Student AffairsThe Ban Righ Foundation Spring Awards celebrate the achievements and determination of mature women students at Queen's. These awards, established by generous donors, honour the resilience, determination, and achievements of mature women students.
The Spring Celebration serves as a meaningful close to the academic year, offering a moment to reflect on the journeys and successes of those we support.
Spring Awards 2026
The Annual Ban Righ Foundation 2026 Spring Celebration was held on Saturday May 2, 2026 at Grant Hall.
We celebrated the achievements of 14 remarkable women students who were joined by their families, mentors, and friends, alongside donors, Ban Righ Foundation board members, staff, community supporters of the Ban Righ Centre, and many of our regular students.
Lauraine Darkwah - Elizabeth Wallace Bursary Award
Gil Angela Dela Cruz - Marian Catherine Webb Bursary Award
Chitralekha Rathore - Dorothy Matheson Parnell Bursary
Eman Elharmeel - Dorothy Matheson Parnell Bursary
Melkitue Fentie Melak - Barbara Paul Memorial Award
Antara Arif - Barbara Paul Prize
Fariha Tasnim Mitu - Barbara Schlafer Book Prize
Nicole Monague- Mildred Blackadder/Zonta Club Award
V.T. Nayani - Carole Kinnear Award
Joanna Lopez - Troup-Ballantyne Award
Kelly McElrea - Diane McKenzie Award
Julie Zwart - Diane McKenzie Award
Emily Stokman - The Janet Bilton-Holst Citation
Hebatalla Ouda - Molly Higginson Memorial Award
Spring Awards 2025
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
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 ³ÉÈË´óƬ 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 woman 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.
Established by friends and family in honour of Molly (Innes) Higginson, B.A. ‘66. Awarded to students who are enrolled in degree programs in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM). Preference will be given to students enrolled in Math or Computer Science.