Incredible things are possible when Loran Scholars work together. Though Abygail Montague (‘21) and Vanessa Memeh (’23) attended high school in the same city, they crossed paths for the first time during a scholarship webinar, where Abygail’s testimony inspired Vanessa to apply for the Loran Award. Since then, they’ve strengthened their bond as fellow Scholars and peers at Western University in London, ON.
Currently, their collaborative efforts are focused on supporting students with the Black Students Association (BSA), where Vanessa is a finance coordinator and Abygail is completing a term as co-president. As a team, they have helped facilitate dozens of events and programs, including organizing Convergence, a coalition-building conference for BSAs across Ontario in collaboration with yet another Loran Scholar Sam Lowe (‘21) from Queen’s University earlier this month.
As the academic year comes to a close, we spoke with Abygail and Vanessa about the importance of building cross-generational connections, developing an authentic leadership style, and the shared values that guide their work. Read our conversation below.
Loran: How did you two meet?
Vanessa: The first time I met Aby was through a screen at a scholarship event in Grade 12. Aby was there and I remember being very inspired by her—that was one of my first introductions to her. I never really sought her out, but we connected a bit when I became a Loran Scholar, and then more so when I decided to come to Western. It’s been lovely getting to know her.
Abygail: I participated in a scholarship event talking about the opportunities and community I’ve gained through Loran. We’re both from Hamilton; I remember being so happy to hear that somebody from Hamilton got the Loran Award. My sister was working at Vanessa’s school at the time, so getting to go to the celebration they had for her and introduce myself in person was super exciting. I’m glad I was able to bring Vanessa into the Black Students’ Association in a new role she’s excelling at.
Loran: Tell us about one achievement in your roles in the BSA you’re particularly proud of.
Vanessa: In my role as finance officer, because I’m first in the role, I’m defining it as I go. One of the things I really wanted to focus on is structuring the finances more strategically and developing a three-model system. That’s one thing I would say I’m proud of because it made the planning of events a lot more efficient.
Abygail: And her efforts are so important, especially when we are trying to ensure we have the financial capacity to provide a better Black experience for students on campus.
As co-president, I tend to like to be behind the scenes, and my counterpart takes on a lot more of the front-facing roles. I was the first lead on the Black History Month committee in my second year. I did my policy placement the summer prior, which I hadn’t known anything about. I think being in a new position allows for a lot of creativity, so I took those experiences and applied them to the role. It sparked something I remained passionate about coming into the co-president role: creating organizational structures that we can pass down. We introduced the Black History Month Council, a finance coordinator, and an internal coordinator, as well as two content creators where we’re able to use students’ talents and help them build their portfolio.
Loran: Why is it important to build community among Black students across generations and disciplines?
Vanessa: Representation matters. As someone who came here in 2018 from Nigeria, I quickly recognized the importance of having people who not only look like you but have the same goals and want to talk about the same issues; there’s really an unspoken aspect to community. It’s just a hub of amazing individuals gathered together to advance the social life of Black students on campus. I think the BSA not only acknowledges that, but represents it on a daily basis.
Abygail: Coming to university where you are more independent, a lot more support is needed, especially for students who don’t have as many people who look like them around them. Building space for Black students to come together, engaging with Black faculty and community members, being a touch point for high school students, and offering mentorships and special opportunities for cross-generational community-building is so important. The legacy that BSA has been able to build over its time here on the campus is something that my co-president and I want to keep doing in addition to introducing new initiatives so students know that they’re not alone here on campus.
Loran: How has your experience with the BSA helped develop your personal growth as a leader?
Vanessa: I never imagined I’d enjoy the nitty gritty of finance; it’s a field I never would have considered for myself. It’s also caused me to seek out more opportunities, which has yielded positive results. I’ve also gotten a lot of feedback that’s helped me learn about myself and my work style. It’s taught me to be meticulous, seek innovative solutions, and be quick on my feet. It’s really been a turning point.
Abygail: I’ve learned to be more honest with myself, as well as ask for honesty from others. In this position, it’s important to be curious about everyone on your team, not only from the perspective of their specific role, but also that understanding that everyone is a student. Getting to know people from a personal perspective and the relationship-building skills I’ve developed helped grow this community.
Loran: What shared experiences or values guide you when working with a fellow Scholar?
Abygail: The biggest thing is a shared understanding of leadership. Vanessa would definitely understand that my not being front-facing doesn’t mean that I’m not doing the work to make changes and be a leader. Knowing that there’s somebody there who also can see and recognize those things without me having to over-explain myself is super comforting. I also know I can rely on her to take and implement feedback, as well as give me feedback in a way that’s constructive to help me develop my leadership skills.
Loran: How do you envision yourself embodying character, service, and leadership as you continue your academic and career journey?
Vanessa: By just being curious. You can only embody good character, serve people, and be a great leader when you’re open with yourself and have genuine care for what you’re doing. I try to show a level of commitment in everything I do, academically or within BSA, and I hope to continue to do that.
Abygail: Some things I will be reminding myself as I move on from Western and this role with the BSA this year are to be curious, have grit, and stay humble. And to continue to serve others in whatever aspect that means—I don’t need to start something super big or have a really big title. Even the little things that I do through work or volunteering can make a meaningful change.