Vanessa is a student at Western University, studying computer science and media, information and technoculture. She is a creative, community-oriented individual with strong technical and interpersonal skills. Her experiences span a range of fields, including roles as a team lead at McDonald’s, content collaborator at UpstartED, and most recently, global banking and markets summer intern at Scotiabank, Vanessa serves as senior analyst and IT director at BlackLeaf Capital, finance commissioner for the science students’ council, and vice-president of finance for the Nigerian students’ association at Western. In her spare time, she also loves cooking, gardening, art, and the outdoors.

Jacob is currently enrolled as a commerce student at the Smith School of Business where he chairs the commerce executive on orientation, and planned a first-year orientation for every incoming commerce student at Queen’s. Jacob serves as editor-in-chief of the Queen’s Business Review, where he supports and empowers young writers that critically dissect the world we live in; he also writes about topics ranging from politics to corporate strategy. Jacob pursues other passions such as mental health advocacy, finance, and governance through a variety of other on- and off-campus activities.

Rosalie is starting a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy at Université de Montréal. Over the last five years, she has worked as a caregiver for an elderly person. She promotes cross-cultural connection in her workplace in the form of Spanish translation. As a member of Université de Montréal’s theatre troupe, Rosalie took part in a play reading project. She also completed a three-month community internship in Guatemala, where she focused on the needs of the elderly, facilitated and organized group activities.

Gerardo is majoring in neuroscience for his undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia. For his Loran public policy summer, he worked as a program developer and coordinator at Alberta Neuroscience, applying and expanding his skills in the neuroscience community through policy, and outreach work. On campus, Gerardo stays involved as the treasurer for MealCare, a food rescue initiative, and volunteers with Project Mind to help address mental health struggles.

Steven is a software engineering student at the University of Waterloo. His hands-on experience includes building AI agent systems in San Francisco. He has also worked at a sports-tech startup, contributed to applied AI projects in Toronto, and led sports analytics for Waterloo’s varsity basketball team. Much of his work focuses on exploring how machines can help us remember better, connect deeper, and live more intentionally.

Max is currently studying gender, race, sexuality and social justice at the University of British Columbia. Outside of the lecture hall, he is also developing his skills in marketing and business. He is currently the marketing director of the on-campus thrift store and the brand partnerships coordinator for the largest student-run social enterprise on campus. He also continues to develop new programming for underprivileged youth in his hometown through his nonprofit Holidays For Hope.

Lily is pursuing a bachelor of applied science in materials engineering at the University of British Columbia. She spent one Loran summer working with the BC Society of Transition Houses as a tech-safety research intern, where she contributed to educational resources on technology-facilitated abuse and helped develop safety tools for survivors and families. On campus, Lily is a member of the UBC Thunderbird Aerospace team, where she supports materials selection and aerostructure design. She also volunteers at a student-run café and at the Gender Empowerment Store, helping provide gender affirming resources for students on campus. Outside of academics, Lily enjoys playing badminton, teaching tap dance classes, and staying active in creative and community-based spaces.

Muhaddisa is pursuing a BA in political science. As an advocate for refugee rights, Muhaddisa is the co-founder of Parastoo, an initiative empowering newcomers and refugees with access to educational resources. She spent one of her Loran summers working for an organization supporting women battling homelessness after surviving abuse, and another summer in Indonesia working with an organization training community health workers and pushing policy to battle impaired growth and development in children. She is an avid public speaker, youth delegate to the UN, and enjoys reading in her spare time.

Neila is pursuing a bachelor of pharmacology at McGill University. She serves as vice-president of the Algerian Students’ Association at McGill, where she helps organize events to foster connection and cultural exchange among North African students and allies. A published poet and member of the McGill poetry collective, she continues to explore literature and performance as tools for self-expression and social dialogue. Neila remains involved in youth mental health advocacy through the New Brunswick Youth Advisory Committee for Mental Health. She is also the creator of SalleZen, a wellness space initiative on campus supporting students facing mental health challenges.

Shreya is pursuing a B.Sc. in engineering physics at the University of British Columbia. She is a member of an engineering team that’s designing a satellite, as well as performing thermal simulation and integration testing. For her enterprise summer, Shreya worked at a startup predicting seed germination. She is also involved in planning the Intergenerational March for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at UBC.