Each year at convocation, MacEwan University recognizes the outstanding achievements of its graduates with academic awards. Here are the award recipients for the Fall Class of 2021.
President’s Medal for Academic Excellence and Student Leadership
The President’s Medal recognizes students for their exemplary combination of academic achievement and contribution to the betterment of MacEwan University. Medal recipients are graduates who demonstrate the best qualities of a MacEwan student by maintaining a high grade point average while demonstrating leadership through active participation in university-wide committees, groups, organizations or extra-curricular activities. One medal may be awarded to a graduating student in a certificate or diploma program and one medal to a graduating student in a degree program.
After taking time off from my artistic and educational ambitions to raise children for some time, I quickly discovered that returning to formal education as a mature student presented obvious challenges. This endeavor has demanded considerable courage and early on, I decided to channel this potentially debilitating energy into a motivational tool to work even harder in achieving my goals. Every step of my educational journey has presented me with humbling experiences and countless barriers to navigate that have demanded grit and determination to persevere. However, I have learned that it is these most difficult moments that define and refine us, and can in turn positively contribute to our unique development, perspective and powerful voice as emerging graduates.
The MacEwan community provided a safe space for me to develop my artistry as a musician and developing composer, and as I look back over the past few years, I realize that faculty mentorship has been the essential foundation of my development. Without this support and connection, I’m sure many of us would have not made it as far as we have today, nor would we have the confidence and clarity concerning the direction we are currently headed. I have learned that, as we grow, we all need mentorship, no matter who we are, what we look like, where we come from or how old we are. Canadian artist Emily Carr, who is a great inspiration to me of fulfilling artistic goals later in life, wrote of a wonderful mentor she had as someone who did not “persuade others to climb their own ladder” but rather steadied the student’s ladder while they “got [their own] foot-hold.” During my time at MacEwan, my ladder was constantly steadied by instructors, mentors and fellow students, who all enabled me to grow and flourish.
- Mari Alice Conrad, Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Popular Music and President’s Medal Recipient
Watch Mari Conrad’s address to the Fall Class of 2021
Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence
The Dean’s Medal is each faculty or school’s highest academic honour. Each dean may award one medal to a graduating student in a certificate or diploma program and one medal to a graduating student in a degree program. Medal recipients are recognized by the dean for their exemplary success in meeting the learning challenges and academic requirements of their programs of study.
- Cassandra Teresa Leung, Faculty of Arts and Science
- Adeline Kristen Piercy, Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications
- Amy Michelle Trudeau, Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications
- Sharmin Mohamedali Ruda, Faculty of Health and Community Studies
- Stephanie Lyne Duguay, Faculty of Health and Community Studies
- Yamini Phool, Faculty of Nursing
- Zandra Mae Zabaza Bongco, Faculty of Nursing
- Nicole Fraser, School of Continuing Education
- Andrew Michael Stangowitz, School of Business
- Ruo Yao Wang, School of Business