U of A student earns prestigious Terry Fox Humanitarian Award
Youth recognized for countless hours of volunteer work
When Hassan Nawab’s mother was diagnosed with cancer last year, he decided the best course of action was to stay positive.
The 21-year-old University of Alberta student learned of his mother’s illness just as he was starting his second year of school. He decided to withdraw to help take care of her while she was in the hospital. While he took a break from his academics, he didn’t stop his volunteering work.
“Looking at things positively, even when you’re faced with a very negative event or something that’s hard for you or your family, ... is going to make you a lot more resilient,” he said. “It was very tough on me because my mom is very central to me growing up and being there in my life.”
Raised in Millingar, Ireland, Nawab and his family immigrated to Canada in 2010. While attending high school, Nawab gave back by serving on the student council. He also volunteered as a long-term nursing ambassador at the Misericordia Community Hospital and has spent hundreds of hours volunteering with the Canadian Blood Services and Habitat for Humanity. While at university, he founded an initiative to raise awareness about student mental health and decreasing stigma.
His dedication to giving back was acknowledged recently when he received the prestigious Terry Fox Humanitarian Award for exemplifying Terry Fox’s courage and determination over overcoming adversity while still doing humanitarian work.
The award, which is valued at up to $28,000, is granted to students who have demonstrated courage and determination through excellence in academics, athletics and civic life.
Nawab said he was in the library when he got the phone call that he received the award, and called it very humbling.
“It was pretty nice to hear that recognition and be recognized by everyone,” he said. “(Giving back) is something I believe in doing since high school. Now, being in university, being recognized for all those years of volunteering and the various activities I was in again was very humbling and very motivating.”
As for his mother, Nawab said doctors are currently monitoring the tumours and so far, she is doing well. He said she is going for scans every six months but it’s not clear yet if she will need further treatment. He said he feels even closer now to his mother and feels more grateful for all that she has done.
Nawab hopes to attend medical school and continue his work to improve the lives of others.