News Article

Eight of sixteen College of the North Atlantic (CNA) graduates were on-hand to receive their Governor General’s Academic Medals today at Government House during a ceremony hosted by His Honour the Honourable Frank Fagan, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, and attended by 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 2014 at their respective campus. 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 thrilled to present these academic awards to such a devoted group of young professionals as they embark on their chosen career paths,” said His Honour. “Having a solid educational foundation is key to accomplishing ones goals, and by showing their determination through academic achievement, these individuals have already established they are ready for the next step.”
 
President Vaughan says receiving the awards is a culmination of years of preparation and sacrifice.
 
“The students who are recognized with the Governor General Award represent the highest academic achievement at College of the North Atlantic. We are delighted that they, along with their families, have a special ceremony to acknowledge this excellence at Government House,” said President Vaughan. “Many of these students not only achieved academically, but made significant leadership contributions to the college and their communities during their program – we are delighted as a CNA community to celebrate their success.”
 
Recipients of the 2014 Governor General’s Academic Medal included: Julie Penney, Community Studies (Bay St. George campus) of Pasadena; Chantille Prince-Stagg, Office Administration (Bonavista campus) of Bonavista; Kristen Maxwell, Office Administration – Executive (Baie Verte campus) of Burlington; Kathleen Mercer, Community Studies (Carbonear campus) of Mount Pearl; David Noel, Civil Engineering Technology – Co-op (Corner Brook campus) of Springdale; Alison Marsh, Business Administration – Accounting (Clarenville campus) of Clarenville; Amy Callahan, Community Studies (Grand Falls-Windsor campus) of Grand Falls-Windsor; Patrick Lemieux, Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Technician (Gander campus) of Gatineau, Quebec; Franciska Mitsuk, Early Childhood Education (Happy Valley-Goose Bay campus) of Hopedale; Edward Cadwell, Mining Technician (Labrador West campus) of Charlottetown; Dana Warren, Office Administration – Executive (Port aux Basques campus) of Port aux Basques; Alexandra Hanlon, Textiles: Craft and Apparel Design (Prince Philip Drive campus) of Portugal Cove-St. Philips; Gina Morris, Office Administration – Executive (St. Anthony campus) of Raleigh; Tiffany Hollett, Office Administration – Executive (Burin campus) of Lewin’s Cove; Jason Warren, Office Administration – Executive (Distributed Learning) of Herring Neck; Lee LeDrew, Chemical Process Engineering Technology – Co-op (Ridge Road campus) of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s.
 
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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.