Fanshawe student wins national leadership award

Shadé Dias, a long-standing student leader at the College, was recently named the bronze recipient in Colleges and Institutes Canada’s (CICan) 2025 Leadership Excellence Award for Students.  

Each year the award honours student leaders from public colleges, institutes and polytechnics for demonstrating outstanding leadership, resilience, and a strong commitment to their peers, campuses and communities across Canada. 

A graduate of the Business and Business Administration Leadership & Management programs, Shadé is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce (Management) degree. Shadé excels academically while enhancing the student experience through leadership, mentorship and service. Since joining Fanshawe in 2022, she has taken on key roles including Chair of the FSU’s Student Administrative Council and student representative on the College’s Board of Governors. 

Her leadership extends beyond campus, supporting local non-profits and leading student-driven charitable campaigns that reflect her deep commitment to inclusion and community impact.  

Shadé also works part-time as a Career Peer Ambassador at the front desk of Career Services. Darlene O’Neill, director of Employment and Student Entrepreneurial Services, says Shadé is most deserving of this prestigious recognition.   

“Her commitment to Fanshawe, to her fellow students and her own personal and academic journey is commendable,” says Darlene. “She is a student leader who demonstrates empathy, courage, and building a sense of belonging for all.  My heartfelt congratulations on your leadership excellence award!”   

Recipients are selected by a national committee of leaders from CICan member institutions, ensuring the awards reflect the collective values and shared commitment to excellence across Canada’s postsecondary community.  

The 2025 recipients were officially announced during CICan’s Annual General Meeting, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.   

We asked Shadé to reflect on the accomplishment. Here’s what she shared: 

“I'm truly honoured to be recognized, and I want to sincerely thank my professors, mentors, and most importantly, the Falcon Awesome students at Fanshawe. Thank you for trusting me with the opportunity to lead, to grow, and to be a voice for our campus community. A special thank you as well to the leaders of the college who saw my attributes and contributions within the community and nominated me for this incredible award. And to my parents, thank you for always pushing me, praying for me, and believing in me, even when I doubted the process. This recognition belongs to all of us. God Bless and One Love!”