Introducing Our Top Stories of 2024

Throughout 2024, our community, including our students, faculty, staff, and alumni, contributed to the King’s story, as told through the news features on our website.

The King’s Marketing, Communications and Media Relations department has compiled its list of the top stories of the past year in this special “Year in Review” to celebrate King’s events and accomplishments of 2024. These stories collectively showcase our alignment with King’s strategic goals of sustainability, equity, academic excellence, and community engagement.

1. New certificate prepares students to tackle a major issue of our time: climate change

The Ecological Justice and Climate Ethics Certificate will deepen students' understanding of climate change and prepare them to become leaders in meeting this challenge. This initiative supports the strategic goal of sustainability by equipping students to tackle the pressing global challenge of climate change. It integrates academic excellence with a focus on ecological justice, reflecting King’s dedication to fostering leadership on environmental issues. The certificate also aligns with the strategic plan’s mission to provide programs that address critical societal concerns and develop ethical leaders. (October 22, 2024)

2. Grief Symposium highlights Yazidi resilience and community healing

The Symposium on Grief Literacy aimed to enhance participants' understanding of grief, offer tools and insights to help cultivate a more informed and empathetic approach to grief and loss, and to bring to light the experiences of Yazidi refugees who have settled in London. The symposium underscores King’s commitment to inclusion and community belonging by highlighting marginalized voices and fostering empathy. It also supports our focus on social justice and reconciliation, encouraging informed approaches to grief and cultural resilience, particularly for vulnerable communities such as the Yazidi refugees. (September 20, 2024)

3. Global Undergraduate Award recipients grateful for faculty support

Members of the King’s community say they felt encouraged by faculty to submit papers to the 2024 Global Undergraduate Awards and were supported during the process. This recognition highlights academic excellence and King’s supportive learning environment. Faculty encouragement for student participation in global competitions demonstrates a commitment to student success and King’s aspiration to be a leader in undergraduate education. (October 1, 2024)

4. Two for Two - Branton and Trotman awarded Athletes of the Year

For the second year in a row, Shona Branton was named the Female Athlete of the Year and Treye Trotman was named the Male Athlete of the Year at the annual Mustangs Awards. Six King’s student-athletes were named as team MVPs. These accolades contribute to King’s goal of creating a vibrant campus culture. They celebrate student achievement, foster community pride, and encourage holistic development by valuing athletic excellence alongside academics. (April 3, 2024)

5. Alumni panel empowers change to tackle housing crisis

As part of Homecoming, a panel of three King’s alumni, all distinguished voices in Canadian public policy, examined the housing crisis through a gendered lens. The panel reflects King’s strategic priority of community engagement by addressing the critical housing issue. Hosting a gender-focused discussion with respected alumni aligns with the goals of promoting social justice and leveraging the expertise of the King’s network to inspire meaningful societal change. (September 26, 2024)

We anticipate 2025 will be another busy and eventful year for the King’s community, with even more accomplishments, both personal and campus-wide, to be celebrated. News stories (including those from external sources) and media releases can be found on our website. As always, if you have an interesting story to share with the King’s community, reach out to the Marketing, Communications and Media Relations department.