Honouring the achievements of women at the Ban Righ Foundation 2026 Spring Celebration

“Honouring the achievements of women at the Ban Righ Foundation 2026 Spring Celebration jlw2 Tue, 05/19/2026 - 15:44 Hebatalla Ouda, a PhD candidate in computer science, is the first recipient of the Ban Righ Foundation's Molly Higginson Memorial Award. Ouda is one of 14 mature women students recognized at the Ban Righ Foundation's annual Spring Celebration , which has marked the achievements of mature women students at Queen's for more than 30 years. The Molly Higginson Memorial Award was established by family and friends in honour of Molly (Innes) Higginson, who graduated from Queen's in 1966 with a BA (Hons) in Mathematics and Philosophy. After teaching with CUSO in Uganda, she discovered a passion for computer programming, worked as a developer in Cambridge, UK, and completed a master's in computer science at the University of Alberta. Returning to Kingston, she co-founded the software firm Andyne Computing in 1973, where she spent 25 years developing a graphical query language for database software. She chaired the Ban Righ Foundation Board from 1998 to 2000. The award goes to a woman in an undergraduate or graduate STEM program who has experienced an interruption in her formal education, with a preference for students in math or computer science. "When Molly Higginson graduated from Queen's in 1966, there weren't many women in the math department, let alone building software companies," says Susan Belyea, Director of the Ban Righ Centre. "This award exists because her family wanted to make sure the next Molly, the woman who finds her path a little later or a little differently, has someone in her corner. Hebatalla is exactly that student." Ouda's research at the School of Computing focuses on equitable healthcare access for underserved communities. "My academic journey was challenging, starting from navigating a new educational environment in Canada and proving myself as an international female student," writes Ouda. "Finding the Ban Righ Centre in my second year at Queen's was transformative. I feel truly heard and visible, reminding me that behind every woman pushing through challenges, there is a village cheering her on." Emily Stokman, recipient of the Janet Bilton-Holst Citation, is an MA student in Global Development Studies. She holds a BA (Hons) in Global Development from Queen's and a diploma from the Ontario Agricultural College and works as a Registered Veterinary Technician outside of school. "The Ban Righ Centre has provided me with a place to build community and confidence that, as a non-traditional student, has allowed me to excel personally and academically, Stokman writes. “I am continually inspired and challenged by the work of the women I have met at Ban Righ and to be recognized as having positively contributed to this space that provides invaluable supports to students like me, mature women students and their families, is an honour. " The Spring Celebration is one way the Ban Righ Centre supports mature women students at Queen's. The Centre also offers emergency bursary support, student advising, and a space where students can study, share a free soup lunch, and connect with each other. Programming ranges from gardening workshops to panel discussions on the role of caregivers at the university. The Higginson family's gift joins the donor-funded awards the Foundation presents each year. 2026 Spring Award recipients Lauraine Darkwah, Elizabeth Wallace Bursary Award V.T. Nayani, Carole Kinnear Award Joanna Lopez, Troup-Ballantyne Award Kelly McElrea and Julie Zwart, Diane McKenzie Awards Chitralekha Rathore and Eman Elharmeel, Dorothy Matheson Parnell Bursary Awards Gil Angela Dela Cruz, Marian Catherine Webb Bursary Award Nicole Monague, Mildred Blackadder/Zonta Club Award Emily Stokman, Janet Bilton-Holst Citation Antara Arif, Barbara Paul Memorial Prize Melkitu Fentie Melak, Barbara Paul Memorial Award Fariha Tasnim Mitu, Barbara Schlafer Book Prize Hebatalla Ouda, Molly Higginson Memorial Award Tue, 05/19/2026 - 12:00 PhD candidate Hebatalla Ouda receives the inaugural Molly Higginson Memorial Award for women in STEM returning to education. Awards & Recognitions Community Stories 0 Award Recipients at the 2026 Ban Righ Spring Celebration Deck PhD candidate Hebatalla Ouda receives the inaugural Molly Higginson Memorial Award for women in STEM returning to education. Gender Equality Reduced Inequality Pillars Organizational Culture

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