Years of hard work, sacrifice, and determination have led Nashwa Higazy to one of the highest academic honours an NC student can receive.
The St. Catharines resident, originally from Sudan, is this year’s recipient of the Governor General’s Silver Academic Medal, awarded in recognition of her outstanding 94.93 per cent average in the Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Human Resources) degree program. She will be recognized with the award during NC’s Spring Convocation ceremony on June 12 at 3 p.m. Higazy is also graduating from the Project Management graduate certificate program and previously completed NC’s Business Administration – Human Resources advanced diploma program in 2024.
A mother of six, she balanced full-time studies with work and family responsibilities while pursuing her academic goals.
Receiving the Governor General’s Silver Academic Medal was a moment Higazy never anticipated.
“Receiving the Governor General’s Silver Academic Medal feels incredibly humbling and emotional,” she said. “When I received the phone call, it honestly felt surreal, like all the sacrifices, long nights, challenges, and moments of self-doubt throughout the past several years suddenly became worth it.”
Throughout her time at NC, Higazy immersed herself in both academics and campus life. For three years, she worked as a student employee within NC’s Global Business Development department, contributing to projects related to student engagement, global education, organizational development, and international initiatives. The experience allowed her to apply classroom learning in real-world settings while developing leadership, communication, and project management skills.
Higazy credits much of her success to the support of her family, particularly her husband and children, who inspired her to keep moving forward during the most demanding moments of her academic journey.
“My children have been one of my greatest motivations,” she said. “I wanted to set an example for them by showing the value of education, perseverance, resilience, and lifelong learning.”
Drawn to NC for its hands-on approach to learning and supportive environment, Higazy found a natural fit in the Human Resources field. Her passion for helping people and creating positive workplace cultures aligned closely with both her studies and career aspirations.
“What excites me most about human resources and leadership is the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” she said. “I’m passionate about creating workplaces where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to succeed.”
Looking back, Higazy describes her NC experience as one of the most meaningful and rewarding chapters of her life.
“Niagara College is more than an educational institution, it is a community that encourages growth, builds confidence, and creates opportunities for students to develop both personally and professionally.”
Along with practical learning opportunities and valuable workplace experience, she found encouragement from professors, mentors, classmates, and staff who supported her personal and professional growth.
“I was incredibly fortunate to learn from inspiring professors, mentors, colleagues, and classmates throughout my time at Niagara College,” she said. “Many of my professors went beyond simply teaching course material, they shared their real-world experiences, encouraged students to grow professionally and personally, and created a supportive learning environment where students felt seen and capable of succeeding.”
“What I will never forget is the level of care and dedication shown by many of the professors,” she added. “Some of them truly went far beyond their teaching responsibilities to support students. I had professors who would stay after class to help, make time to guide students through challenges, and even offer support in courses outside of their own because they genuinely wanted students to succeed.”
Now having completed both her degree and graduate certificate studies, Higazy is looking ahead to the next stage of her career. She hopes to continue developing her leadership and organizational development skills while helping others grow and succeed in people-focused workplaces.
Reflecting on her NC journey, Higazy hopes her story serves as encouragement for others who may be balancing competing demands and responsibilities while pursuing their dreams.
“As a mother of six balancing family responsibilities, work, and full-time studies, while also adapting to a new environment as an immigrant, there were many moments where the journey felt difficult,” she said. “However, those experiences taught me resilience, perseverance, and the importance of believing in yourself even during uncertain moments.”
