“Say yes to the opportunity you are unsure about, you never know what lovely things are waiting on the other side.” – Alejandro’s Call to Action
TOP 30 UNDER 30 HONOUREE | 2026
About
PROFILE SNAPSHOT
AGE: 21
PRONOUNS: He/Him
HOMETOWN: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
ORGANIZATIONS:
- University of Lethbridge Students’ Union (ULSU)
- World University Service of Canada (WUSC)
- Rotaract
- Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA)
- Student Wellness Ambassador Program (SWAP)
- Council of Alberta University Students (CAUS)
- Kin in the Kommunity
- University of Lethbridge Board of Governors
- Fostering Liberal Arts Research Excellence (FLARE)
- National Honour Society (NHS)
- Destination Exploration (DE)
- Pronghorns Track & Field
GLOBAL IMPACT FOCUS (SDGs)
I am most passionate about:
What specific issue(s) are you working to address, and what motivates you to do so?
I am focused on reducing inequality by improving access to education, mental health support, and basic needs such as food security. I am motivated by seeing how often students and young people struggle in silence because they do not know where to turn or because support feels out of reach or intimidating.
As President of the University of Lethbridge Students’ Union, I advocate for students at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels through active involvement in regional and national advocacy groups. At the municipal level, this has included pushing for better transit access so students can reliably get to campus, work, and essential services. Within the university, I use my roles on Senate and the Board of Governors to bring student voices directly into decision-making and increase visibility around core student needs. Over the past year, this has meant supporting fundraising and grant efforts to secure additional funding for our campus food bank, working with campus and community partners to strengthen food security supports, and helping build partnerships that expand the scholarships and bursaries available to students. This work is practical and outcomes-focused with the goal of ensuring students can continue their studies regardless of financial background or personal circumstance.
Mental health and wellness are also central to my work. Through the Student Wellness Ambassador Program, which operates under University Counselling Services, I help deliver peer-led mental health education and outreach. One of the most tangible initiatives I started is the now annual campus wellness carnival. This event brings together counselling services, health providers, and community organizations in one accessible space, allowing hundreds of students to learn about available supports through conversation, activities, and direct connection. The goal is to make mental health support visible, approachable, and easier to access.
My community work extends beyond campus. Through Rotaract, I support local service initiatives such as creating cards and care messages for seniors and volunteering at the local soup kitchen. Through the World University Service of Canada, I help organize events and fundraisers that support our sponsored refugee student while also building awareness around global displacement and access to education. Coaching is another key way I support young people. My work as a coach goes beyond sport and focuses on mentorship. I support youth as they prepare for post-secondary education, build mental resilience, and manage stress during high-pressure transitions. Whether on the track or in conversation, my focus is on helping young people build confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging.
Throughout this work, connection is what motivates me. I am driven by seeing how access, visibility, and support can change whether students and young people feel able to continue, participate, and succeed. By focusing on practical support and real relationships, my goal is to address inequality in ways that are grounded in lived experience and lead to lasting impact.
What are the ways in which you curate connection?
Connection is one of the most important things to me, and I see it as something that has to be intentionally created. One way I do this is by creating bridges between groups that often work separately. Through my work with the Students’ Union, I have been working toward building the Lethbridge Student Alliance, which brings together student leaders from different post-secondary institutions in the city. The goal is to move away from working in isolation and instead create a shared space where student associations can support one another, coordinate advocacy and respond collectively to issues affecting students across Lethbridge.
I also curate connection by creating low-barrier events that bring people together in ways that feel relaxed and welcoming. This has included organizing wellness carnivals, painting sessions, movie nights, outdoor games, and other social events that bring hundreds of students together on campus. Alongside this, I remain involved in community-based work. Through Rotaract, I volunteer at the local soup kitchen and help organize small initiatives like writing care messages for seniors, which create personal moments of connection. Through the WUSC, I help organize events and fundraisers that bring students, faculty, and community members together to support our sponsored refugee student and learn from one another.
I also foster connection with youth by running workshops and mentoring sessions around mental health, post-secondary pathways, and work opportunities. Through coaching, I create spaces where young people can talk openly about pressure, stress, and goals while feeling supported. Listening to students and youth has shaped how I approach this work. Hearing directly about what feels inaccessible or intimidating has pushed me to slow down, simplify how support is offered, and center community voices. For me, connection is about invitation and creating spaces where people feel they belong and collaboration grows from trust.
What role will connection play in your future work?
Connection is such a lovely thing that truly fulfills me and it is something I know will always guide my work. It is what keeps me grounded and reminds me why I choose to stay involved, whether through leadership, community work, or the hobbies that bring people together. For me, connection is not just a tool for change, but a big reason I continue to do what I do.
In development work, connection matters because real change does not happen in isolation. The most meaningful impact comes from prioritizing local communities and listening closely to the people who live with the outcomes of decisions. Moving forward, I want my work to stay rooted in the places and people around me. That means continuing to support and strengthen the systems that already exist, helping make them more visible, accessible, and responsive rather than always trying to create something new.
I believe we harness the power of connection by staying involved in positive, values-driven spaces and by committing to relationships over time. This includes working alongside community members, supporting initiatives that already have trust, and being willing to take on roles that help others feel supported and seen. Connection becomes powerful when it is consistent and when people know they are not being engaged only temporarily.
I believe connection can drive the future of sustainable and inclusive development because it keeps work honest and accountable. When people feel connected to one another and to the systems around them, change becomes something people help shape rather than something done to them. At the end of the day, connection is human, and it is what allows us to truly engage with the people around us and move forward together, which is a phenomenal blessing.
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