Short is an outstanding student who balances academics and community involvement with ease. While maintaining a high academic standing, he helped other students as a teaching assistant in the microbiology course, started cutting-edge research in the organic chemistry lab, and founded the first Nipissing University Ice Fishing Club.

Gillard is an accomplished student who takes on multiple academic and social leadership roles on and off campus. These roles include: outreach assistant for sexual violence prevention; president, social coordinator for the social welfare and social development club, and research assistant. Gillard is also an active community volunteer at One Kids Place, Community Living, and the Amelia Rising Sexual Assault Centre. In all of these roles, she is an outgoing and thoughtful student leader.