A dedication to education leads to prestigious accolade

Following her second round of post-secondary studies, Deanna Heather couldn’t hide her shock when she became the recipient of Lakeland College's 2017 Governor General’s Academic Medal.

The animal science technology graduate received the honour at Lakeland College’s convocation ceremony at the Vermilion campus on Friday, June 2.

“More than anything, I wasn't expecting anything like that,” Heather says. “I had been to university before, so this time around I was definitely here for the learning. That made a big difference because I wanted to do my best and focus on my studies.”

The medal is awarded to the student who graduates with the highest academic standing in a diploma-level post-secondary program. Her medal is numbered and engraved with the Crest of the Royal Arms of Canada, and Heather will be registered with the Chancellery of Canadian Orders and Decoration at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ont.

Heather was a member of the Ag Tour Club and organized a tour of a local bison farm, member of the Lakeland Animal Care Committee, peer tutor, and continuously stayed involved with the Student-Managed Farm – Powered by New Holland. Outside of Lakeland, she was a member of the Vermilion Curling Club and an assistant coach with the Vermilion Junior Curling program.

Her efforts didn’t go unnoticed at Lakeland, as she received multiple scholarships and bursaries including the Louise McKinney Post-Secondary Scholarship, Ron and Faith Kenyon Academic Award, Highland Feeders Agricultural Leadership Award, and the Leonard and Mary Burton Farm Management Award.

After earning an education degree and teaching for a few years, Heather decided to expand her opportunities with an agriculture education.

“I decided that I wanted to farm as well as teach, so I did a lot of research and Lakeland seemed to have the best cattle-based program in the province,” she says.

Over the course of the two years she attended Lakeland, Heather says the small classroom sizes, lasting friendships, and student-led opportunities made her experience a valuable one.

“The most valuable thing for me was acting as the finance manager for the commercial beef unit. I think that gave me useful skills that I can use after college.”

This fall the Milo, Alta., native will be teaching in Vulcan County, as well as buying a small herd of cows.

Photo: Deanna Heather, graduate of the animal science technology program, is awarded the Governor General’s Academic Medal for having the highest academic standing at Lakeland College – by Darrel Howell, chair, Board of Governors, Lakeland College.