A graduate student at the University of Lethbridge has received a special award.
Lexia Piccolo is the second-ever recipient of the VandenHoek Schlachter Pride Award.
It was launched by U of L alums Dr. Kurt Schlachter and Jason VandenHoek in 2023, to celebrate academic achievement, and reduce financial strain faced by students and recognize contributions to advancing equity and inclusion for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Officials say Piccolo, a student in the Faculty of Education, has a strong background in advocacy work focused on 2SLGBTQ+ youth in her home province of Quebec. With the award, she receives $2,000 toward her schooling.
Piccolo was recognized during a ceremony that included the raising of the Progress Pride flag on Tuesday. Although she could not attend in-person, she prepared a video address.
“It’s [the award] a symbol of what’s possible when we centre equity, community and care,” she says.
“It shows me that creating safer and more inclusive spaces for 2SLGBTQ+ youth matters and that this work is seen and valued. For me, Pride is about visibility and resilience.”
“It’s a reminder of the strength it takes to live authentically and stand in your truth. You’re valid, you’re worthy and you deserve to take up space exactly as you are,” she adds.
Piccolo worked as a public consultation coordinator with the group ‘Youth for Youth Quebec’, where she designed and executed a town hall-style initiative for youth at a Pride event. This helped participants share their story and challenges in a safe space.
“This was done in a rural community, and I think that’s super important because it’s essentially a double minority. Rural communities don’t get enough attention, and neither do youth in the 2SLGBTQ+ community,” she says in a news release from the U of L.
Additionally, the graduate student recorded survey data on mental health needs and experiences from participants across her home province.
“My findings showed a real lack of support within community organizations, including schools, and discrimination from older populations,” she says. “With these results, I wrote a policy brief called The Importance of School Support on the Mental Health of LGBTQIA2S+ Youth that was published, calling to the government and aimed at informing educational institutions or people working in them on how we can better support youth.”
READ MORE: Progress Pride flag raised at U of L
Piccolo is halfway through her Master of Education in Counselling Psychology and plans to pursue a career as a mental health professional.
“As someone who has worked directly with Queer youth, especially in the context of mental health and protection services, I’ve seen how systems fail people,” Piccolo states.
“Whether it’s a lack of affirming spaces or limited access to mental health care — just not being heard in decisions that directly affect them — I’ve seen how these gaps are real and harmful, so I want to be a part of changing that.”
Dr. Kurt Schlachter says Piccolo embodies the spirit of the award. “Her work reminds us that meaningful change happens when we listen deeply, act boldly, and advocate tirelessly. We are honoured to support students like Lexia who are making a profound impact in their communities and beyond,” Schlachter remarks.
“Any work and progress we make is about more than just inclusion — it’s also about safety, respect and dignity,” adds Piccolo.
“As a Queer woman — I will include myself in this — we’ve often been pushed to the side. But I want to emphasize the message that we are important, and we deserve to be treated with the same dignity and respect as everybody else.”
READ MORE: New endowment fund to support 2SLGBTQ+ students at the University of Lethbridge
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