From the Nominator

In the early morning of January 8, 2020, Western University was informed that four of our graduate students were among those who died when Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 was shot down shortly after takeoff in Iran. As information was being quickly shared across international media outlets and through social media, we knew we needed to move fast, but also with sensitivity and accuracy, as we communicated about this terrible tragedy. 

This was one of the saddest times in our University’s 142-year history. We approached this crisis with a focus on four core audiences who needed timely information as well as access to supports. These audiences included: the families of our four graduate students; the friends and close colleagues of the victims; the broader Iranian student community at Western and within London, Ontario; and our entire campus community of students, faculty, and staff. 

From issuing our initial statement, through holding an emotional and uniting campus memorial service, appropriately honouring the lives of Hadis Hayatdavoudi, Milad Nahavandi, Ghazal Nourian, and Sajedeh Saraeian was fundamental to everything we did. We accomplished this through telling the stories of four exceptionally talented students whose lives were cut short due to this horrible tragedy – and shining a light on the impact they made at Western.

From the Judges

Western University's response to the Flight PS752 crisis was impressive. Their response was timely, sensitive, and personal. The communications team responsibly and appropriately messaged the crisis, ensuring that information was shared in a timely fashion, with a clear understanding of how the situation was evolving. The university celebrated the students' lives, honored their culture, and supported their families, and classmates. The response to this crisis showed great leadership, and stands as an exceptional example of a crisis communications response.