Celebrating three graduating BCom students for their leadership and community contributions

What does winning this award mean to you?
Winning this award is a huge honour, as it not only represents my personal commitment and hard work but also the incredible support system I've had throughout my undergraduate journey. From the guidance of inspiring professors, mentors, and TAs to the friends who supported me in academics, extracurriculars, and career aspirations to the constant encouragement and extra meals from my family during exam periods, I owe this achievement to their unconditional support. This award is as much a recognition of their contributions as it is of my own efforts, and I am incredibly grateful to have such a strong support system to guide me through my degree.

What was the highlight of your undergraduate experience at UBC Sauder? 
It's hard to pick just one, but I think the most memorable experiences were the ones where I felt I made the most impact. Whether it was combining my passions for case competitions and event planning to bring back the Sauder Summit Global Case Competition, participating in the UBC Sauder LIFT program to teach business fundamentals to entrepreneurs both virtually and now in-person in Kenya, or mentoring students as a teaching assistant, these experiences stand out as highlights during my time at UBC Sauder. The ability to empower others while simultaneously developing my own skills and learning from them, all while enjoying the journey, encapsulates the core highlight of my undergraduate years.

How do you plan to use what you learned through your BCom degree to achieve your goals after graduation? 
After graduation, I intend to leverage the skills I've developed through case competitions and project management from event planning in my role as a Consultant at EY. A huge part of my degree was centered around social impact and empowering others, and I look forward to finding new ways to continue doing so after graduation. In the long term, I envision either pursuing a career in equity, diversity, and inclusion or hopefully returning to join the faculty team at UBC Sauder one day, fulfilling my aspiration to give back to the community that has played a pivotal role in shaping who I am.

What does winning this award mean to you?
I am honoured to be the recipient of Dorothy Anne Dilworth Memorial Prize; while the award is to recognize the impact I made at UBC Sauder during my five years as an undergraduate student, it is also a reminder to me that this impact doesn't have to end with my degree. It is a motivator for me to continue giving back and serving my community as an alum.

What was the highlight of your undergraduate experience at UBC Sauder?
My undergraduate experience was full of memorable moments, from attending Spark, being an orientation leader, joining the LIFT program, being a TA for different courses and even sleepless nights spent in Birmingham studying for exams. The biggest highlight, though, would be my experience as the CUS President; this was a once in a lifetime experience to not only serve the student community on a new scale, but to take my leadership skill to the next level. By leading an organization of 150+ student leaders who had the same vision as me, I was able to advocate for 4,000+ UBC Sauder undergraduate students' personal, professional, and academic successes.

How do you plan to use what you learned through your BCom degree to achieve your goals after graduation?
I will be pursuing marketing as a career at TELUS after graduation, but UBC Sauder has prepared me to be a well-rounded business leader with not only technical skills but also to look at the issues in a people-oriented way. I am excited to use both my knowledge and leadership in my career and bring back my learning from the industry back to UBC Sauder and the students down the road.

What does winning this award mean to you?
When I think back to my first year at UBC Sauder, I remember feeling nervous amongst so many new faces. Over time, I built a strong community here - and now, five years later, I'm most grateful for the relationships I have with my incredible fellow students and professors. This award is symbolic of how important this community is to me.

What was the highlight of your undergraduate experience at UBC Sauder?
Wow, it's so hard to choose! Back in 2020, I co-founded a community program called Enspire which teaches entrepreneurship skills to elementary school students. Flash forward to this year, I've passed the leadership role onto new program directors who are continuing to expand the program. This past March, for the first time, Enspire was presented at the Enactus Canada Western Regionals Exposition where it was awarded the top prize for outstanding community impact and $1,500 in grant funding to support the program. It was a major full-circle moment for me to see this program be recognized and to cheer on the incredible team carrying it forward!

How do you plan to use what you learned through your BCom degree to achieve your goals after graduation?
Throughout my degree, my most meaningful learning has come through the Sustainability and Social Impact concentration, which I chose to pair with my Marketing specialization. Exploring the intersection between people, profit, and planet has solidified my personal and professional values and motivated me to pursue a career in social entrepreneurship.