Judith Woodsworth, President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University, is proud to announce that a member of the Concordia community, student Siena Anstis, has won the Forces Avenir 2009 prize in the undergraduate category.

This prestigious honor rewards students for their social commitment and involvement in projects that contribute to the greater good. The 11th edition of the Gala Forces Avenir was held on November 17 at the Capitole theatre in Quebec City. An independent jury chose the winners in 13 categories.

Siena Anstis is a fine example of student commitment to humanitarian work; she has made communications tools the focus of her international development work, most recently with the Aga Khan Foundation in Kenya.

“I am convinced information and communication technologies will allow people in developing countries to get out from the shadows and become an economic force,” says Anstis. “Every person should have the opportunity to openly express their vision of how their own community should develop. The Internet definitely provides an opportunity for people to be heard.”

Those who work alongside Anstis describe her as an inspiration; a talented, motivated and determined young woman. She worked as a freelance journalist in Kosovo and has been involved in a variety of school-based exchanges and humanitarian aid projects across Canada, in Africa and in Denmark. Anstis is a recent Concordia University graduate in journalism and anthropology.

For more about Anstis, visit the Media Relations website, read the Concordia Journal article, or watch the video on the Forces Avenir website.

Posted on November 18, 2009