2026 Sharon Lamont Student Award Winners

The University of Waterloo Libraries recently caught up with Sarah and Lakshmi, winners of this year’s Sharon Lamont Student Award. The award is given annually to students who have worked at the Libraries and have, through extracurricular involvement, supported equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Sarah is a fourth-year Ecology student who has been working at the Libraries since first year. A welcoming place at the heart of campus, Sarah felt the Libraries was a wonderful place to work, allowing her to balance her studies while helping other students from behind the Library Help Desk at Dana Porter and Davis Centre Libraries.

Sarah also found other ways to connect with students on campus: taking on the role of Science Ambassador for the Faculty of Science Foundation and joining the rowing team. It was her experience with the rowing team that surprised her most. Not only did she learn new skills, but she was also able to help break down barriers, encouraging others to participate in a sport that has a reputation for being fairly exclusive.

Lakshmi is a third-year Health Sciences student who completed her first co-op at the Libraries as the communications and student engagement assistant. While at the Libraries, Lakshmi further developed her communication skills, connecting students with key library resources, and discovered an interest in data analysis, which she used in future co-op placements.

As Lakshmi learned about all the helpful resources available on campus, she sought ways to share this knowledge with other students. She took on the role of Health Ambassador, welcoming new students to campus and breaking down potential barriers to vital resources that support student success.

Both Sarah and Lakshmi are grateful for the support the award provides: Sarah is staying on to develop a project from her undergraduate thesis, and Lakshmi is working hard to complete her undergraduate degree.

The Sharon Lamont Student Award was established with a generous gift by long-time library staff member and retiree Sharon Lamont.