University of Guelph-Humber

Competing against students from across the country, Emma Kelly, a third-year Justice Studies student at the University of Guelph Humber, has won the 2016 Canadian Criminal Justice Association Student Award. Created by the Canadian Criminal Justice Association (CCJA), a professional organization for workers in the criminal justice system, Emma’s award comes with a $1000 scholarship, membership in the CCJA and the publication of her submission in the association’s magazine, the Justice Report.

Thrilled by the win, Emma says she thinks it was the combination of her education, work and volunteer experience that led to her being chosen. To enter the competition, she had to submit a resume, academic transcripts and write an essay about how her education and extracurricular experiences connect to justice issues. 

“I wrote a lot about my time at UofGH, my experience in the working world and my interest in solving some of the problems facing criminal justice,” Emma says. “I want to make some positive steps for people in communities marginalized by that system so we can foster a climate of safety and inclusion.”

 In writing her essay, Emma was able to bring to bear the considerable experience she’s had in the world of justice. Her experience started when she was in high school and had a co-op placement with Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis, a community organization that works to end gendered violence. After her co-op, she continued as a volunteer and then an employee, working in public education to raise awareness about sexual and gendered violence. When she came to UofGH, Emma decided to do her second-year field placement with Innocence Canada, a group that strives to exonerate Canadians who have been wrongfully convicted of crimes. After her placement, she continued to volunteer with them too.

She says those experiences gave her a better understanding of how and why the justice system can let people down. “It’s important to be aware of the shortcomings in the justice system in order to address them in our work. Seeing those things first-hand was eye-opening. It’s really motivated me to do more work in that area.”

When Emma isn’t in class, she keeps busy with a long list of volunteer and co-curricular commitments. She’s a member of the Ignite Board of Directors, volunteers with Pride, is part of UofGH’s Law Society mooting team, Alpha Phi Sigma, the crime scene investigation team and has been an Agora Fellow for two years in a row.

She says that winning the CCJA award will not only help pay for her education, but also give her more exposure to the variety of careers available to a justice professional. While she’s not sure yet what career path she’ll take, Emma feels like she has a firm foundation for what comes next.

“So many social issues intersect with justice, so studying with a criminal justice lens gives you a really broad perspective,” she says. “Making a positive impact on them doesn’t just change the justice system, it affects all parts of society.”

Learn more about Justice Studies at the University of Guelph-Humber.