McGill students Elizabeth Sully and Mae J. Nam honoured by Forces AVENIR 2008

Two McGill students were honoured in the category “Personnalité 1er cycle” (“undergraduate personality”) at the annual Gala Forces AVENIR held last night in Montreal. Forces AVENIR, an initiative funded by the provincial and federal governments as well as business, aims to recognize, reward and promote the engagement of young people in projects that contribute to knowledge, community service and collective rights.

And the winners are:

Elizabeth Sully, who studies at the Faculty of Arts, was recognized for her efforts in the fight against AIDS. Aside from being a leader at the McGill Global Aids Coalition, she has travelled to Uganda and Kenya to participate in initiatives fighting the spread of the disease. She has also participated in seminars and volunteered with a number of anti-AIDS projects. "I don't simply have good intentions," she explains. "I believe I can have a positive impact on the world." Elizabeth plans to pursue her studies with a Master’s in Public Health.

Mae J. Nam, who studies at the Faculty of Law, was presented the award for her work with respect to defending the rights of marginalized groups, and her efforts in the fight against discrimination and violence against women. After overcoming her own hardships, she founded the Philippine Women's Centre of Quebec, an institution that engages in research, education, and advocacy. She has also participated in a number of human rights initiatives in Canada and abroad. “I'm not only proud to have overcome difficult challenges,” she says, “but also that this adversity has given me a vision and a passion in the quest for social justice.”

Congratulations to both winners!