Celebrating the Board of Directors' Gold Medal recipients
June 20, 2024
The outstanding students awarded the 2023-2024 Board of Directors’ Gold Medal were celebrated during the Spring Convocation on June 18, 2024. These prestigious awards recognize the top graduates in each academic category for their exceptional academic performance in their final year. A common thread among the recipients was their gratitude for the recognition of their hard work and dedication and for the support of family, friends, faculty and staff.
Three-Year Bachelor of Arts – Major: Sehrish Jamal ’24, Criminology
Jamal, of Milton, Ontario, feels honoured by this recognition. The award will motivate her to continue to strive for excellence in her future endeavours and “to never give up, no matter how challenging it gets,” she says.
She says her experiences at King’s have equipped her with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities necessary for career success.
“The supportive community and excellent faculty have profoundly shaped my personal and professional growth, fostering critical thinking, leadership, and problem-solving abilities that I will carry with me throughout my career,” says Jamal.
Currently working as a park warden at Rondeau Provincial Park, Jamal will apply to the Ontario Provincial Police, her ultimate career goal, in November.
Four Year Bachelor of Arts – Major: Parker Hrudka ‘24, Finance
Hrudka, from Exeter, Ontario, will be attending Ivey Business School for the MSc in Management, Business Analytics program. He is grateful for the unwavering support of his fiancé during his education.
“King's School of Management, Economics, and Mathematics (MEM) provides a top-quality education on a wonderful campus. The best part of attending King’s is getting to connect with the wonderful faculty, who will support and guide you even after graduation,” says Hrudka.
Four-Year Bachelor of Arts – Specialization: Serenity Di Santo ’24, French Studies
Di Santo, from London, Ontario, says the award recognizes all the hard work that she, her professors, friends, and family have put into helping her achieving her degree. She is grateful for their patience and kindness. The award gives her confidence to continue pursuing an academic and professional career, as she hopes to become a French teacher.
“My time at King's has come with many valuable experiences, particularly my classmates' support. I thank my French professors for providing me with critical feedback to enhance my French writing, comprehension, and verbal skills. I am also grateful to them for pushing me to be confident in myself,” she says.
Four-Year (Honours) Bachelor of Arts - Honours Double Major Humanities: Aizlyn Donkervoort ’24, French Language & Literature and Sociology
For London, Ontario’s Donkervoort, receiving the award is “a dream come true and an incredibly emotional milestone for me. It reflects countless hours of hard work and the unwavering support of my amazing professors, friends, and family. This award is not just about academic success; it's a celebration of the love and encouragement that have carried me through.”
She will attend Althouse College for her Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in the Intermediate/Senior stream. She wants to become a high school French teacher and create “a classroom that radiates inclusion, diversity, equality, equity, creativity, and accommodation, inspiring every student to shine in their unique way. I cannot wait to take the next steps toward making a meaningful difference in the lives of my future students.”
Donkervoort says she is profoundly grateful for the award and says it “is a reminder that with dedication, support, and love, we can achieve our goals and inspire others to do the same.”
She adds, “I have cherished every moment at King's and would not trade these experiences for anything.”
Four-Year (Honours) Bachelor of Arts - Honours Specialization Humanities: Timothy Lorch ’24, Honours Specialization in English Language & Literature and King’s Scholar: The New Liberal Arts
Lorch, from Lucan, Ontario, will begin his master’s in English Literature at Western next year. He credits the support of his family and friends with helping him achieve this award.
“The English, French, and Writing Department has supported and fostered my academic growth over the past four years. As a liberal arts college, King's has been a place for me to engage with an interdisciplinary study of the humanities and literature that I'm sure will stay with me for a long time,” says Lorch.
Four-Year (Honours) Bachelor of Arts - Honours Double Major Interdisciplinary Programs: Marcy Gallant ’24, Childhood & Youth Studies and Disability Studies
Gallant, from London, Ontario, is grateful and feels honoured to receive the award. “Being recognized academically is such an incredible gift as I conclude this chapter of my life,” she says.
“Receiving this award would not have been possible without the endless support from King’s remarkable professors, on-site services and the beautiful community this university has provided. King’s is truly a special place, filled with passionate programs and individuals that allow you the space to thrive and flourish into great students and people,” says Gallant.
After taking a year off, Gallant will be starting her master’s in Child Life at McMaster University, to become a child life specialist. She also plans to join the board of directors for the Canadian Alopecia Areata Foundation to further support and empower the hair loss community.
Four-Year (Honours) Bachelor of Arts - Honours Specialization Interdisciplinary Programs: Madelaine Nemcek ’24, Childhood & Youth Studies and Disability Studies
Nemcek, from Petrolia, Ontario, considers the award to be an incredible honour and is tremendously grateful to be a recipient.
“Recognition in my final year at King’s serves as motivation to continue my dedication to my studies as I begin the next chapter of my academic career,” says Nemcek, who will be attending Althouse College in the Primary/Junior teacher education program in the fall.
“My time in both the Childhood and Youth Studies and Disabilities Studies departments has been nothing short of exceptional, and I am forever thankful for the support and mentorship provided by the outstanding professors in these departments. I will cherish what I have learned and the friendships made along the way for the rest of my life, and will forever be grateful to be part of the King’s community,” she says.
Four-Year (Honours) Bachelor of Arts - Honours Specialization Social Science: Ryan Martin ’24, Economics
Martin, from London, Ontario, will continue his academic journey in Western’s Master in Financial Economics (MFE) program and work towards his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
The award motivates Martin to continue pursuing excellence in all his future endeavours. Martin is deeply grateful for the support of his family, friends, and professors, who have been instrumental in his success at King’s.
“My experiences and education that I have gained at King's have been invaluable. The supportive community and challenging academic environment have provided me with extensive knowledge, practical skills, and the confidence necessary to excel in my future endeavours. I am grateful to everyone I have crossed paths with on this journey for their support and encouragement,” says Martin.
Four-Year (Honours) Bachelor of Arts - Honours Double Major Social Science: Naomi Addley ’24, Psychology and Criminology and King’s Scholar: The New Liberal Arts
Addley, from St. Thomas, Ontario, is incredibly proud and grateful for the award. Receiving it will motivate her to continue her efforts as she moves into the next phase of her education at Western Law in September.
“In my time at King's, I have met some amazing people and expanded my understanding within my fields of interest and of the world at large. My program at King's has opened many doors and opportunities for me that have led to invaluable experiences and cherished memories that I will carry with me forever,” says Addley.
Four-Year (Honours) Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies - Honours Double Major: Sahar Pournabi ’24, Organization & Human Resources and French Language & Literature
Pournabi, from London, Ontario, will be pursuing a Master of Teaching (MT) at the University of Toronto (UofT) at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) with her teaching subjects being French as a Second Language and Business Studies.
“Receiving this award signifies my dedication to my studies and commitment to always putting forth my best effort. It serves as a tangible representation of the hard work, countless late-night library sessions that stretched until 3 a.m., and the accomplishments achieved over the past four years,” says Pournabi.
She calls her program experiences and education at King's “invaluable” and says they answered many of the "whys" she had, providing perspective, and profoundly impacting how she approaches real-life and professional situations.
Four-Year (Honours) Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies - Honours Specialization: Thi Tuyet Nhi Nguyen ’24, Global Commerce
Nguyen, from Danang City, Vietnam, sees the Gold Medal Award as a tremendous honour and motivates her to continue striving for excellence as she moves forward in her academic and professional journey. She will pursue a master’s degree in Business Analytics at Ivey Business School.
“The experiences and education I’ve gained at King’s have been invaluable, providing me with a strong foundation in both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The supportive community and opportunities for leadership and professional development have prepared me well for my future endeavours,” says Nguyen.
Four-Year (Honours) Bachelor of Social Work - Honours Specialization Social Work: Quinn Bisson ’24, Social Work
Bisson, from Warwick Township, will pursue a Master of Social Work at the University of Windsor and work towards a career in social policy development. He says the award is especially meaningful because it validates his hard work and the faith that others had in him. He is thankful for those who supported him, including the faculty and administration, especially Dr. Rick Csiernik and Julie Siverns of the School of Social Work.
“My program experiences and education at King’s have been instrumental in furthering my career and enabling me to use my talents and privilege to help others,” says Bisson.
Four Year Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies – Specialization: Shiyi Wang ’24, Finance and Administration
Congratulations to all the Board of Directors’ Gold Medal Award recipients! We wish you all the best in your future employment and academic pursuits!