition into life after undergrad.”

The OceanPath Fellowship is a national initiative of the Pathy Family Foundation. Queen’s is one of four partner institutions. At Queen’s, the application process runs through the Queen’s University International Centre (QUIC).

“The OceanPath Fellowship allows students to travel anywhere in the world that their initiative leads them,” says QUIC Director Jyoti Kotecha. “It is a significant award that gives graduating students the opportunity to become active and effective change-makers.”

For more information, visit the QUIC OceanPath webpage.