Every year, Queen’s alumni do remarkable things – from volunteering in their communities and championing equity and inclusion, to leading in their professions and making a global impact.
Now is your time to recognize them.
Nominations are open for the 2026 Queen’s University Alumni Association (QUAA) Gala Awards, which honour Queen’s grads who exemplify the spirit of the university through their achievements, leadership, and service.
Whether it’s a friend who’s spent decades giving back to their community, a classmate who’s driving change in their field, or a mentor who inspires others every day, this is your chance to help share their story.
The nomination window is open until Dec. 5, and nominations can be submitted via the Gala Awards web page.
For Julie Nixon Rentsch, Com’99, co-chair of the QUAA board’s recruitment and recognition committee, the Gala Awards are one of the best parts of being involved with the alumni association.
“Every year, we’re spoiled for choice,” says Nixon Rentsch, who joined the QUAA board in 2024. “There are so many wonderful stories that get told through this process. It’s never easy to select the winners, but it’s always incredibly rewarding.”
Nixon Rentsch helps manage everything from preparing the nomination materials to sitting on the selection committee. What makes a nomination stand out, she says, is a compelling story that clearly shows the impact of a nominee’s actions.
“It’s kind of like a game of show and tell,” she says. “A strong nomination doesn’t just tell us what someone has accomplished – it shows us the difference they’ve made. That can come through personal stories, letters of support, and anything that demonstrates that widespread impact.”
The QUAA Gala, which happens every June in Toronto, features 10 awards. Nine of them are open to nominations, and they celebrate everything from professional success to volunteerism and global citizenship.
The Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, for instance, is Queen’s highest alumni honour and celebrates outstanding lifetime accomplishments. The Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigenization Award recognizes alumni who are advancing a more inclusive and equitable society. And the Alumni Global Citizenship Award honours alumni who are improving lives and communities around the world.
Each nomination, Nixon Rentsch says, helps Queen’s showcase the many ways its graduates are shaping the world.
“These awards remind us that we all started from the same place but have gone on to such diverse and inspiring paths,” she says. “They let us celebrate one another, and they also inspire current students, showing them what’s possible.”
Submitting a nomination is more than just recognizing one person, adds Nixon Rentsch. It strengthens the whole Queen’s community.
“It’s a really special thing to take the time to do that for a fellow alum. When you nominate someone, you’re helping the rest of the Queen’s community see what you see in them. You’re part of telling their story.”
If someone in your Queen’s network deserves a moment in spotlight, now is the time to make it happen. Learn more about the awards and submit your nomination before Dec. 5 at queensu.ca/alumni/community/alumni-gala.
