Ryerson University journalism student Julia Simioni was born into a family that has gone through its fair share of health challenges, so she knows what it means to overcome adversity.

Her mother died in 2014, after losing her battle with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Julia, herself, was born with a benign tremor, a brain disorder that causes parts of her body to shake uncontrollably.

Soon after her mother’s death, Julia’s tremor started getting progressively worse.

She struggles to do simple tasks such as holding a tray with a plate of food or using a computer keyboard.

“I spill every drink I have,” she said of the disorder for which she takes medication.

Simioni persevered through the grief of losing her mother and her own challenges to reach her fourth year of journalism studies at Ryerson University.

She hopes to become a magazine feature writer.

“I’ve gotten into writing about disabilities a lot more, partly because my mom died …. I was exposed to the reality of what disability looks like when I was younger,” she said.

These qualities earned Simioni, 21, the Barbara Turnbull Award, which is given to a student with a physical disability who best embodies former Star journalist Turnbull’s characteristics: tenacity, perseverance and a positive attitude in the face of significant challenges.

“I was overwhelmed and honoured, and after reading about what she went through, I felt like I don’t deserve this (award),” Simioni said of the award named after Turnbull, a pioneering reporter, who John Honderich, chair of the Star’s parent company, said became the public face of how a person can get surpass physical limitations to make an indelible mark in their profession.

“Disability should not be an impairment for people trying to hold a job,” Honderich said. “She was a great reporter, and, to some extent, she was a poster child for that whole struggle.”

Turnbull was shot during a convenience store robbery in 1983, leaving her quadriplegic at age 18.

She subsequently became a reporter. She passed away in May, 2015 after a decades-long career reporting for the Star. She earned a reputation as a champion for disability rights.

Simioni was given the award by Turnbull’s sister, Alison, during Friday’s Ryerson School of Journalism Awards held on campus.

“After her (Barbara’s) injury, she started meeting more journalists, who covered her story and I think that sparked her interest in journalism,” Alison said of her sister.

“It’s wonderful to know that her legacy continues to live on.”

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Turnbull’s story has inspired Simioni to take things a step further by diving into research projects about Turnbull and pioneers such as she was.

Other honours handed out Friday included the John A. Honderich bursary in journalism, given to Prapti Bamaniya; the Boris Spremo photojournalism award, given to Joshua Cameron; the Toronto Star award for excellence in investigative reporting, given to Charles Buckley, and the John A. Honderich gold medal for a outstanding student in the graduating class, given to Nicole Di Donato. The awards were among the 72 handed out to journalism students from across each year of the four-year program.