Where does a passion for social justice and the environment lead to? For Sarah Lone, a Vanier College Social Science (Green Studies Major) student, her commitment to those issues has brought her straight to the prestigious Loran Award. Sarah is one of 30 students across Canada to win a Loran Award consisting of a full scholarship, valued at $75,000 over four years to study at a Canadian University. 
Loran Awards are granted on the basis of character, service and leadership. “Everything I do, relates to social justice or the environment,” she says. “My parents brought me up with egalitarian values and took me outside in nature a lot. I realized that I loved nature and wanted to preserve it.” As she became aware of social injustices around her, she also knew she wanted to change things. “My long term ambition is to work in a grassroots initiative in sustainable development, either in Canada or abroad.”
At Vanier College, Sarah got involved in the Social Justice Committee the first week she arrived. Not surprising since she was also in the Social Justice Club in high school at Royal West Academy.
In June 2009, Sarah travelled to Malawi with other selected Vanier students, to participate in “Education for All”, a Vanier international education study trip. There she studied the Malawian education system and participated in classroom activities at a school for visually impaired students. Since her return to Montreal, Sarah has shared her experiences and observations with other Cegep and high school students in order to increase their understanding of access to education in sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on gender. 
“I try to relate to other people and understand them, and I view everyone as equal, so when I see inequalities in the world I want to improve things,” she says. It’s not surprising that Sarah’s passion for improving the world earned her the outstanding Loran Award. Next year she will put it to good use when she heads off to university. She plans to study Environment and Resource Studies at the University of Waterloo.
“I have a holistic view and see social justice and the environment as being related. I’m really dedicated to this. It’s a passion I want to pursue for the rest of my life.”
