College and Wharton first-year Ayaan Jeraj was awarded the King Charles III Coronational Medal for his volunteer and service commitments.
The King Charles III Coronational Medal is awarded to individuals who have made a "significant contribution" to Canada or "an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada." One of the youngest individuals to be recognized with the medal, Jeraj, who is in the The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business, participated in numerous youth and volunteer initiatives during high school.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he founded the Prince of Wales Vancouver Model United Nations Conference, the first virtual Model United Nations conference in British Columbia, which included students from countries around the world and prominent officeholders as speakers.
The 2023 conference featured British Columbia Premier David Eby as the keynote speaker. Jeraj also served on the British Columbia Premier’s Youth Council and as the Premier of the Vancouver Youth Parliament.
“I was very humbled and honored to receive this award because it highlights my involvement and commitment to youth in the community,” he told Penn Today. “I really hope that it serves as an inspiration for other youth in the community, that you really can achieve anything, and you can make a difference.”
Jeraj has also been involved with community service efforts in his home province. Throughout the pandemic, he coordinated a campaign to distribute over 1,500 masks to local food banks and shelters while also leading multiple food drives for homeless individuals.
He also led an effort to gather used cell phones and donate them to people in Africa, providing crucial technology while also reducing e-waste. When asked about his community service work, Jeraj emphasized the personal fulfillment and growth that came with helping others.
“For me, [giving back] is important because I’ve been blessed with so many opportunities and I feel a responsibility to pay that forward,” he said. “I see service as an experience that benefits everyone involved: while you help others, you also learn tremendously and expand your own perspective.”
The King Charles III Coronation Medal was created to mark the Coronation of King Charles III in 2023 and is administered by the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General of Canada. A total of 30,000 medals are planned to be awarded throughout the year.
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