On behalf of the entire Loran community, we extend our congratulations to Rayene Bouzitoun (McCall MacBain Loran Scholar ’18) on becoming one of Canada’s newest Rhodes Scholars. Rayene was nominated by the University of Ottawa for the Québec constituency.
During her time in the Loran program studying law and international development at the University of Ottawa, Rayene contributed to research projects oriented towards Indigenous and International law. She undertook two international internships as a Loran Scholar, in Bahir Dhar and Tunis.She chaired and wrote for the Law and Diversity Journal on campus, a role where she stepped forward to work alongside peers and administrators to facilitate many challenging conversations on the topics of diversity and inclusion in the law faculty. She has also contributed her perspective to numerous youth initiatives including the Saint Michel Youth Forum and Prime Minister’s Youth Council, and maintained strong ties to community initiatives she helped to initiate as a Cegep student at Collège de Maisonneuve. Rayene is a thoughtful and intellectually curious leader with a deep commitment to inclusive and equitable communities.
Rayene shares,
“The Rhodes Scholarship will allow me to realize my wildest dream: studying at the University of Oxford. However, I’m most excited at the idea of joining leaders from all over the globe to improve our world. Nothing can be achieved alone. I would like to take advantage of this platform to express my profound gratitude to the Saint-Michel community which served as a unique role model for me. Thank you to the Loran Scholars Foundation for welcoming me into the amazing community that shaped my sense of service and purpose. I am also forever indebted to the various mentors, professors, and community members who further shaped my sense of purpose. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child, and it is with many villages alongside me that I have reached where I am today. I’m tremendously grateful, and I’ll work hard to make my people proud.”
Rayene is the 24th Loran Scholar to earn the Rhodes Scholarship over the last 28 years. While at Oxford, Rayene hopes to study for a Magister Juris. On behalf of the extended Loran community we wish Rayene all the best on this exciting new chapter of her educational journey.