UOIT student wins Human Rights Award

OSHAWA, Ont. - Naheed Dosani, an honours Bachelor of Science student with the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) will today be presented with a William P. Hubbard Award for Race Relations from the City of Toronto.

"I am very honoured and very surprised to have been selected for such an award. It is even more of an honour to me because I have been recognized as an outstanding citizen by the city I have lived in since I was born," said Dosani who is a resident of Scarborough. "I also see this award as an achievement of not only my actions, but of those who helped me change negative feelings and educate people in the post 9/11 era about the fact that not all Muslims, Arabs and Afghans are terrorists."

The award will be handed out by Mayor David Miller at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber of Toronto City Hall, located at 100 Queen Street West. It honours Dosani's work in creating positive race relations in Toronto.

Nominated by Alice Longhurst of TD Canada Trust (Dosani was a TD Canada Trust Scholar), his previous work includes educating high school students and local elementary schools about the suffering that many individuals in Afghanistan have had to endure. As a result of his efforts, nearly $3,000 was raised for orphanages and hospitals.

"I give thanks to all those who have supported me including my parents, my family, my friends and my mentors," said Dosani. "I hope to continue working on such community-based initiatives with the new organization I have started up and that will be launching in the new year with many other students on the campus of Durham College and UOIT - Students for Humanitarianism and Action through Respect and Education (SHARE). I look forward to working on initiatives with this organization both locally and internationally in the future."

The William P. Hubbard Award for Race Relations is one of five awards that will be presented at the event, which is administered by the Chief Administrator's office for the City of Toronto.

- 30 -

About the University of Ontario Institute of Technology

As the province's newest university, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology provides a unique combination of academic knowledge, vibrant student life, leading-edge research, and hands-on skills. The university offers career-focused undergraduate degree programs in the fields of business and information technology, sciences, engineering, nursing, social science, and education. It is also developing leading-edge research and graduate programs, and is Ontario's first laptop-based university. Sharing facilities and selected services with Durham College, UOIT has over 1,800 students following 12 months of operation. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 1.866.844.8648.

About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.

Media contact
Tania Henvey
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.3111 ext. 2513
tania.henvey@dc-uoit.ca