Mikhail Nembhard is OUA Football’s Champion of EDI Award Winner
Fourth-year human kinetics student Mikhail Nembhard was recognized at the OUA Football Awards luncheon in Hamilton, Ont. on Thursday for his commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. He was the recipient of the Bernie Custis Champion of EDI Award for 2025.
"Throughout my academic, professional, and community engagements, I have been deeply committed to advancing EDI within sport and education ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to participate, lead, and thrive," explains Nembhard.
"My journey in EDI leadership has been driven by the belief that sport and education are powerful tools for empowerment and positive social change," the product of Pickering, Ont., continues.
In his current role as Marketing Officer for both the Black Student-Athlete Advocacy Council (BSAAC) and the Ottawa Black Grad Committee, Nembhard leads strategic communication efforts that amplify diverse voices, celebrate community achievement, and strengthen engagement across campus and beyond.
Nembhard has also worked at the Lowertown Community Center to develop a youth sports program, and has been a guest speaker in high schools as part of the Black Youth Forum, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and positive representation.
As he describes, "[his] contributions have also focused on structural change and resource accessibility." His role in developing and executing fundraising initiatives that collectively raised over $30,000 in support of the BIPOC Student-Athlete Scholarship Endowment advanced representation and opportunity within sport.
He supported the design and execution of BSAAC Connect, a community-building initiative fostering mentorship, inclusion, and empowerment for Black students and student-athletes.
Nembhard is also gaining work experience as a member of the team at Carleton Rehabilitation Centre. There, he is integrating EDI principles into athlete recovery and performance assessments, ensuring a safe, inclusive transition back to sport.
A Gee-Gees team member since 2021, this was Nembhard's third year of eligibility. The defensive back appeared in five regular season games and recorded a career high of 10.5 tackles, notably picking up interceptions in back-to-back games at Western and Guelph.
Kwabena-Nana Gyimah won the Bernie Custis Champion of EDI Award for 2024. The award was created in 2022.