2006 Medal Winners and Valedictorians
VALEDICTORIAN - Ceremony A (June 8, 10am)
MJ Paluck, Child and Youth Care Diploma
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MJ Paluck was born in Smithers, moving to Kamloops during her school years, where she graduated from Westsyde Secondary School. After earning her Community and School Support certificate at TRU, she laddered into the Child and Youth Care diploma program, where she excelled in her studies. She has already begun to use her education and skills as a co-facilitator at Skl’ep School, and her instructors describe her as a highly conscientious, ethical and skilled professional who has consistently demonstrated her commitment to the children, youth and families that she works with, to the university, and to the community of Kamloops. Future plans include volunteer work and working full-time in a school setting. |
VALEDICTORIAN - Ceremony B (June 8, 2pm)
Nicole Berfurt, Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Degree, Psychology Major
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Nicole grew up in Prince George, and graduated from Prince George Secondary School there. She returned to university as a mature student after the tragic death of her eldest son Jacob in 1999. After mathematics upgrading, Nicole enrolled in the Arts program, where she excelled, and was named to the Dean’s List in 2004 and 2005. An active community volunteer, Nicole is active with the Kamloops Heritage Railway Society and School District #73’s One to One reading program. On campus, she was instrumental in the formation of the Student Psychology club. Future plans include a master’s degree and PhD with the ultimate goal of becoming a clinical psychologist. |
VALEDICTORIAN - Ceremony C (June 9, 10am)
Laura Beyer, Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree
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Laura Beyer was born in Punnichy, Saskatchewan, then moved with her family to Creston, BC, where she graduated from Prince Charles Secondary School. A Dean's List scholar while pursuing her nursing degree, Laura, also co-owner of BodyWorks Fitness Centre, taught fitness classes and worked as a personal trainer. She also found time to volunteer at various blood-pressure clinics, and even organized one of her own, as well as a "Stretch at Work" seminar.
Future plans include an advanced practice course to obtain a neonatal nursing specialty certificate, and a master's degree in nursing within the next ten years, with the ultimate goal of becoming a neonatal nurse practitioner. |
VALEDICTORIAN Ceremony D (June 9, 2pm)
Samara Quinton
Bachelor of Business Administration Degree, Accounting Major
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Samara Quinton grew up in Cranbrook, graduating from Mount Baker Secondary School. She completed a Business Administration Diploma in Accounting at College of the Rockies and a certificate of Religious Studies at Pacific Life Bible College before coming to TRU to continue her business education. In the last three years, Samara was named to the Dean's List throughout her years of schooling, and has won a number of awards, including the 2003 Governor General Bronze Medal, a TRU transfer award and entrance bursary in 2003, and the 2005 Chartered Accountant's Education Foundation scholarship. Future plans include earning her Chartered Accountant designation and travel. Samara is also the winner of the University Medal in Business Administration. |
VALEDICTORIAN Fall Convocation (October 5th)
Kevin Hewins
Master of Business Administration
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Kevin Hewins was born in Campbell River, and graduated from high school there in 1998. After completing a Bachelor of Business Administration degree at TRU in 2005, he immediately enrolled in the new master degree program. He maintained a 4+ GPA for the duration of his intensive, 16-month program, was named to the Dean's List, and received the Convergys Scholarship. Kevin's future plans include earning a PhD in organizational behaviour and becoming a university professor. |
GOVERNOR GENERAL'S ACADEMIC MEDAL (SILVER)
Barbara Campbell, Bachelor of Education (Elementary) Degree
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Barbara Campbell was born in Squamish in 1979 and graduated from Howe Sound Secondary in 1997. Upon graduating from UBC with a Bachelor of Science degree in agroecology in 2002, she received the HM King Prize for the highest standing in animal science and the PA Boving award for the highest standing in any agriculture undergraduate degree program. After two years working as the program coordinator for BC 4-H in Kamloops, Barbara discovered a passion for working with children and education, so she enrolled in TRU's bachelor of education program, where she excelled, winning the Bruce Roberts scholarship and earning dean's list standing every year. She was recently hired by School District #73 as a teacher-on-call, and hopes to teach full-time in Clearwater. She and her husband Matt are expecting their first child this summer. |
GOVERNOR GENERAL'S ACADEMIC MEDAL (COLLEGIATE BRONZE)
Lyra Lemery, Animal Health Technology Diploma
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Lyra Lemery was born in Victoria in 1980, and graduated from Lambert Park Secondary School in 1998 with an entrance scholarship to the University of Victoria, where she graduated with distinction in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. An animal lover, Lyra then enrolled in the Animal Health Diploma program at TRU, with the career goal of working in wildlife rehabilitation, getting her start while at TRU, when she did volunteer work and practicums at the BC Wildlife Park, the Burrowing Owl Recovery Centre, and the Wild Ark animal rehabilitation centre in Victoria. Lyra has just moved to Victoria with her fiancee, Adam, who moved to Kamloops to support Lyra during her studies.They will be married this August. |
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
Nicole Hagan
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Nicole Hagan was born in Kamloops in 1973, and graduated from Kamloops Senior Secondary in 1991. She then enrolled in sciences at TRU, also playing soccer and volleyball, where she excelled and was named Scholar-Athlete of the Year three years in a row, as well as CCAA Academic All-Canadian in 1995, her BSc graduating year. After taking accounting through distance education for three years, Nicole returned to TRU, where she continued to distinguish herself. She is now working in adult mental health with the Interior Health Authority, and plans to continue that work in Kamloops, where she lives with her husband and five-year-old son. |
Thompson Rivers University Medal in Education
Leanne Neighbour
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Born in Edmonton in 1965, Leanne Neighbour moved with her family to Kamloops, where she graduated from Kamloops Senior Secondary school in 1983. She completed a bachelor’s degree in child and youth care at the University of Victoria in 1988, and then worked at the Variety treatment centre and for the Surrey school district in child and youth care, before deciding to focus on teaching. She then enrolled with TRU’s School of Education, where she distinguished herself, also finding time in her busy life as the single mother of two young children to volunteer at their school. She plans to teach in the school system, and is considering pursuing a master’s degree in a few years. |
Thompson Rivers University Medal in Science
Daniel Graves
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Daniel Graves was born in Chilliwack in 1983, and graduated from Hope Secondary school in 2001 with the Governor-General’s Bronze Medal. Daniel won the 2005 Canadian Acoustical Association’s Hetu prize for his co-invention with UBC professor Murray Hodgson of the acoustical software ClassTalk during a 2004 work term, and worked on satellite-to-earth mapping for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) during two work terms last year in Salem, Germany. He has been awarded a prestigious 2006 Canada Graduate Scholarship prize from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council. Future plans include the long-term goal of becoming a professor. |
Thompson Rivers University Medal in Tourism Management
Andrew Krenz
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The youngest of eight children, Andrew Krenz was born in Red Deer, Alberta in 1978. After moving with his family to BC, he graduated from Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School in 100 Mile House in 1996 and then earned a ski resort management diploma at Selkirk College in 2000. After playing in bands for a couple of years, Andrew, an accomplished guitarist who also composes, came to TRU to pursue a tourism degree. An active volunteer with an avid interest in international tourism development, Andrew has volunteered with two church missions overseas, has taken a graduate course in the Gambia in West Africa, and just returned from a class trip to Chile, where he participated in an indigenous tourism project. |
Thompson Rivers University Medal in Natural Resource Science
Tiera Machell
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Tiera Machell was born in Ganges, Saltspring Island, in 1983, and graduated from Gulf Islands Secondary school in 2001. An avid outdoorsperson, Tiera, whose hobbies include horseback riding, target shooting, and guitar, also achieved her black belt in Tae Kwon Do. As an active volunteer and animal lover, Tiera has continued to volunteer at the Kamloops Wildlife Park, where she has been a docent and animal health care volunteer. After completing some science prerequisites at TRU this fall, Tiera will continue her studies at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon.
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Thompson Rivers University Medal in Business Administration
Samara Quinton
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Samara Quinton grew up in Cranbrook, graduating from Mount Baker Secondary School there. She completed a Business Administration Diploma in Accounting at College of the Rockies and a Certificate of Religious Studies at Pacific Life Bible College before coming to TRU to continue her business education. In the past last three years, Samara was named to the Dean’s List throughout her years of schooling, and has won a number of awards, including the 2003 Governor General Bronze Medal, a TRU transfer award and entrance bursary in 2003, and the 2005 Chartered Accountant’s Education Foundation scholarship. Future plans include earning her Chartered Accountant designation and travel. Samara is also the valedictorian for this Convocation Ceremony. |
Thompson Rivers University Medal in Arts
Devon Stonehocker
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Devon Stonehocker was born in Surrey in 1983, then moved to Kamloops with her family in 1990, and graduating from Brocklehurst Senior Secondary school in 2000 with the Governor-General’s Bronze Medal. A dean’s list scholar with a passion for travel and theatre, Devon has volunteered with Western Canada Theatre and performed in the recent TRU Actors Workshop play, A Lie of the Mind. A highlight of her time at TRU was the anthropology field school in Eastern Europe. Devon’s future plans include travel and a master’s degree. |
Thompson Rivers University Medal in Fine Arts
Wendy-Anne Skjerpen
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Wendy-Anne Skjerpen was born in Kamloops in 1977, and graduated from Kamloops Senior Secondary School in 1995. She earned certificates as a florist and dog groomer before enrolling in TRU’s fine arts program, where she won the 2004/05 Mitchell Zawaduk memorial bursary and the 2006 ceramics award. She has volunteered as an art teacher’s assistant at South Kamloops Secondary School, and also helped to organize the TRU ceramics show, held this past January. Among other options, Wendy-Anne is thinking of pursuing a master’s degree in fine arts in the near future. |
Thompson Rivers University Medal in Journalism
Marcel Tetrault
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Marcel Tetrault was born in New Westminster in 1968, then after moving with his family to Surrey at age two, graduated from Queen Elizabeth Senior Secondary school in 1986. He earned a bachelor’s degree in computing science at UBC in 1994. His belief in the importance of the media to society led him to pursue journalism studies at TRU, where he excelled, named to the dean’s list every year. While at TRU, he volunteered for the oMega student newspaper, and also played hockey and guitar. He is now working at the Comox Valley Echo, and plans to continue to work at Canadian newspapers. |
Thompson Rivers University Medal in Nursing
Jenna Ziegler
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Jenna Ziegler was born in Smithers in 1981, and graduated from Smithers Senior Secondary in 1999. After taking TRU Bachelor of Science courses for one year, Jenna switched to nursing. An active volunteer, Jenna helped out in Kamloops doing blood pressure clinics, and was the team captain for a 22-member TRU Nursing team in the CIBC Run for the Cure last September. She has also volunteered at Options for Sexual Health in Smithers, and was treasurer of the nursing undergraduate society for two years. She is now working in public health in Smithers, and is considering continuing her education with the long-term goal of teaching in a school of nursing. |