From the Nominator

On November 4, 2025, University of Waterloo's engineering department unveiled a 5-minute video that transformed a typical large-gift announcement into personal storytelling. With the $20 million Gloria Baylis Foundation gift, Engineering 7 (E7) was renamed the Pearl Sullivan Engineering Building, honoring two pioneering women: Gloria Baylis and the Dean Pearl Sullivan. The video solved an extraordinary challenge: giving equal weight to two trailblazers that most of the 300+ student attendees had never heard of. Gloria Baylis (1929-2017), a Barbadian-Canadian nurse who left home at 17, won Canada's first employment-related racial discrimination case in 1965 after being refused a nursing position because she was Black. She founded Baylis Medical from her kitchen table, building it into a globally recognized health-tech company. Pearl Sullivan (1961-2020), Waterloo Engineering's first woman dean, battled cancer for 12 years while transforming the faculty and championing construction of E7 as the flagship building that gives students access to leading technologies. Both were passionate, fearless leaders who refused to accept limitations. Through intimate interviews, Frank Baylis, who later led Baylis Medical, reflected on his mother Gloria's patient-first values that became core to their company's success. Pearl's son and grandson shared remembrances, and current Dean Mary Wells described her friend and mentor as an "iron butterfly"--strength juxtaposed with beauty and whimsy. This video, which generated significant media coverage, is a lasting digital asset that demonstrates how courage and persistence create pathways for the next generation.

From the Judges

This entry showcased beautiful, emotionally resonant storytelling. The strength of the video lies in its human-centered narrative, which honors the transformational gift and the legacy of Dean Pearl Sullivan with authenticity and care. The video effectively balances donor recognition with a heartfelt tribute, acknowledging leadership, while creating a clear and compelling message of gratitude.