荔枝视频

Some folks create a bucket list for retirement, or a trip. Nilufer (Nilly) Hasanova, who convocates today in the Faculty of Nursing, created a 荔枝视频 bucket list on Day One of her studies, and she has spent the last four years diligently working her way through it.

鈥淚 was super excited browsing through the university website, and I wanted to do everything,鈥� the fast-talking Hasanova says, the words barely keeping pace with her thoughts or containing her enthusiasm. 鈥淚 created an 脿 la carte list of experiences, kept an open mind, and I just organized my schedule around these activities.鈥�

There were some things on Hasanova鈥檚 bucket list you would expect of many undergraduates 鈥� joining campus clubs, becoming a residence adviser, setting academic goals 鈥� but the list also underscores a remarkable commitment to volunteering, and her abiding concern for immigrant and refugee populations, the vulnerable, and global health.

On campus, Hasanova served as member of the , she was vice-president (external) of the , she raised money for the United Way through the , and was vice-president (events) for Passion 4 Play, among many other duties.

She was a community adviser in residence, winning the CA of the Year award, a peer mentor and leader with , and a campus tour guide.

鈥淲hen my mum dropped me off at the university for the first time, I was pretty intimidated,鈥� Hasanova says. 鈥淩ight away these very nice students helped me, walked me to the TFDL. I noticed such a sense of community, and that got me over my fears.鈥� Now, Hasanova considers U荔枝视频 home, and she became one of the university鈥檚 best tour guides, giving new students an instant sense of belonging.

鈥淣illy goes way above and beyond; she has this overwhelming desire to help,鈥� says Caitlin Kane, who grew to know Hasanova through the Leadership and Student Engagement Office. 鈥淪he worked one-on-one with students as a peer helper, and in the Emerging Leaders Program; she was a real cheerleader and guidance counsellor, bringing that energy and enthusiasm to everything she did.鈥� 

Hasanova volunteers off campus, too. She has worked for over a decade with the  as a volunteer and mentor, sharing her own challenges and experiences as an immigrant youth. In 2015, she received the  Award Youth Scholarship.

Hasanova founded the non-profit Hope for Home to raise money for orphanages internationally, the first of which was in Turkey. As well, for four years she volunteered for the Fitness Rehabilitation Program at the university鈥檚 fitness centre, helping people with disabilities.

She has also been a fundraiser, volunteer and summer camp counsellor at , (KCC) an organization that helps children and families affected by cancer, and regularly grows her hair to donate to Angel Hair for Kids, collecting pledges to raise money for KCC.

Plus, an impressive list of academic achievements

It鈥檚 an astounding, exhausting list of extracurricular activities (and there are yet more), but it bears mentioning that on top of all that, Hasanova is also a serious and committed student and an accomplished researcher.

鈥淣illy came in to my office one day, and asked to be part of one of the research projects I was doing,鈥� says Cynthia Mannion, associate professor in the Faculty of Nursing, and Hasanova鈥檚 professor. Mannion says Hasanova was willing to volunteer, and then they secured support with both a Markin USRP and a  award.  

Hasanova was determined and innovative. She proved a valuable contributor to Mannion鈥檚 research project on PICA, a dietary behaviour that occurs internationally. 鈥淣illy scoured the stores in northeast 荔枝视频 for clay that is purchased by women. She suggested a social media strategy which led to finding nearly 40 people in two weeks to share their experience with PICA,鈥� Mannion says. 鈥淪he was always cheerful, eager and engaged. There was no task too big or too small.鈥�

In addition to creating and presenting five research posters and contributing to published papers, Hasanova traveled to Spain on her own in 2016 for an international neonatal and perinatal conference. There, she presented posters from the PICA study as well as work she鈥檇 done on caffeine and preterm infants with Dr. Veronica Samedi, a fellow in neonatal-perinatal medicine at the Cumming School of Medicine.

Now working as a registered nurse with Alberta Health Services, Hasanova returned just weeks ago from a three-month internship in Uganda at the Aga Khan University, the result of a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship. 鈥淚t was a wonderful opportunity; I really admire the Ugandan nurses, working in tough conditions where there are huge populations and very few nurses,鈥� Hasanova says with characteristic compassion.

鈥淲e come from such a privileged perspective, with access to so many resources, it just really made me appreciate what we have and want to work hard to help. That鈥檚 my big goal.鈥�