Alumnae

Distinguished Alumna Award

An Impressive Lot

Established in 2007, the Distinguished Alumna Award recognizes annually the achievements of a particularly accomplished Trafalgar Old Girl, a woman whose career or activities have made a difference in the world and can serve to inspire our students today.

Based on nominations received from Traf alumnae, the award criteria are these:

  • She is a role model and inspiration to others
  • She embodies the courage to break new ground and to reach for her full potential
  • She is seen by others to have demonstrated excellence and/or has distinguished herself in her chosen field
  • She has made a difference in the lives of others/has contributed to her local or the global community;
  • She has demonstrated leadership through her vision or acceptance of responsibility.

This Year's Winner

Karen Tam ’95 – Distinguished Alumna 2025

Karen Tam 譚嘉文 (b. 1977, Montreal, Canada) is an acclaimed artist and curator whose installations explore the constructions and imaginations of cultures and communities. Since 2000, her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Victoria and Albert Museum, He Xiangning Art Museum, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, and the Liverpool Biennial.

Her accolades include the 2021 Giverny Capital Prize, an Honourable Mention for Swallowing Mountains at the 2024 Canadian Museums Association Awards, and recognition from the Louis-Comtois Prize, Hnatyshyn Foundation Mid-Career Award, and Sobey Art Awards.

Tam holds an MFA in Sculpture (School of the Art Institute of Chicago) and a PhD in Cultural Studies (Goldsmiths, University of London). She is Adjunct Curator at Griffin Art Projects and has contributed to several publications on art and cultural studies. Her work is included in prominent museum and corporate collections in Canada, the United States, and the UK, and she is represented by Galerie Hugues Charbonneau.

Karen embodies the creativity, curiosity, and engagement that define Trafalgar. Her accomplishments continue to inspire both current and future students, showing the impact that dedication, vision, and a commitment to the community can have in the world.

Previous Award Winners

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Trafalgar School for Girls

3495 Simpson Street
Montreal, Quebec
H3G 2J7
514-935-2644
info@trafalgar.qc.ca
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