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By Hollie Knapp-Fisher, Communications Intern

Five students recently received the Agnes Benidickson Tricolour Award, the highest tribute paid to a student for their distinguished non-athletic, non-academic, extra-curricular service to the Queen’s community.

Tricolour Award recipients Mark Asfar, Isabelle Duchaine, Digvijay Mehra, Jessica Searle, Naheed Yaqubian (left to right) listen as their citations are read by Rector Nick Francis during the award ceremony.

“It is an incredible honour to even be nominated for something like this,” says Naheed Yaqubian, award recipient and founder of the Law Student Society of Ontario. “But actually receiving the award… it leaves me speechless.”

Mark Asfar (Artsci’14), Isabelle Duchaine (Artsci’14), Digvijay Mehra (Artsci’14) and Jessica Searle (Nsc’14) joined Ms. Yaqubian as the other Tricolour Society inductees.

Historically, the Tricolour Society has never formally gathered and recipients were only formally recognized upon the reception of their award at convocation. This year, under the leadership of Rector Nick Francis (Artsci’14), the inaugural event was hosted at the new Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts. The unique celebration brought together members of the Tricolour Society, family and friends to welcome the new inductees to the society.

“The award is one of our greatest traditions as recipients are selected by their peers that collectively participate in a campus environment that encourages and rewards this type of exceptional extracurricular service. This event provides due recognition for these extraordinary students and an opportunity to meet fellow members of the prestigious Tricolour Society,” says Mr. Francis.

Principal Daniel Woolf praised the students and their contributions to the university.

“An event like this really represents the exceptional students that we have here at Queen’s,” says Principal Woolf. “It is a great opportunity to connect these students with the Tricolour Society, and we are so lucky to be able to host it in this brand new, beautiful Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts.”

“It is an incredible honour to even be nominated for something like this. But actually receiving the award… it leaves me speechless."

– Naheed Yaqubian

Kathleen Ramsay, daughter of the late Agnes Benidickson, attended the event and spoke of her mother’s enduring affinity for Queen’s.

“Of all the honors my mother received over her lifetime, the Tricolour Award was always the most important to her. She would have been so pleased and proud to have this award named after her.”

Tricolour Society member David Gordon (Sc’76, MPL’79) attended the celebration on March 20.

“I have so much respect for students who can carry the workload that these award recipients do. An event like this was really needed to recognize these students,” he says. “My best advice to the students is to stay connected with these alumni. You’re a student for a short time but an alumnus for a lifetime.”