Betselot Betemariam is the current President of the University of Winnipeg Golden Key Chapter and is in her final year of a Biochemistry degree. She is passionate about health sciences and is pursuing a future career in healthcare, where she hopes to make a meaningful impact in her community. Throughout her leadership role, Betselot has actively contributed to strengthening chapter engagement and supporting student success. She values teamwork, service, and academic excellence, and is excited to welcome and work alongside the new Golden Key members as they continue the chapter’s long-standing tradition of achievement. 

John Nyhof has completed a two-year term as President of the University of Winnipeg Golden Key chapter and now serves as the chapter’s Executive Vice-President. He is currently pursuing a four-year degree in Psychology and is considering further studies in Neuroscience. Beyond campus, John serves as Chair of the Diaconal Board at his church, reflecting his ongoing commitment to leadership and community service. He is a long-time blood, plasma, and platelet donor with Canadian Blood Services and has been recognized for his contributions with the King Charles III Coronation Medal, awarded by his Member of Parliament for outstanding community service. In his spare time, John enjoys solving crossword puzzles and collecting coins.

Mandy Siragusa is our Vice President Finance and manages our chapter finances. Mandy is in their final year of completing a Bachelor of Science Honours in Applied Computer Science with a double minor in Statistics and Classics. They have experience with databases, front-end web design, and prototyping. Last summer, Mandy completed a two-month student internship in Paris, France, where they applied classroom knowledge in a real-world setting. This year, they worked with the Office of Rural and Remote Learning Services at Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, creating and maintaining a database to support learners and manage placements across Manitoba. Outside of academics, Mandy is a creative soul with a passion for art and music. They enjoy playing piano and creating traditional and digital artwork. Mandy is an active member of the University of Winnipeg Applied Computer Science Student Association, the Queer Student Association, and the Game Society Club, where they engage with fellow students that share their personal interests.

Simarpreet Kaur is our Vice-President Marketing. She first joined the Executive Committee as the Vice-President Events, where she developed a strong interest in planning student activities and engaging with the campus community. Moving into the marketing role has allowed her to combine creativity with communication while building confidence in interacting with others. She recently graduated with a degree in Applied Computer Science and a minor in Statistics. In her free time, Simar enjoys reading and also volunteers at Siloam Mission. She is committed to supporting UWGK and contributing to a positive and welcoming environment for students.

Samuel Oshode is our Vice-President Events. He is a third-year Honours Biochemistry student with a strong interest in biomedical research and currently volunteers in a campus research laboratory, gaining hands-on experience in scientific investigation. Samuel is actively involved in student leadership and advocacy through the University of Winnipeg Golden Key chapter, the MedLife Board of Directors, and the Black Academic Network (BAN), where he contributes to fostering a supportive and inclusive community within the medical and Black student spaces. Beyond campus, he volunteers with Helping Hands Manitobans with Breast Cancer, further reflecting his commitment to community service and health advocacy.

Reke Avikpe is our current Executive Committee Advisor. Reke started as Director of Marketing and became our sixth President. He is a UW alumnus obtaining a Bachelor of Science Honours in Biochemistry and a BA in Mathematics in 2022. He earned multiple awards such as our UW-GK In-Course Scholarship, the Mathematics Dr. Jessie Blackwood Lang Scholarship, the Salem Abd-El-Aziz International Chemistry Scholarship, and a convocation Gold Medal in Mathematics. Currently, Reke is a PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto, where he was admitted direct entry into the doctoral program. He has received over $250,000 in competitive research funding from NSERC and other funding bodies. His research focuses on using stem cells to regenerate lung and heart tissue, with the goal of developing novel stem cell therapies for lung and heart diseases.

Emmanuel Eniola Solomon is our Vice President Communications. Emmanuel is a strong advocate for social equity because he has witnessed the effects of homelessness. He wants to utilize his BBA in Human Resources and Organizational Behavior to address challenges related to food insecurity. He hopes to address high food prices and the lack of social assistance that families receive in Winnipeg. Additionally, he would like to increase the accessibility of food resources for people with physical limitations. Since moving to Canada in 2013, he has fallen in love with the hospitality of its citizens, while also gaining a personal understanding of various community. He aims to apply his management skills in the non-profit sector to help organizations eliminate food insecurity. Outside of his studies, he takes pleasure in reading philosophical works, discovering different musical genres, and making confectioneries.

Oluwatofunmi Olaleye, also known as Tofunmi, is our Vice President of Alumni Relations. Tofunmi is a Biology major with a strong interest in healthcare and medicine. Since moving to Canada over two years ago, she has gained valuable experience through her academic studies and roles in residential support, administrative work, and research assistance, which have strengthened her problem-solving and interpersonal skills. Tofunmi aspires to pursue a career as a medical doctor. Outside of her academic and professional commitments, she remains actively involved in her church, where she sings in the choir and supports youth activities.

Dr. Pauline Ripat is our Chapter Faculty Advisor and is an Associate Professor of Classics. She has taught at the University of Winnipeg for over 20 years and is an alumna of the University of Winnipeg. We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with her and thank Dr. Ripat for supporting our student group on campus.