York student Sara Bergson has won the Tom Meininger Award, a $1,000 cash award, which is given to a York University undergraduate with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 4.0. It is awarded on the basis of quality of contribution to campus life and academic achievement. Meininger made a significant contribution to student life while serving as Provost of York from 1984 to 1989.

    "I was thrilled," said Bergson, a fourth-year student in psychology and history (Faculty of Arts). "There are so few times that you are acknowledged for all of the work you do."

    Bergson graduated from William Lyon McKenzie Collegiate Institute in North York. Since her arrival at York, she has been active in student politics, advocacy and social issues. She is a student representative on the Faculty of Arts Council as well as a student senator on the York University Senate, and on other committees and groups. Bergson advises first-year students at Calumet College to help them make the transition to university. She also works in the Faculty of Arts Advising Centre, where she counsels undergraduate students on everything from university policy and degree requirements to academic programs and campus services. She is a member of the York Outing Club and the Jewish Students' Federation and has participated in programs related to raising awareness of issues such as racism on campus. She was also named the winner of the Alumni Silver Jubilee Scholarship at York, which is awarded annually by the alumni association to an undergraduate student based on academic excellence and extracurricular involvement.

    Ailsa Craig of Toronto was named the recipient of John and Mike's Award, an alumni award of $1,250 established by York alumni John Kuchner and Mike Thomas. The award is given to a student with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 8.0 who has demonstrated leadership in her extracurricular activities at York and/or the community.

    Craig is a second-year double major in creative writing and mass communications. Now a Toronto resident, she grew up in Grimsby, Ont., and graduated from Grimsby and District Secondary School.

    Craig was also named the winner of the $1,500 Stong Scholarship given by York's Stong College, and winner of the York University Continuing Student Scholarship, worth $2,000. She also received a community youth award recognizing academic achievement and community leadership from the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Youth Line, a crisis line for lesbian, gay and bisexual youth across Ontario.

    "This year has been very lucky for me," said Craig. "I'm a little bit floored by it all."

    Craig is working as the student communications officer for Stong College, and as co-president for the Creative Writing Students Collective, for which she co-writes and publishes a monthly newsletter, organizes student and guest readings, and provides information on academic resources. She has also been involved in organizing and working at the newly-founded Stong Student Academic Resource Centre.

    Genevieve Tran, a first-year student in the Schulich School of Business and a graduate of York Memorial Collegiate Institute, is the fifth annual winner of the $2,500 Harry W. Arthurs Alumni Entrance Scholarship.

    "I'm very grateful to win the award," says Tran, who intends to major in marketing.

    Winning awards is nothing new to Tran, whose father Quang, is a York alumnus (MSc, Chemistry, '86). Her other achievements include: winning a City of York Board of Education Excellence in Education Award and being a finalist in the OMLTA Toronto French Contest Regional French Oratory Arts Competition; taking part as senior high school debater in regional and provincial competitions; and winning the City of York French Contest.

    Tran, a native of Vietnam, is fluent in Vietnamese, functional in Italian, and is working on her French proficiency. She is aiming high with her future plans -- a master's degree in a yet-unchosen discipline and a career in business. "I'd like to travel and to be a CEO," she says.