2018 Award Recipients
As this academic year comes to an end, it is our pleasure to announce the recipients of The President’s Award for Excellence in Student Leadership. This award was established in 2008 to recognize exceptional students who have a record of academic achievement, consistently demonstrate leadership, and make significant contributions to our community.
Simei (Amy) Li, Doctor of Medicine
Simei (Amy) Li’s passion for building healthy communities has touched many lives on campus and beyond. Her work as a crisis line volunteer inspired her to co-found Outrun the Stigma—a mental health awareness initiative that now includes three cities and over 2,000 students. She also founded the Distress Centre on Campus club, which promotes early intervention in mental illness and educates students on resources. As a Student Union representative, Li created a peer mentorship program to help new students transition to university and, as Chair of the Government Affairs & Advocacy Committee for the Canadian Federation of Medical Students, she organized two provincial advocacy days.
In the community, Li co-founded the Brainiacs club to introduce children to neuroscience and other STEM topics. As a student clinician at Mosaic Refugee Clinic, she assisted physicians and helped refugees navigate the Canadian health care system. A dedicated student, Li has received two Alberta Innovates Health Solutions (AIHS) Summer Studentships for neuroscience research.