When Loretta Amos (Business Administration '25) first arrived in Canada from Ghana, she carried more than suitcases. She carried a dream to create a life that would open doors not only for herself, but for others.

Growing up in West Africa, Amos was determined to chart a different course from the traditional gender roles she witnessed around her. “I didn't have a lot of highly educated and ambitious women around me growing up, so I decided to be the first,” she says.

Her path to SAIT wasn’t straightforward. After enrolling in a private college that failed to meet expectations, she made the bold choice to start over. A bright red and blue advertisement she spotted on a train offering hands-on learning led her to SAIT, setting the stage for a two-year journey filled with hard work, growth, and resilience.

Balancing full-time work and evening classes was gruelling. Catching a 5 am train to work, grabbing a quick nap in the library, and attending classes until nearly 9 pm became her daily routine. But through exhaustion and challenges, Amos remained undeterred, believing if she continued to push through, she would carve out the life she envisioned.

Amos quickly found a sense of belonging at SAIT and, in turn, made it her mission to help others feel at home too. From leading campus tours and helping welcome more than 1,000 new students to recruiting volunteers for major events like Lunar New Year, Ramadan, and Diwali celebrations, she has been a driving force behind a more inclusive and connected SAIT community. As Junior President of the Afro-Caribbean Student Club, Amos also organized cultural events that celebrated diversity and empowered marginalized communities.

Her impact has extended beyond campus. Amos also volunteered at Calgary marathons supporting local charities, worked at a nursing home supporting seniors, and co-founded an initiative in Ghana called Hope in Every Mile, with the aim to fundraise for underprivileged children’s education.

“I realized volunteering wasn’t just about giving back, it was about building relationships,” says Amos. “In Canada, relationships are everything. They open doors that money can’t.”

Amos’s passion for women’s empowerment also stems from her early experiences. “In my science classes, I was often the only girl. I didn’t always feel heard,” she recalls. “Now that I’ve found my voice, I use it to empower others to show them they belong.”

Receiving SAIT’s 2025 President’s Medal feels both surreal and deeply meaningful for Amos. “Back home, awards were always about grades: best in biology, best in physics,” she says. “This is different. It’s an award for who I am, not just what I achieve on paper. It’s humbling. It tells me to keep going.”

As she looks to the future, Amos hopes her story inspires others to step forward, find their voice, and create the change they wish to see. “I want people to know: you don’t have to wait to be perfect to make an impact,” she says. “You just have to begin.”