Photo: SPPH Scholar Day judges and all poster award winners pose for a photo with School Director Dr. Aslam Anis (far left).
On a bright September afternoon, students, staff, and faculty gathered to mark a special occasion: SPPH Scholar Day. An event that brings the School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) community together to celebrate research, collaboration, and connection.
Scholar Day was inspired from a faculty research retreat, where a shared vision emerged: to create opportunities for students, staff, and faculty from across SPPH’s seven diverse programs to connect and highlight the world-leading research happening within our School.
But Scholar Day is about more than showcasing research. It’s about building community, fostering unexpected collaborations, and inspiring each other to keep asking bold and meaningful questions.
Events like Scholar Day rely on the hard work and commitment of many people. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the students who shared their research, and to our volunteer poster judges, who offered their time and thoughtful feedback to help make the event a success.
Poster Judges
- Faculty:
- Dr. Kaylee Byers
- Dr. Louise Masse
- Dr. Monika Naus
- Dr. Amanda Slaunwhite
- Students:
- Sabine Halabis
- Jelena Karim
- Shelby Marozoff
- Kaitlin Muzio
This year’s Scholar Day featured a poster competition recognizing outstanding student research. We’re proud to share the winners:
1st Prize: Alpamys Issanov
Presentation: Air Pollution and Lung Cancer: Differential Risk by Smoking Status in the UK Biobank
- Awarded $150 and the Dr. James M. Robinson Memorial Prize (2025)
- Invited to present at the SPPH Research Seminar Series
Photo: Alpamys Issanov was awarded first place at this year’s SPPH Scholar Day. He is pictured here with his research poster (left) and receiving his award from the judges (right).
2nd Prize: Maria Mulder
Presentation: Everyday Triangulation Within Challenging Informational and Legal Contexts: Exploring Everyday Triangulation in individuals considering cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation
- Awarded $50 and shares the Dr. James M. Robinson Memorial Prize (2025)
- Also invited to present at the Seminar Series
Photo: Maria Mulder was awarded second place at this year’s SPPH Scholar Day. They are pictured here with their research poster (left) and receiving their award from the judges (right).
3rd Place (Tie): Kayla Kostal and Sidney Hoolsema
Presentation (Kayla Kostal): Health trajectories following deinstitutionalization: A longitudinal study of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Manitoba
Presentation (Sidney Hoolsema): Perceptions of Individuals with Addictions
- Honourable mention and recognition for research excellence
Photo: Kayla Kostal tied for third place at this year’s SPPH Scholar Day. She is pictured here with her research poster (left) and receiving her award from the judges (right).
Photo: Sidney Hoolsema tied for third place at this year’s SPPH Scholar Day. She is pictured here with her research poster (left) and receiving her award from the judges (right).
These awards aren’t just about competition, they’re about celebrating research, encouraging collaboration, and recognizing the outstanding contributions of our students to the field of population and public health.
Thank you to everyone who participated, whether by organizing, presenting, judging, or attending. Your presence and engagement are what make this event so special.
We look forward to more Scholar Days to come!