Award Recipients

Kavelle Maharaj’s nomination exemplifies Humber’s core values of Courage, Innovation, Equity, Health and Well-Being and Sustainability through the committees she participates in, the events and projects she organizes and promotes and through her daily work and interactions with staff, students, clients and community partners. Kavelle initiates collaboration with various equity facing departments including Indigenous Education and Engagement, the BASE and the LGTBQ+ Resource Centre to create, organize and promote activities and events. ​

As the Events Coordinator and Community Liaison, Kavelle’s work over the past 5 years has had a meaningful and positive impact on students, staff and stakeholders across the College community, both internal and external to Humber. This nomination recognizes her professionalism, enthusiasm and dedication to her role, which has significantly contributed to Humber’s mission and strategic direction.​

Kavelle is a natural leader who consistently demonstrates that she is not only a strong mentor for students, volunteers and interns, but that she is a strong mentor to her peers. She brings enthusiasm and spirit when promoting a healthy work environment and overall wellness across the Lakeshore Community creating a positive and inclusive campus positively affecting the staff and the students, and community partners.​

As the Student Support Advisor in the Academic Upgrading Program, Marlyn goes ‘above and beyond’ to ensure that the program is recognized as a pathway program to other college-level programs. Marlyn consistently demonstrates an innovative and enthusiastic approach to her role as a student support advisor. She believes that the quality of advising, if done at the appropriate time, is an important driving force for student success. ​

Marlyn sees every interaction with a student as an opportunity to build a successful advising relationship. Her open-door approach to advising students allows for avenues for students to discuss their difficulties. She takes this opportunity to refer them to other areas within the college to get the support and guidance they need. Marlyn initiates partnerships internally and externally, lobbying wherever possible for various student initiatives. ​

Marlyn is keen to develop professionally. She actively seeks out opportunities to gain new job skills and education. Currently, she is working on a certificate in Academic and Career Advising from the University of Calgary. She has earned a Post-Grad Certificate in Learning Disabilities Specialist (Learning Strategies) from Cambrian College, an Appreciative Advising Certificate from the Florida Atlantic University and a Certificate in Student Affairs & Services with high Honours from Seneca College.​

Throughout his career with Humber, Thomas has demonstrated that he embodies values core to Humber’s mission – a commitment to equity, courage to embrace and help a newcomer who may face challenges in finding their way in a new country, and a selflessness to share his social and professional “capital” with others while consistently demonstrating an innovative approach, a values-based commitment to students and the community at large. ​

Thomas’ commitment to Humber began when he joined Humber in 2012 as an international student in the Global Business Management program. Since graduation and starting with Humber, his expertise has seen him contribute meaningfully to cross-college committees, and external networks in addition to the work he does to support Community Outreach and Workforce Development’s (COWD) growing impact and workforce development success. His willingness to learn new strategies and techniques have kept his division current and effective in reaching intended audiences. Thomas employs a well rounded skill-set pairing technique expertise in web and social media marketing with superior research, writing and editing capabilities with an over arching ability to work well with others and a demeanor making it ‘look so easy’. ​

His perspective and experience is valued to support equity seeking groups who face barriers to education, training and the workforce. Finally, his patience and ability to ‘deliver’ is greatly valued in the fast-moving, high impact environment of COWD and the community / industry partners. ​

The Bioscience Lab Team is uniquely situated within the Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellness as they facilitate labs within nine different programs as well as with external partners from community outreach to secondary schools and ORNGE air ambulance services. This small team has consistently worked to better their own skills and support their peers, with the ultimate goal of improving Humber students’ learning experiences. ​

​Since the opening of the new anatomy, physiology and cadaver labs in 2015, the Bioscience Lab Team has created a state-of-the-art learning environment that is second to none. With the development of such tools as dissection videos and 3D rotational images, this team has maximized student learning in challenging subjects. Most recently, this team has created virtual anatomy and physiology labs that ensure students continue to gain the knowledge they need during the COVID crisis. ​

​In addition, Humber is the only publicly-funded college in Ontario that houses cadavers and this team honours that privilege. This team maximizes the gift of body donation to Humber student learning and demonstrates great caring and respect for those that gave this gift. ​

​The Bioscience Lab Team are guided by a student centered approach that embodies the core values of innovation, health and wellbeing, equity and courage. ​

Simka is responsible for overseeing the day to day operations of the Contact Centre and the Welcome Desk in her role as a Contact Centre Co-ordinator. She provides leadership to 30-35 full and part-time Contract Centre Advisors who are measured against service level components, standards and targets. The advisors are responsible for responding to a very high volume of enquiries via telephone, email and in-person.​

​There are new staff consistently hired 3-4 times per year. Simka helps set the tone for a positive environment and consistently models enthusiasm and commitment to Humber. She seeks to continually improve the processes in her department helping to implement new ways of tracking advisor actions making the Contact Centre Advisors more accountable for reporting their daily numbers. She communicates well and manages implementations of new processes effectively. Simka manages, coaches and delivers feedback in a way that instills a desire among her team to continually strive toward the provision of exceptional service to students. She is admired by her team. ​

​Simka consistently demonstrates her commitment to life long learning and professional development by consistently engaging in various workshops and training. She had personally contributed and supported the United Way campaign by raising over $1500 since 2015 by selling Macedonian donuts that she bakes herself and sells to the College.