Herbert J. Hamilton Volunteer Service Award

Presented annually to an alumnus/alumna in recognition of volunteer service to the life and work of the Queen鈥檚 University Alumni Association (QUAA), either through short-term impactful involvement or long-term commitment.

Award Eligibility & Criteria

Candidates should be:

  • A Queen鈥檚 alumnus/alumna
  • A current or past volunteer within the Queen鈥檚 University Alumni Association. This could include any number of roles contributing to the QUAA mission to reach out and foster a lifelong association with Queen鈥檚, including but not limited to: the QUAA board, Branches, Reunions, and Chapters
  • Someone who has made a significant, peer-recognized contribution as an alumni volunteer to further engage our members in the life and work of the university

2026 Recipient

Elaine Wu

  • Artsci'98, MIR'00, Law'03

Elaine Wu smiling wearing a blue collared shirt, black jacket, with shoulder length black hair

Elaine Wu graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and went on to complete a joint Master of Industrial Relations and Laws degree at Queen鈥檚. As a student, she was actively engaged in campus life, working at the Queen鈥檚 Journal, serving as secretary-general of the Queen鈥檚 Model United Nations, and acting as finance director of the Queen鈥檚 International Affairs Association.

Following her graduation, Elaine has remained deeply engaged in the life and work of Queen鈥檚 through more than two decades of dedicated volunteer service, including a leadership role with the Queen鈥檚 Toronto Alumni Branch and serving on the Queen鈥檚 University Alumni Association Board working to advance the alumni awards program.

Throughout her 21 years of service, Elaine has been guided by a clear and consistent purpose: to foster meaningful connections between alumni and the university. Her leadership, creativity, and collaborative spirit have significantly enhanced alumni engagement and strengthened the sense of community among graduates.