Ten graduates of College of the North Atlantic (CNA) were presented with Governor General Academic Medals yesterday at Government House during a ceremony hosted by His Honour the Honourable Frank F. Fagan, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, and CNA’s President and CEO, Ann Marie Vaughan.
The medals were awarded to CNA graduates for achieving the highest overall average upon completion of their diploma-level program in 2015. Awarded since 1873, the Governor General’s Academic Medal is one of the most prestigious awards a student in a Canadian educational institution can receive.
“I am pleased to present these awards to such an enthusiastic and keen group of young professionals here today,” said His Honour. “While the strength and conviction of a student is not only based on their academic achievement, I believe it is the very foundation from which all careers are built. I am confident that each of this year’s award recipients will continue to strive for excellence in their future endeavours.”
President Vaughan says the awards represent the strong commitment of both the students and their instructors and are the pinnacle of success in receiving a college education.
“Earning a college diploma isn’t easy and achieving the highest academic standing is even harder,” said President Vaughan. “To excel in an area of study demonstrates each student’s personal commitment and the dedication of their instructors who helped them along the way. Not only are the recipients College of the North Atlantic alumni, I am proud to say they are also ambassadors who lead by example through hard work and determination.”
The 13 recipients of the 2015 Governor General’s Academic Achievement Medal included: Amanda Dutcher, Business Administration (Bay St. George campus) of Stephenville; Kerry Strowbridge, Office Administration (Burin campus) of Marystown; Derrick Strong, Business Administration (Clarenville campus) of Clarenville; Sharon Walsh, Office Administration (Grand Falls-Windsor campus) of Glenwood; Jottin Jose, Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Technician (Gander campus) of Cochin, India; Frances Locke, Mining Technician (Lab West campus) of Labrador City; Patricia Cousins, Office Administration – Executive (Port aux Basques campus) of Upper Ferry; Trevor Bennett, Computer Systems & Networking (Prince Philip Drive campus) of Conception Bay South; Dawn Hillier, Office Administration – Executive (St. Anthony campus) of St. Anthony; Robert Park, Web Development (Distributed Learning Service) of Corner Brook; Colin Hearns, Petroleum Engineering Technology (Ridge Road campus) of St. John’s; Mark Thistle, Business Administration – Accounting (Carbonear campus) of Carbonear, and Stephanie Sooley, Civil Engineering Technology (Corner Brook campus) of Mary’s Harbour.
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Media Contacts:
Roger Hulan
Communications Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-7938
roger.hulan@cna.nl.ca
Peter Noel
Private Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor
(709) 729-4045
peternoel@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Governor General’s Academic Medal
Lord Dufferin, Canada’s third Governor General after Confederation, created the Academic Medals in 1873 to encourage academic excellence across the nation. Over the years, they have become the most prestigious award that students in Canadian schools can receive.
For more than 125 years, the Governor General’s Academic Medals have recognized the outstanding scholastic achievements of students in Canada. They are awarded to the student graduating with the highest average from a high school, as well as from approved college or university programs. Pierre Trudeau, Tommy Douglas, Kim Campbell, Robert Bourassa, Robert Stanfield and Gabrielle Roy are just some of the more than 50,000 people who have received the Governor General’s Academic Medal as the start of a life of accomplishment.
Today, the Governor General’s Academic Medals are awarded at four distinct levels: Bronze at the secondary school level; Collegiate Bronze at the post-secondary, diploma level; Silver at the undergraduate level; and Gold at the graduate level. Medals are presented on behalf of the Governor General by participating educational institutions, along with personalized certificates signed by the Governor General. There is no monetary award associated with the Medal.