Environment students honoured with Flight 302 Legacy Award
Two graduate students and two undergraduate students in the Faculty of Environment have been named recipients of the Flight 302 Legacy Award; a national award which recognizes students whose studies and service reflect commitments to safety, accountability, equity and global responsibility. Congratulations to Joan Kaburia, Lauren McElroy, Izhaan Rauf and Dandin Wong!
The award commemorates the passengers and crew of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and supports students whose work contributes to a more just and sustainable future. This year’s recipients represent diverse areas of study, including food security, aviation, youth engagement and ecological restoration, demonstrating how remembrance can be translated into meaningful action.
Joan Kaburia
Joan Kaburia is a PhD candidate in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management, studying health equity and food security. Her research centres on justice for marginalized communities and the systems that shape access to nutritious food. Joan’s work has direct relevance in Canada, where equitable and sustainable food systems are critical to community wellbeing.
By bringing international perspectives into the research, she aims to contribute to evidence-informed policy, environmental sustainability and innovation towards food security. Through community partnerships and knowledge sharing, she hopes to help build resilient and equitable food systems. Receiving the award has allowed her to focus more on research, community engagement, and impact-driven scholarship. “
This award represents responsibility and continuity of memory for those who leave home to pursue missions beyond themselves,” Joan says, noting how closely the award’s values align with her own experiences and commitments.
Lauren McElroy
Lauren McElroy is a PhD student, studying social and ecological sustainability at the University of Waterloo. Her research explores how youth engage with Atlantic salmon restoration across PEI, Canada and Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and how these relationships can inform more just and sustainable futures.
“The Flight 302 Legacy Award is shaping my student experience by supporting the community engagement component of my work,” she says. To foster reciprocal relationships, she plans to co-create an arts-based project that brings participants, including youth and NGOs, together. “The award will support place-based learning experiences, such as a photovoice gallery, allowing youth and community members to explore and celebrate their connections with nature.”
Like Danielle Moore, Lauren cares deeply about protecting marine life, particularly Atlantic salmon, a keystone species connecting waters, people and energy across freshwater and marine ecosystems. She hopes to honour Danielle and the victims of Flight 302 by ensuring that youth, like Rubi, Kelly and Ryan Paul, are included in conservation work and empowered as leaders.
Dandin Wong
Dandin Wong is an undergraduate student in Geography and Aviation, describes receiving the Flight 302 Legacy Award as an affirmation of why he committed to aviation. “This award has eased financial pressures and allows me to focus on bigger picture goals within the industry, sustainability and long-term innovation,” he says.
For Wong, honouring the victims of Flight 302 means recognizing the human impact behind every technical and operational decision, as well as the importance of accountability across all levels of the industry. He hopes to contribute to a future where aviation growth does not come at the expense of safety or environmental responsibility, while taking on a leadership role in helping guide the industry toward more transparent and sustainable practices.
As a pilot, he is especially motivated to lead by example through mentorship and a commitment to continuous learning, recognizing that the next generation of aviators will play a key role in shaping the culture and direction of industry. Through his studies, Wong hopes to help further improve aviation into a system that Canadians can trust. By blending flight training with environmental thinking, he views aviation as a responsibility to the people and places connected by it.
Izhaan Rauf
Izhaan Rauf is an undergraduate student in Geography and Aviation. He says the award has influenced how he approaches both his studies and his involvement in aviation. It has encouraged deeper reflection on safety, accountability and long-term responsibility, particularly as new technologies enter the industry.
“The award has pushed me to take my learning seriously, not just as coursework but as preparation for contributing thoughtfully to aviation’s future,” he says. Rauf emphasizes the importance of understanding the real-world consequences of engineering and operational decisions. He carries this perspective into his academic work and volunteer efforts with a cadet program, where he supports youth interested in aviation and STEM.
Together, these students demonstrate how the Flight 302 Legacy Award lives through research, learning and service, transforming remembrance into action that works with and for the world. Their dedication to their work is representative of their commitment to the people and planet.
