Royal Roads alum on encouraging Black excellence

Royal Roads University alum and current staff member Donneil McNab spoke to CBC Radio’s All Points West, the Goldstream News Gazette, and CTV Vancouver Island, and appeared in CBC.ca and the Times Colonist about the student award she has established.

The Award for Diversity and Community Building recognizes students of Afro-Heritage who serve their communities through volunteering and leadership.  

Here is an excerpt from the Gazette:

“The award is primarily a chance to open doors for Black students and to advance opportunities. Studying is a big cost students have to bear, along with many other life expenses. When I started as a student I had limited resources my self, so I want give other students the financial and confidence boost that I received when I got an award,” said McNab. She received the Beadle Family Award in 2018, which is given in recognition of outstanding academic promise in the tourism and hospitality field.

“The impact that award had on my life was simply amazing, and I want other students to experience that feeling. It was important for me to take a leap and serve my community in this way. It is my way of paying it forward.”

The annual award of $1,000 will be given to a student of Afro-Heritage decent, who is enrolled in any of the degree programs at Royal Roads. McNab is funding the award herself, and hopes she inspires others to either contribute to the award, or to establish one of their own.

Read the story on CBC.ca, in the CBC News daily top story scan, Goldstream News Gazette and the Times Colonist. Listen to her interview with host Kathryn Marlow on CBC Radio’s All Points West and watch and CTV Vancouver Island.