The following story is part of our Volunteer Spotlight series, celebrating alumni and Queen’s friends whose time, leadership, and dedication strengthen the Queen’s community here and around the world. Through these stories, we recognize the many ways volunteers contribute – through mentorship, branch leadership, advocacy, events, and beyond. By sharing their experiences, we hope to express our gratitude, highlight the impact of volunteer engagement, and inspire others to get involved.
Yehonatan Shakarghi and Samantha Rogers are busy health sciences students who are not only learning inside their classrooms, but outside, through their volunteer work with the Queen’s Student Alumni Association (QSAA).
The QSAA builds bridges between current students and alumni by organizing networking opportunities, mentorship programs, speaker events, and more. The QSAA also lays the groundwork for students to transition to alumni.
“When you leave, it doesn’t have to be the end of your journey. There’s a lot more to it,” says Shakarghi, who grew up in Thornhill, Ont. “You’re still part of Queen’s.”
Shakarghi and Rogers joined the QSAA soon after arriving on campus in their first years and quickly took on leadership roles.
Rogers was a first-year representative, then served as president in her second and third years. Shakarghi was also a first-year representative, then director of giving, and now he is taking the baton from Rogers as incoming president.
Rogers, who is from New Zealand, says one of the first alumni she met had a deep impact. “They gave me a lot of reassurance and guidance in a time of such uncertainty, and that really motivated me to stay part of QSAA because this is something that I want all students to experience,” she says.
Shakarghi and Rogers say the academic and career advice from alumni is valuable for them and their peers, and they also enjoy hearing their Queen’s memories. Rogers recalls meeting a Smith Engineering graduate who regaled her with tales about pranks pulled by his class more than five decades ago.
Shakarghi says it’s fun to learn about Queen’s history through former students. He also appreciates the relationships and skills he’s gaining through the QSAA.
“I’ve gotten to build such strong connections,” he says, “and learn a lot from the different people I have surrounded myself with.”
In addition to the QSAA, both students have other volunteer activities on and off campus, including working with palliative care patients, young people in need of mental health services, and literacy programs.
They speak with passion about the lessons they’re learning from their volunteer work and about giving back to the Queen’s and Kingston communities. Somehow, they stretch their time between their courses and extracurriculars. They’re both considering careers in medicine and say no matter what paths they follow, they know there are loyal and helpful alumni standing by to guide them.
“People are so willing to give back to Queen’s,” says Shakarghi. “Having that support of the community, always willing to have your back, is something I haven’t seen at any other school.”
To learn more about the Queen’s Student Alumni Association, visit the QSAA website.
