She is 1 of 6 recipients recognized for her dedication to the field, community
Justice Studies student Alexia Velez is one of six recipients across Canada to receive a $2,500 scholarship from the Canadian Security Association (CANASA) – a testament to her commitment to the field, community involvement, leadership experience, and strong academics. CANASA is a not-for-profit national professional organization for security and safety professionals that provides industry advocacy and continuing education for members.
Going into her third year of the program in fall 2025, this scholarship will go toward Velez’ education at U of GH, which will bring her one step closer to living her dream of becoming a police officer.
“At the end of the day, I just want to help contribute to my community and make the community safer,” Velez said.
To be considered for a scholarship, applicants were required to submit answers to a questionnaire reflecting on their academic merits, community involvement, career goals, and more. When she found out her application was successful in landing her a scholarship, the first person she told was her mom in a moment of excitement. Furthermore, finding out she was one of six scholarship recipients (and one of two students to earn the scholarship) made her feel “incredibly honoured and grateful,” adding that having her efforts recognized and respected by an organization like CANASA felt “very rewarding.”
As a U of GH student and an active community member, Velez has been part of a plethora of initiatives at the University. Most recently, she became involved with the U of GH and Humber Polytechnic student union, elected to the 2025-2026 IGNITE board of directors. In this role, she said she’ll be advocating for improved mental health services for U of GH and Humber. She was previously a brand ambassador for IGNITE, too.
Velez also deeply cares about helping others and does this through her work with student-run group Spotlight for SickKids as a co-founder and Vice President. The group, which supports The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto (also known as SickKids), leads charitable initiatives that benefit the hospital, such as organizing a book drive for the children or a “comfort kit” drive collecting personal hygiene items and clothing for parents whose children are patients at the hospital. Additionally, Velez is an ambassador for not-for-profit organization Cam’s Kids, which supports children and youth who experience anxiety.
But that’s not all – her passion for the justice field is exemplified through her volunteer efforts with Crime Stoppers of Halton as a Community Engagement Coordinator. But this is just the beginning of her journey as a law enforcement professional, a role where she can make a difference in the community.
She hopes to soon become an auxiliary officer in the police force, eager to make the world a safer place.
Congratulations!
To learn more about the Justice Studies program, click here.