Please provide a brief summary of your paper/research.

I chose to submit my final term paper for a fourth-year seminar called Memory, Media, and Activism. In my piece, I explored how two prominent anti-Apartheid organizations in the Netherlands, namely Anti-apartheidsbeweging Nederland (AABN) and Boycot Outspan Aktie (BOA), employed memory politics to advocate against South Africa's system of institutionalized racism in the late twentieth century. In particular, I centred my analysis on both organizations' posters and the collective memories invoked within each.

What led to your interest in this area?

Over the past few years, I've become quite engaged in the realm of organizing and activism, with a particular interest in environmental sustainability and climate advocacy, and have had the opportunity to both volunteer with and work for a number of Canadian non-profits. More recently, I have also been digging into my Dutch heritage in order to connect more deeply with my relatives abroad, including learning more about the complexities of the country's history and the language itself. I thought it would be compelling to seek out a research topic that allowed me to combine, and learn more about, both of these areas of interest, and the paper ended up being so fascinating and motivating to write.

What prompted you to submit your paper to the competition?

I was largely encouraged to submit my paper to the Global Undergraduate Awards given how easy the submission process was. It was completely free, didn't require much information besides the paper itself, and had a really generous deadline. I honestly thought that there was no reason not to go for it, and I'm so grateful I did.

Can you describe how you felt when you found out you'd been selected as a winner?

Transparently, I was completely shocked when I received the email that I had been recognized in the Global Communications category, especially as a Global Winner! I actually received the news on the morning of my first day of graduate studies, which felt incredibly auspicious and definitely provided me with a good dose of motivation and confidence to tackle the new school year. Perhaps because the submission process was so straightforward, I really didn't expect that anything would ever come of it. I've definitely struggled with my fair share of imposter syndrome over the years, so seeing my name listed amongst so many other talented students and prestigious institutions was incredibly validating—definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience! I'm also so humbled to be joining such an inspiring roster of Western alumni who have been similarly recognized in the past.

What are your plans for the future – do you plan to continue in this field?

Since submitting my paper, I've only become more motivated to continue on in this field. I think that memory studies is such a fascinating realm of inquiry, which I would love to continue to pursue in the context of environmental and climate activism. I'm currently working towards a master's degree in Cultural Analysis and Social Theory at Wilfrid Laurier University, where I hope to have the opportunity to apply my background in media studies to explore these topics in more detail. After that, I would absolutely love the chance to move into working in the non-profit space, or continue my journey in academia.

Will you be attending the Global Summit in Dublin? If so, what are you most looking forward to there?

I'm so thrilled to have the chance to attend the upcoming summit in Dublin. I'm most looking forward to having the chance to connect with other students from across the globe. The different paper categories organized by the Global Undergraduate Awards are so diverse, and I would love to hear more about the work that was recognized from other awardees. Besides that, it's really incredible to have the opportunity to speak more about my own paper, and such a fantastic (albeit nerve-racking) experience for any future professional or academic pathways.

What do you think the benefit of programs like the Undergraduate Awards is for students?

I think that programs like the Global Undergraduate Awards offer such fantastic and well-needed recognition for undergraduate work, which typically remains confined to the classroom, as well as an opportunity to connect with global peers before the graduate level. Not to mention a great learning opportunity in terms of awards submissions and polishing your work for publication.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

I would really encourage everyone to take a look at the Global Undergraduate Awards and submit their work! It's such a quick and seamless process—there's really nothing to lose, and only a trip to Ireland and global recognition to gain.