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Dhillon Centre Student Triumph Award Winners Announced
The Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics at UBC Sauder is pleased to announce the winners of its 2023 Triumph Award. The award is provided by the Dhillon Centre annually for undergraduate UBC Sauder students who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ and considers community contributions and leadership, barriers faced, and potential impact of receiving the award.
Dhillon Centre Student Triumph Award Winners
Gongning Ma (they/she)
Raised in a small conservative town in China, Gongning Ma now stands as one of the few trans students within UBC Sauder. Gongning uses their prior experiences to foster equity, diversity, and inclusion at Sauder through their work as an Equity Advisor in the CUS. Gongning's diverse involvement as a trans activist, public speaker, and drag queen artist highlights their commitment to advocating for 2SLGBTQIA+ visibility and empowerment. Gongning's resilience and determination are evident through groundbreaking initiatives like spearheading the first EDI cross-faculty conference at UBC and instituting ongoing EDI training for CUS student leaders. Their efforts have substantially increased queer visibility, showcasing the first drag show and trans flag in a Sauder undergraduate event, positively impacting the community. Despite facing cultural and societal obstacles as a trans person, Gongning's pursuit of creating an inclusive environment and serving as a role model for marginalized individuals within the community remains unwavering.
Gavin Fung (he/him)
Gavin Fung, a determined and passionate individual, identifies as a cisgender gay man. Originating from Airdrie, Alberta, Gavin's journey reflects a commitment to amplifying 2SLGBTQIA+ representation within various communities. As a first-generation university student, Gavin has strived to create an inclusive environment for those who, like himself, have felt like outliers in different contexts. Through his diverse engagements at UBC, Gavin showcased strong leadership in advocating for 2SLGBTQIA+ perspectives. Despite societal judgment and facing challenges as a child of Chinese immigrants in a predominantly white and heterosexual environment, Gavin persisted in his advocacy and leadership roles.
A Third Winner
In addition to these two recipients, the Centre provided a third award to another outstanding Sauder student. Unfortunately the student has determined that announcing this award could “could affect my safety and future career prospects if I ever need to return back to my home country.” They noted it was “amazing that Sauder has these types of awards,” that they hoped to see more of such initiatives in the future, and that they were “extremely thankful” to receive the award. It is a very unfortunate reality that for many students transparency about their identity is not an option given fear of negative consequences ranging from career limitations to the threat of danger.
Congratulations and 2024 Applications
Congratulations to all three recipients who exemplify resilience, a track record of meaningful advocacy, and a deep commitment to fostering inclusivity within 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
Applications will open again next fall for those interested in applying. Please watch www.sauder.ubc.ca/dhilloncentre or contact christie.stephenson@sauder.ubc.ca for information.