For Cort Egeland, receiving the Governor General’s Academic Medal was both surprising and rewarding.

“I wasn’t expecting it,” he says. “But after the surprise, it was happiness. I did put in a fair bit of work, so it was good to see that payoff.”

Egeland, a business administration student majoring in real estate assessment and appraisal, is this year’s Lloydminster campus recipient of the Governor General’s Academic Medal. The honour recognizes his academic achievement, but for Egeland, it also reflects the perseverance and personal growth that defined his college experience.

“It wasn’t easy all the time,” he says. “The recognition is a nice way to show that it was worth it and that the many, many hours of work paid off.”

Originally from Medstead, Saskatchewan, Egeland was drawn to Lakeland's Lloydminster campus because it offered a balance between independence and staying connected to home.

"Lakeland was closer to home, and I liked being able to travel back when I wanted to," he says.

The decision proved to be the right fit. While focused on his studies, Egeland also found opportunities to engage in campus life. He attended Rustlers sporting events, participated in Synergy Speakers’ Corner sessions and volunteered at campus events when opportunities arose.

Those experiences helped him become part of the Lakeland community while developing skills and connections outside the classroom.

Throughout his time at Lakeland, Egeland says the support of his family played an important role in his success.

“My parents were supporting me the whole time,” he says. “When I was living in residence, they would pack me food and help me out whenever I needed it.”

The support helped him navigate one of the biggest transitions of his life. Moving to Lloydminster for college marked the first time Egeland lived away from home.

“Both academically and as a person, there was a learning curve, but it was really good overall.”

That growth extended beyond the classroom. As graduation approached, Egeland received another piece of exciting news — he secured a position with Suncorp Valuations, allowing him to begin a career directly connected to his studies in real estate assessment and appraisal.

“There were lots of rewarding experiences at Lakeland,” he says. “But at the end of the day, I was there to learn something and advance my career. Seeing that payoff and getting accepted for a job in the field was really rewarding.”

As he prepares to begin his career, he encourages future students to pursue opportunities that help them learn and grow.

“Give it a go,” he says. “An education never hurt anybody.”