In all, five outstanding individuals were honoured with awards at the Black History Month Gala: Souls of Resistance, held at the Canadian Museum of History February 27.
And the student winners are…
Enora Touloute: BSAAC Student-Athlete Award
Enora, a fourth-year psychology student (BA), was granted this year’s award for exemplifying the holistic excellence of the student-athlete experience. As External Leader of the Gee-Gees women’s basketball team, she actively connected teammates to academic, career, and mental health resources while maintaining A+ grades and a high CGPA.
“Being recognized for my achievements in academics, athletics, and community service truly motivates me to keep going on this path. I hope to be a source of inspiration for the next generation.”
Enora Touloute
— Fourth-year psychology student (BA) student
Enora says one proud moment was organizing a small team initiative for World Mental Health Day, where teammates exchanged small and meaningful gifts to support each other’s well-being.
“It was a simple way to uplift the team’s mood, and it was great to see how we paid attention to one another. It reminded us how small, intentional actions can make a real difference. Another proud moment was helping a teammate with their CV. I shared a few tips and tricks on how to improve it and increase their chances of getting a corporate job. Within a month, they landed an interview and ended up getting the position! I was so happy for them.”
Enora also got the Gee-Gees team to cook food during the holidays for a homeless shelter called The Well, which provides services to women, children, and gender-diverse people.
Academically, she contributes to research and is pursuing an honours thesis on how mindfulness practices can improve the mental health of first-year students, under the supervision of Dr. Andra Smith.
Kareem Mukbil: Academic Excellence Award
Kareem is in his first year of psychology (BA) but he’s already distinguished himself through exceptional academic performance and early research engagement in the cognitive neuroscience of bilingualism.
“Receiving the Academic Excellence award so early in my academic journey affirms the goals and standards I set for myself prior to entering university.”
Kareem Mukbil
— First-year psychology (BA) student
“A proud moment this year has been applying my academic and technical skills to create a dedicated resource page at a community health centre, allowing patients to easily access invaluable information about the various resources they can find here in Ottawa. This project reflects my interest in using knowledge to influence communities,” says Kareem.
Kareem achieved a near-perfect GPA while contributing to advanced EEG and MRI research, experience rarely attained at this stage.
“At the Cognitive Neuroscience of Bilingualism Laboratory, established by Dr. Shanna Kousaie, I assist with EEG data collection and structural MRI data processing and analysis. My role includes supporting neuroimaging work to examine the relationship between bilingualism and cognitive function,” Kareem says.
Aishah Salim: Community Advocate Award
Aishah, a third-year conflict studies and human rights student, performed spoken word at the gala as she won the award for strengthening spaces of dialogue, belonging, and cultural expression across the University of Ottawa. Through her leadership with the Black Student Leaders Association and initiatives such as Blk Chats, she has created intentional forums where Black students can engage in meaningful conversations around identity, equity, and community care. By pairing artistic expression with sustained campus engagement, Aishah amplifies student voices and fosters a more inclusive campus.
“Community is a big part of who I am,” Aishah says. “The work that I do is always inspired by the people around me — my friends, my family, my mentors. I’m so grateful to receive the Community Advocate award because it means that just as much as my community shows up for me, I show up for them too. My community has believed in me even in moments when I didn’t fully believe in myself, so whenever I’m given the opportunity to stand up and be there for them, I take it.”
“I’m genuinely grateful to be recognized for something that means so much to me — community.”
Aishah Salim
— Third-year conflict studies and human rights student
Awards granted to other members of the uOttawa community:
Aboubacar Sidick Bademba Kaloga: Entrepreneurship Award
Aboubacar, a University of Ottawa marketing alumnus (B.Com ’25) is an entrepreneur who has built innovative sport and cultural platforms that connect communities across Ottawa. As co-founder of the Ottawa International Cup and founder of Put Ottawa on the Map, he has mobilized thousands of participants while creating tangible opportunities for local entrepreneurs and community partners. His work demonstrates a strong capacity to translate vision into scalable initiatives that generate both economic activity and meaningful community impact.
Simba Gumbo: Artist Recognition Award
Known artistically as Unknown DJ, Simba, a University of Ottawa marketing alumnus (B.Com ’23), is a rising creative whose work is gaining recognition within Ottawa’s music ecosystem and beyond. His recent performance on the internationally respected Boiler Room platform marks a significant professional milestone and reflects his growing artistic influence. Through his sound and presence, Simba contributes to expanding representation in electronic music while strengthening the visibility of Black artists in Canada and throughout the world.
Formerly known as the Black Excellence Gala, the event was started by the Black Student Athlete Advocacy Council (BSAAC) in 2021 to honour and celebrate Black culture. In the past few years, it was organized in partnership with the University of Ottawa’s vice-provost, equity, diversity and inclusive excellence, the Gee-Gees and the Student Affairs programming team. For the first time this year, the Black Student Leaders Association (BSLA) and the Racialized and Indigenous Student Experience (RISE) Centre, a service of the uOttawa Students’ Union, joined the gala as co-creators.
