Olivia Sanders standing next to Loch NessHK grad Olivia Sanders visited Loch Ness during her student exchange term in the United Kingdom.

Awards recognize achievement in and out of the classroom

Since her first day in the kinesiology program, Olivia Sanders has taken advantage of nearly every opportunity available to students at the University of Windsor including, but not limited to, research, recruitment, mentorship, overseas exchange, student government, all while maintaining an academic average over 90 per cent.

Her pursuit of a well-rounded education earned Sanders the President’s Medal, awarded to a graduating student who has made an outstanding contribution to campus activities while maintaining a superior academic record.

Sanders served as president of the Human Kinetics Society, worked as a research assistant for professor Cheri McGowan in the Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Research lab, volunteered with the Kin-One undergraduate student mentorship program, and studied on exchange at Bangor University in Wales.

In a letter nominating her for this recognition, kinesiology department head Jess Dixon said: “Olivia’s pleasant and collegial disposition, coupled with her extraordinary work ethic and leadership, made her a valuable asset to the Department of Kinesiology, and we will miss her dearly when she is gone.”

The medal carries with it a $1,000 scholarship, which Sanders will apply to her graduate studies starting this fall at the University of Ottawa.

Also honoured was nursing grad Jennifer Judith Hamel, recipient of the Governor General’s Silver Medal for the most outstanding undergraduate academic record in the class of 2020. Hamel had earned a BSc in health and biomedical sciences before entering the nursing program, and reached the Dean’s List and President’s Honour Roll throughout both degree careers.

In their nomination materials, her professors describe Hamel as inquisitive with a passion for knowledge and a strong work ethic. She exceeded expectations for clinical reasoning and excelled at mentoring others to develop their critical thinking skills.