KAMLOOPS – At its Convocation Ceremonies to be held June 9th and 10th at its Kamloops campus, Thompson Rivers University will award the following medals for outstanding academic achievement:
Governor General’s Academic Medal (Silver):
This medal is awarded annually to the undergraduate who achieves the highest academic standing upon graduation from a bachelor degree program.
Sachiko Takahashi-Bachelor of Science degree (Chemistry)
Sachiko Takahashi exemplifies the attributes of an outstanding all-around student. Born in Yokohama, she came to Canada at the age of 10, graduating from Westsyde Secondary School in 2001. While maintaining a high grade point average and winning many scholarly and research awards, including a prestigious Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council scholarship, both the Canadian Society for Chemistry Silver Medal and Creo Awards, and a Canada Millennium Scholarship, Sachiko found time to volunteer for People in Motion, the SPCA, Habitat for Humanity, North Kamloops Physiotherapy and the Multiple Sclerosis Society. She isn’t firm about her future plans, but has applied to several medical schools.
Governor General’s Academic Medal (Collegiate Bronze):
This medal is awarded annually to the student who achieves the highest overall average upon graduation from a diploma-level, post-secondary program of a minimum of two years, full-time duration.
Sharron R. Westlund-Accounting Technician diploma
Sharron Westlund graduated from McBride Secondary School in 1991 and earned a legal secretary certificate at the College of New Caledonia in 1993 before moving to Kamloops. In 2003, when her young daughter was four years old, she returned to university to pursue an Accounting Technician diploma. Sharron managed to balance family life and classes, taking time out from maintaining a 4.28 grade point average to run, camp and hike with her husband and daughter. She now plans to work in an intermediate accounting position in a small business or public practice, and is considering laddering into TRU’s Bachelor of Business Administration degree program or pursuing an accounting designation.
University Medals:
These medals are awarded in each TRU degree program to the eligible graduating student who achieves the highest grade point average over the assessment period.
Thompson Rivers University Medal in Social Work: Shawna N. Bava
Shawna Bava, also Valedictorian of this Convocation Ceremony, is an excellent academic student, highly involved in campus and community activities, and a leader of social work students. After graduating from St. Ann’s Academy, Shawna attended Cariboo College for two years before completing a science degree with “Great Distinction” from the University of Saskatchewan. She then volunteered for a year with high-risk youth in Vancouver; the experience caused her to change her career. She returned to her hometown to pursue a degree in social work, where she served on several committees, and was the first student in her program to complete a practicum in an international setting.
University of British Columbia Medal in Education: Fred Schaub
An outstanding lifelong student, Switzerland-born Fred Schaub is also trained in cabinet making and carpentry, and as a chemistry lab technician. Married with two sons, he works with youth in amateur hockey, where he won the 2000/01 BC Amateur Hockey Association Canadian Hockey Week Award, and as Salmon Arm’s program and volunteer coordinator for the BC Special Olympics. He also helped out at Grindrod Elementary, near his hometown of White Lake, and has been hired as a teacher-on-call for his local school district while he pursues a master’s degree in special education.
Thompson Rivers University Medal in Science: Paul Nguyen
The third son in his family to earn a degree at this university, Norkam Secondary grad Paul Nguyen is an all-around scholar with experience in teaching and research on top of academic excellence. He volunteered as a tutor in the university math lab for two years while maintaining a 4.23 grade point average, and holds a grant from Canada’s most prestigious science granting agency, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), for research he is currently working on with a Thompson Rivers University faculty member. Paul has also received an NSERC post-graduate scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in statistics at the University of Western Ontario this fall.
Thompson Rivers University Medal in Tourism Management: Callandra Lea Ottmann
Callandra Ottmann was born and raised in Canmore, Alberta, graduating from Canmore Collegiate High in 1998. After completing an Events and Conventions Management diploma at TRU in 2003, Callandra spent three months backpacking through Europe, then laddered into TRU’s Tourism Management degree program. A tourist as well as a tourism professional, Callandra has visited 13 countries, including a year in Australia in 2000. While maintaining Dean’s List standing in her courses, she found time to volunteer for a number of campus and community organizations. Callandra is getting married in September, and then plans to live in Europe for a year, working in the tourism industry. Future plans include a master’s degree in tourism studies.
Thompson Rivers University Medal in Natural Resource Science: Jodi L. Vander Hoek
Jodi Vander Hoek is the second student in her family to win a medal upon graduation; her sister Heather was awarded the Governor General’s Collegiate Bronze medal in 2003. Jodi was born and raised in Salmon Arm, and was a 4-H member until she graduated from Salmon Arm Senior Secondary in 2000. She completed a year of arts studies before enrolling in TRU’s natural resource program, where she excelled in her studies, winning many scholarships and awards. While maintaining high grades, she also volunteered as president of the TRU Range Club, and as Secretary of the Natural Resource Science Club. Future plans include her wedding in September and continued work with the Fraser Basin Council in Kamloops.
Thompson Rivers University Medal in Business Administration: Nathan L. Murray
After graduating from Logan Lake Secondary School in 1997, Nathan Murray completed the Professional Golf Management program at Camosun College in 2001 before transferring to TRU to pursue a degree in business. His older sister and brother, and his mother, who won the social work medal in 1996, are all TRU graduates. While maintaining high grades, Nathan, who plays hockey as well as golf, volunteered as general manager with the TRU hockey club and organized junior golf clinics and events. He has recently returned from a three-month backpacking tour of Europe, and will be attending law school this fall.
Thompson Rivers University Medal in Arts: Kendra Lee McKay
Kendra McKay graduated in 2001 from Williams Lake Secondary School, located near her hometown of Hanceville, earning an entrance scholarship to pursue arts studies at TRU. A math major and geography minor, Kendra maintained high academic standing and continued to win scholarships while volunteering as a math tutor for TRU students. She also found time to prepare and present a scholarly paper at the Western Division of the Canadian Association of Geographers Annual Meeting. An avid outdoorsperson and long-time 4-H’er, Kendra bikes, camps and kayaks, and volunteers at 4-H youth camps. She was married this past May and will be pursuing certification as a secondary school teacher this fall.
Thompson Rivers University Medal in Fine Arts: Kristina E. Fiedrich
Kristina Fiedrich graduated from Kamloops Secondary School in 1999, and then earned a professional photo-imaging diploma at Langara College in 2002. She then enrolled in TRU’s fine arts program, and this year graduates with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art, as well as a fine arts diploma and
a photography and printmaking certificate. A highlight in her graduating year was a group art exhibition she mounted in the TRU Art Gallery with two fellow students. She now plans to pursue a master’s degree in fine arts.
Thompson Rivers University Medal in Journalism: Lailani Mendoza
Lailani Mendoza was born in the Philippines, and graduated from Mangatarem National High School in 1999. She then studied at the University of the Philippines for a year, where she was named to the Dean’s List. She moved to Canada with her mother and sister at the age of 18, and enrolled at TRU, where she again achieved Dean’s List standing. Lailani has volunteered for both World Vision and the Campus Crusade for Christ in the Philippines. Already a regular contributor to a youth-oriented on-line magazine, she plans to work at a magazine or newspaper in Canada.
Thompson Rivers University Medal in Nursing: Corrine Out
Corrine graduated from Salmon Arm Senior Secondary in 1999, then took two years of general science at Okanagan University College before coming to TRU to pursue studies in nursing, where she was awarded a number of scholarships and achieved Dean’s List standing in recognition of her superior academic performance. A true nurse-advocate, Corrine worked on campus to raise student awareness about healthy nutrition, and advocated for healthy snack options in campus vending machines and food outlets. She has already secured an on-call position in Royal Inland Hospital’s surgical unit, and plans for work as a nurse for a while and then pursue a career in acting or medicine.
For more information, please contact Bronwen Scott by phone at 250-828-5739 or email
