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By Thompson Rivers University

TRU Convocation

Meet some of TRU’s valedictorians and award winners for the 2019-2020 school year

Jun 17, 2020 | 10:39 AM

KAMLOOPS — What do a competitive skier, a senior citizen who was a clinical psychologist and has become a visual artist and an editor for the Canadian Journal of Comparative and Contemporary Law have in common?

The same thing as an international student studying children’s development and language learning, an aspiring lawyer who can crunch numbers and act on stage, and a social worker intrigued by the interrelationships of eating disorders, mental health and substance abuse.

These outstanding graduates are among the eight valedictorians and 17 medal winners being honoured along with hundreds of other Thompson Rivers University students on Monday, June 22, at the university’s Virtual Spring Convocation celebration, starting at 10:00 a.m. Everyone is invited to tune in to the convocation at: https://www.tru.ca/convocation.html.

Here are the biographies of a few of this year’s honorees:

Kennedy Aberdeen

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Valedictorian, School of Business and Economics

Kennedy Aberdeen (see also medal winner for Business Administration)

Balancing both her creative and applied passions, Kennedy Aberdeen completed a dual honours degree in accounting and theatre from TRU. She broadened her horizons during second year by studying abroad at Chapman University in Orange County, California. She returned to TRU and became a Study Abroad Ambassador while working towards her Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Throughout her studies, Aberdeen served as a supplemental learning leader, teaching assistant and scribe for the accounting department, president and founder of the TRU Pre-Law Society as well as the designer and presenter of Speak Up and Projection and Performance for the Courtroom, public speaking workshops for undergraduate and law students. Aberdeen also built her dramatic presence by performing in TRU’s production of She Kills Monsters and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Her hard work earned Aberdeen many accolades, including the Ken Lepin Business Student of the Year Award, Kamloops/Cariboo CPA Chapter Award, KPMG Student Scholars to Business Award, International Mobility Study Abroad Exchange Award and TRU Study Abroad Ambassador Award. She also received the Chartered Professional Accountants’ Education Foundation of BC scholarship, TRU Foundation Undergraduate Achievement scholarship and the North Kamloops Rotary/Marvin Stone Memorial Scholarship. Aberdeen plans to pursue her Juris Doctorate.

Savanah Cockrell

Valedictorian, Faculty of Arts

Savanah Cockrell

Savanah Margaret Cockrell graduates from the Faculty of Arts with a Philosophy Major and a Politics Minor. Throughout her three years at TRU, Cockrell was heavily involved in community opportunities including practicum placements in politics; one on municipal governments and another on Free Speech in Canada v. The United States. Additionally, Cockrell worked as a research assistant for the Philosophy department to coordinate the Canadian High School Ethics Bowl and she resurrected TRUSU Philosophy Club. Cockrell excelled at academics and earned several scholarships including R. Robert Roshard Memorial Bursary, TRU Foundation Undergraduate Achievement Scholarship (FUAS) and Micheline Pellerin Scholarship. Cockrell plans to pursue two Masters Degrees (one in Political Science and one in Philosophy), before making a lateral move into a PhD in either Political Philosophy or Logic with a focus in Politics.

Arjun Hair

Valedictorian, Faculty of Law

Arjun Hair

Arjun Singh Hair graduates with a Juris Doctorate degree. Throughout his studies, Hair enjoyed making a real difference through his elected roles on the Society of Law Students, first as the second-year representative and then as president. These roles allowed him to advocate for students on Faculty Council. He was an active member of the South Asian Law Students Association, the Black Law Students Association, the Woman and Law Society and the Oral Advocacy Club. In his final semester, he served as editor for the Canadian Journal of Comparative and Contemporary Law. Hair rounded out his intellectual prowess with physical literacy as a member of TRU Law’s Basketball Club and founder of the Sports and Entertainment Law Club. Continuing to challenge himself and make a positive impact, he ran fundraisers for the TRU Outlaws, Pivot Legal Foundation, the Elizabeth Fry Society and Movember. After catching up on lots of video games, Hair plans to complete his articles and become a lawyer.

Jaden Stefanyk

Valedictorian, Faculty of Education and Social Work

Jaden Stefanyk

Jaden Stefanyk graduates with a Human Service Diploma. Throughout the program, Stefanyk has adopted the theories and approaches she has learned into her practice as a mental health worker for Interior Health. A committed lifelong learner, Stefanyk also holds a Community Support Worker Diploma. During her studies at TRU, she maintained a position on the Dean’s List while also working towards a Bachelor of Social Work. She was a guest panel speaker at TRU’s Becoming Your Own Matriarch event, where she spoke about the importance of learning, sharing, uplifting and honouring the matriarch leader in us all. Stefanyk plans to continue to advance her education with a Master of Social Work, focusing on the correlation between eating disorders, mental health and substance abuse.

Oluwafemi Ogunyemi

Valedictorian, Faculty of Science

Oluwafemi Francis Ogunyemi

Oluwafemi Francis Ogunyemi graduates with a Bachelor of Science in chemical biology. Throughout the program, Ogunyemi engaged in hands-on experiential learning that led to many research opportunities, including his position as a research assistant aiming to create more sustainable undergraduate laboratories. He completed a co-op placement as a laboratory analyst at Australian Laboratory Services in Calgary and received TRU’s Undergraduate Research Experience Award Program (UREAP) scholarship, which funded his investigation into how the interaction between bisphenols and serum albumin can harm human health. Ogunyemi served as co-president of the Chemistry Biochemistry Club (CBC) and supported TRU’s Family Night of Science, Open House, EUReKA! science camp and Chemistry Contest, as well as School District 73’s Cariboo Mainline Regional Science Fair and Big Brothers Big Sisters in-school mentoring. He received the University Prep Award as well as the Dr. Sherman Jen Science scholarship. Ogunyemi plans to pursue a career in research and medicine.

Ginger Powell

Valedictorian, School of Trades and Technology

Ginger Powell

Ginger Powell graduates from the Horticulture Certificate program. Powell found the Horticulture program interesting, challenging and, most importantly, in alignment with her passion for sustainable growing–by planting seeds, watching them germinate in the greenhouse and seeing them grow into mature plants that could be eaten or planted. During her time at TRU, Powell excelled in academics, which earned her the Steve & Jing Wong Excellence in Horticulture Award. Powell is open to what the future holds and is confident and happy that she found a career she’s passionate about, and looks forward to working for a landscape company in Kamloops this summer. She would like to return to TRU in the fall to complete the Horticulture Management Diploma.

Kennedy Aberdeen

Medal winner, Business Administration

Kennedy Aberdeen

Balancing both her creative and applied passions, Kennedy Aberdeen completed a dual honours degree in accounting and theatre from TRU. She broadened her horizons during second year by studying abroad at Chapman University in Orange County, California. She returned to TRU and became a Study Abroad Ambassador while working towards her Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Throughout her studies, Aberdeen served as a supplemental learning leader, teaching assistant and scribe for the accounting department, president and founder of the TRU Pre-Law Society as well as the designer and presenter of Speak Up and Projection and Performance for the Courtroom, public speaking workshops for undergraduate and law students. Aberdeen also built her dramatic presence by performing in TRU’s production of She Kills Monsters and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Her hard work earned Aberdeen many accolades, including the Ken Lepin Business Student of the Year Award, Kamloops/Cariboo CPA Chapter Award, KPMG Student Scholars to Business Award, International Mobility Study Abroad Exchange Award and TRU Study Abroad Ambassador Award. She also received the Chartered Professional Accountants’ Education Foundation of BC scholarship, TRU Foundation Undergraduate Achievement scholarship and the North Kamloops Rotary/Marvin Stone Memorial Scholarship. Aberdeen plans to pursue her Juris Doctorate.

Kieran Haberstock

Medal winner, Computing Science

Kieran Haberstock

Thanks to study abroad, Kieran Haberstock was able to combine his interest in computing science with his passion for travelling. He spent the summer and fall semesters of 2016 completing a co-op in Vancouver, a study abroad semester in Barcelona in the winter of 2018 and another in South Korea in the fall of 2019. Kieran received two Irving K Barber One World International scholarships and a Rob Horne Memorial Computing Science Scholarship. As a member of the TRU Computer Science Club, he spent two semesters as a member of its board. Other highlights from his time at TRU include the committed and dedicated faculty and the friends he made, adding that it was the people he met who made his time at TRU amazing and memorable. After graduation, Haberstock plans to work as a software developer and resume travelling once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Maria Niiro-Foster

Medal winner, Education

Maria Niiro-Foster

An inspiring cultural experience working oversees through the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme led Maria Niiro-Foster to pursue a Bachelor of Education at TRU. While the first-hand experience of Japan’s educational methodology influenced Niiro-Foster to continue her education, it was TRU’s small classes and hands-on experiences that provided her with all of the tools required to succeed as a teacher. She completed her practicums at the Kamloops School of the Arts, Juniper Ridge Elementary and St. Ann’s Academy. Throughout her studies, Niiro-Foster volunteered with the Kamloops Japanese Canadian Association, assisting in numerous language courses, festivals and fundraising events. She was also a recipient of the Jim Totten Scholarship. With initial plans to work as a teacher, Niiro-Foster will continue her studies by completing a master’s degree in either education or public health.

Marilyn (Lyn) Richards

Medal winner, Fine Arts

Marilyn Richards

Lyn Richards pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree after a career as a clinical psychologist. Richards appreciates the opportunity to build strong visual arts skills, the intellectual challenges of art history and theory, the support of faculty members and the camaraderie of fellow students. Most of all, she cherishes the strong friendships she’s made with fellow mature women taking visual art courses at TRU. Assisting with life drawing sessions, mounting a photography exhibition to honour relationships built in her photo classes and volunteering for BFA graduating exhibition openings also kept Richards busy. She was awarded a UREAP scholarship for an ambitious visual art project incorporating audio clips about forests with 10-foot tall trees covered in knitting and felted wool and illuminated using programmable LED strings and microprocessors. She intends to focus on developing her visual art practice and may apply to a Master of Fine Arts program in the future.

Carly DeFoe

Medal winner, General Studies

Carly DeFoe

Carly DeFoe used her background in outdoor adventure and indigenous studies as a bridge to a future career in teaching through the Bachelor of General Studies. The flexibility of the program meant DeFoe could apply credits from the Adventure Guide Certificate she completed in 2018 toward the degree, allowing her to also complete an Aboriginal Studies Certificate while simultaneously gaining the prerequisites for her Bachelor’s. Throughout her studies, DeFoe conducted research on the intersections of Indigenous and Western physical geography, as well as the history and progression of outdoor education in Canada. She also served as vice president and outdoor guide for the AdventureU Club. DeFoe plans to begin the West Kootenay Teacher’s Education Program in Nelson, BC, in preparation for a position teaching social studies and outdoor education. She intends to pursue a Master of Arts in Environmental Education and Communication while teaching.

Laura McIsaac

Medal winner, Health Science

Laura McIsaac

With a background in competitive skiing, Laura McIsaac has applied her passion for mountain sports to her career path. She built upon her experience as a rehabilitation assistant by completing her Bachelor of Health Science at TRU. The flexibility of the program allowed McIsaac to further advance her applied skills as she was able to work towards her degree while travelling throughout western Canada and the United States to provide race and training support for a semi-professional mountain bike athlete. She also gained valuable hands-on experience as a volunteer with Whistler Adaptive Sports where she assisted in both alpine ski and mountain bike lessons for athletes with various physical and cognitive disabilities. McIsaac has successfully bridged her passion for mountain sports with a future career in rehabilitation. Next, she plans to pursue a Master of Science in Physical Therapy at the University of Alberta beginning in July 2020.

Tyrell Desrochers

Medal winner, Science

Tyrell Desrochers

Tyrell Desrochers chose to complete his Bachelor of Science at TRU because small class sizes made it possible to build real friendships and cultivate a supportive community. Helping others is important to Desrochers. He spent time volunteering at Royal Inland Hospital in the Emergency Department and for the BC Special Olympics Floor Hockey team. He sought to expand his horizons and spent a semester studying at Ho Chi Minh International University in Vietnam where he focused on full immersion in local cultural traditions. Living as a local was important to Desrochers; he spent most of his time participating in non-tourist activities. Desrochers received a TRU Entrance Scholarship and a CN Rail Undergraduate Scholarship. After graduation, he plans to write the Dental Admission Test with the hopes of eventually being accepted into the University of British Columbia’s dental program.

Wei Mao

Medal winner, Governor General’s Gold Medal

Wei Mao

Wei Mao chose to complete her Master of Education at TRU in order to weave her experience in Chinese pedagogy into her approach to Canadian education. Mao is very passionate about teaching and helping others; over the course of her studies, she dedicated many hours as a teaching assistant at the TRU Education Success Centre where she helped students with assignments and writing. She also volunteered as a teaching assistant in various schools and daycares in Kamloops. In March 2020, she was awarded a TRUSU grant to attend and present at the 2020 CSSE [Canadian Society for the Study of Education] conference. Mao also participated in graduate research under the mentorship of Dr. Laura Doan’s peer-mentoring project for Early Childhood Educators in BC, which has been a critical steppingstone in preparing Mao to complete a PhD at Concordia University. Mao plans to devote her career to early childhood education and exploring children’s development and language learning.