Beatrice Abiog is the 2026 recipient of the Michael Nightingale Community Enrichment Award
U of GH is a special place because of the people who make it a thriving community – people like Beatrice, who is graduating this year. That’s why she is the 2026 recipient of the Michael Nightingale Community Enrichment Award."
Kinesiology student Beatrice Abiog fondly recalled the time she inspired a high school student at a fall open house at the University of Guelph-Humber (U of GH), where she served as a student ambassador. She remembered meeting this bright-eyed yet uncertain student, who told her they were having trouble deciding which university to attend and whether to study kinesiology or psychology. In that moment, she swiftly grabbed her friend in the Psychology program and told the student to ask as many questions as they needed about each program.
“We’ll have a live debate!” she said, jokingly. But it wasn’t just amusing banter and valuable information that Beatrice provided this young student; she also offered heartfelt advice: choose the post-secondary school where you can truly envision yourself for four years and where you feel a genuine sense of belonging.
Later that academic year during the spring open house, that same student approached Beatrice and said to her that they ultimately decided to attend U of GH for the Kinesiology program, and attributed their decision to her reassuring advice. Beatrice had made an impact. And that’s exactly what Beatrice is known for doing – enriching the lives of others through making a difference.
U of GH is a special place because of the people who make it a thriving community – people like Beatrice, who is graduating this year. That’s why she is the 2026 recipient of the Michael Nightingale Community Enrichment Award. This award is given to a graduating student each year who has left a meaningful mark on the U of GH community and embodies Dr. Michael Nightingale’s (the University’s first vice-provost) commitment to enhancing the Guelph-Humber student experience. Nominated by Campus Registrar Grant Kerr, Beatrice received the honour alongside Dr. Nightingale at an awards ceremony in a moment she described as “surreal.”
She also received a Gold Medallion for Leadership Excellence for her significant leadership contributions to the Kinesiology program.
“Everyone just wants to feel a sense of belonging. And if I'm able to be that ally, support bringing them out of their comfort zone, to even be a small factor into that, I feel like that matters,” she said.
The start of giving back
Beatrice discovered her passion for being an active community member during her childhood. It began in grade eight when she volunteered at a retirement home, where she’d assist with activities for the elderly. Originally, she volunteered to earn her mandatory community service hours, but once she completed them, she continued to show up. A spark ignited within her; she enjoyed meeting new people, learning their stories, and making their days brighter.
Then in high school, she became involved in student council to foster an environment for her peers that was both a safe and fun space, she said.
And during her first retail job at a plus-sized clothing store for women, Beatrice did more than sell clothes; she helped women unlock their confidence.
“I’ve always wanted to help others. I feel like that's something that I've always grown up with, especially being the older sister,” Beatrice said.
Right from the start, her goal was to get involved and to serve others selflessly.
Active involvement in the Kinesiology program
Beatrice carried this spirit with her to U of GH, where she was always active within the Kinesiology program, in extracurriculars, and in the Guelph-Humber community.
She also volunteered at Science Rendezvous, which is a free community event held annually at U of GH to spark an interest in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) education for youth. Through her involvement in helping to run the event, she contributed to empowering the next generation of learners.
Her participation got her excited to take on more volunteer roles within the institution.
“It was always about being there, showing up, and being intentional with what I do to support others,” Beatrice said, recognizing the importance of contributing to a culture of belonging, inclusivity, and community. “At the end of the day, in order to create a puzzle, you need all the pieces – and each piece is different from each other.”
Throughout all four years, she’s been an active member of the student-run Kinesiology Society, taking a leadership role in her final year as the vice-president of communications. This society fosters learning outside the classroom through a variety of events and activities, and creates networking opportunities for students.
Becoming a leader at U of GH
Beatrice has been described as someone who is everywhere at Guelph-Humber.
It’s not just about the variety of roles she embraces as a work-study student – from answering questions in the recruitment office to aiding students with their tech issues in Academic & Campus Technology Services (ACTS) to working at the front desk of the Learning Commons; Beatrice is always around to assist.
Beatrice said she has loved supporting incoming students on their journey to Guelph-Humber. Being a student ambassador for the Kinesiology program has allowed her to meet high school students looking to begin their post-secondary journey. Sometimes, she even reconnected with them as a First Year Experience (FYE) leader, where she provided mentorship and guidance for new students.
“I see their journey from the very beginning, right out of high school, up until the very end when they finally come into the University,” she said.
Moreover, part of forging community is saying “yes” to new experiences with unfamiliar people. For Beatrice, that included broadening her horizons by joining the Soka Education Research Centre on Global Citizenship (SERC-GC) as a research assistant. Alongside director Dr. Paul Sherman and other research assistants, Beatrice contributed to collaborative research on peace education and nuclear disarmament.
Soka education is based on the principle of “creating value,” according to the late Japanese thought leader Daisaku Ikeda, founding president of Soka Gakkai International, which ties into what propels Beatrice.
“I was embodying a lot of principles that SERC-GC and Soka Education were already teaching – how to make yourself a better person or how to be mindful about creating value and how to share that with other people,” she said.
Beatrice continued, “A lot of my roles on campus are leadership positions. And I feel like I've always encapsulated that into what I wanted to do going forward.”
Coming full circle
Beatrice described receiving her award at the annual University of Guelph-Humber Awards Ceremony as a “full-circle moment,” reflecting on how one of the first academic events she volunteered at in her first year was the very ceremony where the Michael Nightingale Award was presented.
During the ceremony that uplifted and celebrated those recognized, students’ peers, families, and instructors cheered them on. Awards were given out for highest grades, leadership excellence, and outstanding achievement in placement.
“Community, to me, always meant being present in the given moment with whoever it is that you're with, trying to just be as involved as possible and really getting to know the people around you,” Beatrice said.
The Michael Nightingale Community Enrichment Award consists of a certificate of honour, a permanent plaque displayed in the University of Guelph-Humber building, and a cash prize of $1,000. To learn more about our graduation awards, click here.