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Queen’s students make valuable contributions to the university’s Senate, the governance body responsible for determining all matters of academic character affecting the university as a whole. They achieve this through involvement in senate committees or serving as senators themselves. The Margaret Hooey Governance Award was established in 2018 to recognize the outstanding contributions to good governance that students make in these roles.

Lucas Balog, a mechatronics and robotics student in Smith Engineering, is the 2025 recipient of the award for his extensive service as a student senator and as the chair of the Senate Student Caucus. He has served as both a member and as chair of the Queen’s University Board Senate Advisory Committee, which included acting as chair of the annual Board/Senate Joint Retreat in 2025. In addition, he has been actively involved in the Engineering Society as a member of the Bursary Committee and as deputy speaker, and he is a student representative on the Faculty Board.

His letters of support note his particular strength in supporting his fellow students and leading by example. Lucas is actively engaged in all aspects of governance and in advocating for the student voice, and one supporter noted that his work ensures that “student senators are not just present, but involved and impactful.” All supporters commented on his positivity and willingness to look for solutions, “highlighting where we can help rather than speaking negatively,” a characteristic that has served him well as a leader and makes him someone his colleagues turn to for support and advice.

The Margaret Hooey Governance Award Committee was unanimous in its decision to present the award to Lucas.

Learn more about the award on the Queen’s Secretariat website.