Student recognized for contributions to governance at Queen’s.
Queen’s Student Senator Lucas Balog, Sci ’26, was acknowledged for his contributions in University governance with the Margaret Hooey Governance Award at the March 27 Senate. Balog was selected unanimously by the award Selection Committee, consisting of the Chair of the Committee, Rector, Chair of the Senate Governance and Nominating Committee, and University Secretary. Students who are in good academic standing, significantly involved in Senate or a Senate committee, and can demonstrate a high level of effectiveness in their work in governance are eligible for the award. Balog will receive approximately $16,500 as part of the recognition.
Established in 2018, the annual Margaret Hooey Governance Award recognizes a student who has contributed to Queen’s governance through their work on Senate or any Senate committee. The award is named after former longtime University Secretary Margaret Hooey, credited with having a large role in Queen’s governance as an advisor to the University’s istration.
Balog, a mechatronics and robotics engineering student, started his journey with student governance in high school. In 2023, he was elected as the Engineering Society Student Senator, a position he still holds today. In 2024, he became the chair of the Board Senate Advisory Committee, which establishes relationships between the Senate and the Board of Trustees. The Committee was initially created in 2008 when the University went through a financial crisis but was disbanded when it was resolved. It was brought back in 2017 to facilitate dialogue between the Board of Trustees and Senate to manage the current University deficit.
Originally, Balog considered applying for the award last year but decided to wait until this year because of the approaching deadline to apply. He took the extra year to work on his application and reference letters. He learned he received the award in class, forcing him to contain his excitement, but was still able to text his mom the exciting news.
Through his work, Balog’s main goal has been to help students get involved in governance.
“[Students involved in governance are] there to provide the student perspective,” Balog said in an interview with The Journal. “[Queen’s has] been so strong […] because that student perspective has always been at the table.”
A highlight of Balog’s work in student governance is providing mentorship to first-time Student Senators. He credited last year’s recipient of the award, Emils Matiss, a neuroscience PhD candidate, for teaching him how to navigate working as a Student Senator and mentor.
“I know it can be scary to get involved [in student governance], […] but [student involvement in governance] is the best way that we’re going to push our Universit y into the next century,” Balog said.
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