Undergraduate students named MSU Honour M Award winners for contributions to McMaster community

Two McMaster students have been recognized for the impact they have had on our community through their extracurricular activities.

Undergraduate students Anika Anand and Alyssa Benitez are this year’s Honour M Award winners.

The award, which has been presented annually since 1932, is the highest award that the McMaster Students Union (MSU) bestows.

It is given to a McMaster undergraduate student in recognition of their outstanding leadership, volunteer service and/or the special contributions they have made to our community through extracurricular activities.

Anand and Benitez were presented the award by David Farrar, the president of McMaster, and Denver Della-Vedova, MSU president, at the MSU’s annual Student Recognition Night.

Meet this year’s Honour M Award winners: 

Anika Anand

Anika Anand, a fourth-year Bachelor of Health Sciences student, has put her passion for mental health, Indigenous health and social equality to work through numerous work and volunteer opportunities during her time at McMaster.

Anand, who is minoring in psychology, is the director of the McMaster Students Union (MSU) Student Health Education Centre (SHEC). SHEC is a peer-run health advocacy, connection, support and resource centre for McMaster students.

When Anand is not overseeing the operations of SHEC, its executive team and its volunteers, she is working as a lab technician in the Dukas Lab.

Anand’s lengthy volunteer experience includes working as a crisis responder for Kids Help Phone, assisting at a Hamilton homeless shelter, tutoring at a non-profit for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and serving as an executive member of the Indigenous Studies Students and Alumni Association.

Alyssa Benitez

Alyssa Benitez has been able has been able to share her passion for a healthy mind-body connection with many others during her time at McMaster.

The fourth-year kinesiology student, who works as a student field therapist at McMaster, has mentored many of her peers as a Kinesiology Welcome Week representative, a Kinesiology Mentorship Program coordinator and an Archway mentor.

She has also demonstrated leadership, taking on roles within the Kinesiology Society, Kinesiology Academic Affairs Council and has volunteered as a Science Student Ambassador.

Benitez has also volunteered her time as a reading tutor to children with learning disabilities and has written letters to seniors living in isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.