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In life, you never know where an unexpected crossroad might force you to change direction. For Halle Walters, it was a sports injury that altered not only her athletic goals, but also her academic schedule as a first year engineering student. Competing in a bronze medal CanWest rugby game, the separated her shoulder, keeping her out of the game for the next three months and hindering her ability to write, participate in labs and complete her mid-term exams. 

Rather than quit, Halle found a deep reservoir of resilience she didn’t know she had. In the midst of significant upheaval, she made the conscious choice to take back control of her life. She consistently showed up for her physiotherapy, explains Halle, “even when it was hard.” Academically, she adopted new ways to learn, such as voice-to-text software, and began to record the lectures and engage in more frequent collaboration with her classmates.

The incident — and her response to it — gave Halle a deeper insight into the types of struggles and obstacles she had never considered before, permanently changing her perception of the meaning of true strength, not only in herself, but in others as well. 

“I thought strength was about physical endurance — what I could push through on the field,” she says. “But I’ve learned that real strength is mental and emotional too. It’s being vulnerable enough to ask for help when you need it. It’s adjusting when your original plan falls apart. It’s waking up every day and trying again, even when the odds feel stacked against you. This period in my life taught me the value of resilience and self-belief in an entirely new way. I proved to myself that I’m capable of doing hard things — of adapting, recovering and coming back even stronger. It gave me a deeper understanding of myself and a new appreciation for the strength in others who face invisible battles of their own.”

Sports continues to be one of the avenues Halle uses to build community, including mentoring young athletes and taking on leadership roles. She has coached the U16 Team ß÷ßäÉçÇø girls’ flag football, and last year, coached Edmonton Gold rugby. She’s also a head coach of the Bellerose women’s rugby team, her former high school, where she additionally tutored several students in STEM subjects. For three years, Halle has been involved with the “For Girls By Girls” program, coaching girls in a variety of sports. She co-coached her former junior high senior girls basketball, leading the team to back-to-back city championships.

“These experiences continue to inspire my commitment to leadership, community and the future of women in athletics,” says Halle. “I’ve had so many influential coaches and mentors in my life and I strive to be that kind of mentor both on and off the field, ensuring that the women I coach grow as athletes but also as confident learners. Because of this, many have been considering or have gone into STEM fields. I truly believe, ‘If you can see it, you can be it’ — and visibility is essential in growing women’s sports.”

One of the most meaningful roles Halle has taken on is ambassador for Be the Voice, a program that amplifies the voices of athlete leaders to raise awareness of issues including gender-based violence, social injustice and discrimination.

“This role has deepened my understanding of advocacy and strengthened my commitment to creating safe, supportive spaces,” says Halle. “I have also been given the opportunity to speak on panels for Black youth for the Government of ß÷ßäÉçÇø and have facilitated conversations with other Black youth to share their perspectives and experiences, which is crucial for change in this province.”

Halle says her journey as a mechanical engineering student and an elite athlete has taught her invaluable lessons that extend far beyond the classroom or the field. It has shaped her character, strengthened my work ethic and given her opportunities she never could have imagined.

“I am committed to being a leader who uplifts others, proving that education and athletics are not mutually exclusive but rather, complementary forces that shape individuals into the best versions of themselves,” says Halle. “More than ever, I’m driven to make a meaningful impact, not just through engineering, but through empathy, perseverance and innovation. I’m proud of the way I’ve handled this season of my life. It reminded me that challenges can reveal our true potential — and that I’m made to do hard things.”

Named in honour of the Faculty of Engineering’s founding professor, the William Muir Edwards Citizenship Award recognizes Engineering at ß÷ßäÉçÇø undergraduate students who have made exceptional contributions to society. It’s a celebration of citizenship and of engineering students who go to extraordinary lengths to make our world a better place. Special thanks to the David Morris Family Foundation for supporting our students and making the William Muir Edwards Citizenship Awards possible. 

Do you know an undergraduate student whose volunteerism, contributions, and efforts, both on-campus and off-campus, work to make the world a better place? Learn more about the nomination process »