Alumni, staff and students named Women of the Year
The Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Rogers Women of the Year awards recognize leaders for outstanding community contributions.
University of Waterloo alumni, staff and students are among the winners of the 2025 Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Rogers Women of the Year awards.
For 50 years, the organization has recognized exceptional leaders for their contributions to the local community. The awards were given out at a ceremony on May 22, 2025, and several of the recipients have connections to the University.
Marjorie Knight (BSW '17)
Community Service: Marjorie Knight (BSW ’17)
Marjorie Knight has dedicated her time as an anti-poverty advocate and community outreach worker for more than 24 years. She has represented Cambridge three times as the MPP candidate. In addition to her work as a family outreach worker with the House of Friendship in Cambridge, she serves on the boards of The Cambridge Shelter Corp. and the AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Area (ACCKWA). A collaborator at heart, Knight is also the founder of Rhythm and Blues, an organization that advocates for the Black community in Cambridge.
More than 140 exceptional women were nominated for awards this year. The nominee list included many University of Waterloo alumni, students, staff, faculty and other women connected to campus. Here are some of those nominees:
- Rose Aydin, undergraduate student, Faculty of Health
- Jacqueline Beckford-Henriques, head coach, swimming
- Stephanie Boutari (BAS ’11, MArch ’14)
- Stefanie Bruinsma (BASc ’15, MBET ’21)
- Claudia Martin Calderon, PhD student, Faculty of Health
- Jennifer Haas, head, Information Services and Resources, Davis Centre
- Yessenia Guerrero (BA ’16), associate director, response, Office of Equity, Diversity and Anti-racism
- Sarah Larochelle, undergraduate student, Faculty of Health
- Dr. Laura Mae Lindo, assistant professor, Department of Philosophy; director of programs in Black Studies
- Dr. Lili Liu, dean, Faculty of Health
- Camelia Nunes (BA ’05, MBET ’13), sessional lecturer, Department of Economics
- Isabella Stefanescu (BMath ’81)
- Amy Tai, PhD student, Faculty of Engineering
Congratulations to all the winners and nominees. Your accomplishments are a testament to the strength and talent of our University community.