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Queen’s students dedicate thousands of hours to community service each year, getting involved in established Kingston charities, student clubs, and sometimes even starting initiatives of their own. Medical student Natalie Kearn has made an especially large impact with her service work and is now being recognized with an annual Civic Award for Youth Volunteerism from the City of Kingston, which is awarded to individuals who demonstrate values of community service and inspire others through their volunteerism.

“It’s a huge honour to be recognized by the city and to know my work has helped so many people in the community,” says Kearn. “It’s a privilege to live in a city as amazing as Kingston, and I hope this recognition inspires others to get involved and support the services our community relies on.”

Kearn founded , one of her widest reaching initiatives, during the Covid-19 pandemic. This free digital platform is designed to support high school students navigating the transition into post-secondary education, and, with public health restrictions in place, it quickly emerged as a vital resource, offering mentorship, student-led insights, and educational content to help bridge that gap. What began as an avenue to share firsthand university advice soon expanded into a comprehensive platform reaching over 2.1 million students, featuring recorded lectures, study guides, and other academic support.

“Without the benefit of in-person campus tours, open houses, and university fairs during the pandemic, a lot of students struggled to decide what schools they would apply to,” says Kearn. “I started Project Uni by interviewing university and college students so prospective applicants could get a real sense of campus life and make more informed decisions about their future. It’s been incredibly rewarding seeing the website grow into a meaningful resource for so many.”

Kearn’s leadership has also shone through her fundraising initiative Painted by Nat, a face painting business aimed at uplifting hospital patients and family members during treatment. She has also contributed her design skills to QMed Fights Cancer, helping raise $97,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society, and has volunteered as a youth field hockey coach.

Kearn painting a child's face through her Painted by Nat initiative. (Supplied photo)

Looking ahead, Kearn hopes to complete her medical education at Queen’s and ultimately practice as a physician in the Kingston area. Her passion for medicine was shaped by her experience as an undergraduate researcher with Maha Othman (Biomedical and Molecular Sciences) and with the under the supervision of Amer Johri (Cardiology), where she witnessed firsthand the life-changing impact of clinical care. Coupled with her awareness of the growing physician shortage in Ontario, Kearn came to see medicine as a powerful way to continue serving and supporting her community.

From championing student success to supporting patients and families through challenging times, Kearn’s contributions reflect a deep commitment to her community. As she continues her journey in medicine, Kearn remains focused on making a difference in Kingston and beyond.

Kearn joins other Queen’s students and university initiatives that have recently received awards from the City of Kingston. Earlier this year, two groups of Queen’s students won the top prizes in the Mayor’s Innovation Challenge, which tasks local postsecondary students with developing ventures with community impact. And in 2023, Mitchell Hall and the Endaayaan-Tkanónsote Student Residence were named as two of the winners of the Kingston Livable City Design Awards.

To learn more about the 2025 Civic Award recipients and Queen’s community engagement, visit the City of Kingston’s and explore the Queen’s Economic and Community Impact Report.