Created in 2017 by Joyce Sakamoto and Bonnie Jarokosky to honour the memory of their parents, the Jo and Anne Vanee Memorial Award is awarded each year to a student in the Dhillon School of Business at the University of Lethbridge. The award celebrates the qualities Jo and Anne Vanee valued most deeply, recognizing a student who demonstrates compassion, kindness and a strong commitment to helping fellow students through volunteer involvement. In addition to their community-minded spirit, recipients are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrate solid academic achievement.
This year's nominated recipient, Yash Dixit, is a fourth year Bachelor of Business Administration student majoring in finance from Hyderabad, India.
Here Yash shares how others' kindness has made a difference in his own life and the importance of empathy and compassion.
What does kindness and volunteerism mean to you, and how do you practice them in your daily life?
To me, kindness is the ability to make someone feel less alone in a world where many people silently carry struggles nobody can see. Volunteerism is love put into action by giving your time, energy and heart simply because you care about making life a little easier for someone else.
I practice kindness in the small moments that often go unnoticed like checking in on people, making others feel included, listening without judgment and helping wherever I can even when nobody is watching. I have learned that people may forget what you said but they never forget how you made them feel.
As someone who moved far away from home and had to build a life in a new place, I understand how powerful compassion can be. Because of that, I always try to be the person I once needed during difficult moments like someone who makes others feel supported and understood.
How did it feel to be recognized for your kindness, compassion and volunteerism?
Being recognized for kindness, compassion and volunteerism felt incredibly meaningful because these are values I genuinely try to live by every day. This recognition reminded me that even small actions can have a lasting impact on others.
What makes this award special to me is that kindness is often something people do quietly, without expecting acknowledgment. Knowing that my efforts made someone feel supported or cared for is more rewarding than the award itself. It motivates me to continue giving back and to keep creating positive experiences for the people around me.
Can you share a moment when someone’s kindness, compassion or volunteerism made a difference in your life?
One moment that deeply stayed with me was during a time when I was adjusting to life in a new country and trying to balance academics, work and personal responsibilities. There were moments when everything felt overwhelming and I questioned whether I truly belonged.
During that period, a few people showed me genuine kindness through simple acts like checking in on me, encouraging me, including me in conversations and making me feel valued. Those actions may have seemed small to them but they made a huge difference in my confidence and mental well-being. That experience taught me how powerful compassion can be and it inspired me to become the kind of person who helps others feel supported in the same way.
What do you hope people take away from your story of compassion, kindness and volunteerism?
I hope people take away the idea that kindness is never wasted. Even the smallest gesture can become a turning point in someone’s life because we never truly know what another person is carrying inside.
I want people to understand that compassion is strength. In a world where many people are focused only on themselves, choosing to care for others, to listen, to help and to uplift people is something powerful. Volunteerism and kindness are not about recognition but more about humanity.
Most importantly, I hope my story encourages people to lead with empathy. Sometimes all a person needs is one moment of kindness to regain hope or the strength to keep going. If my actions can inspire even one person to be kinder to others, then I believe I have made a meaningful difference.
Joyce Sakamoto and Bonnie Jarokosky were excited to pass on a message to Yash after hearing he was chosen for the Jo and Anne Vanee Memorial Award:
"Congratulations for being chosen this year's recipient of the Jo and Anne Vanee Memorial Scholarship Award! Every year we eagerly await the selection for this scholarship honouring our parents as every year the recipient is someone, exactly as you Yash, that leaves our hearts full. We appreciate the time and kindness you share with other students. That exemplifies qualities that our parents would be so proud to have recognized with this scholarship."
To learn more about the Jo and Anne Vanee Memorial Award and numerous other scholarships and awards available through Dhillon and ULethbridge, click here.