Business student celebrated for achievements both in and beyond the classroom

After spending part of her first year at Lakeland College learning online because of the pandemic, Maxine Lebo came to campus this year determined to fit two years’-worth of the college experience into her final year.

From Lloydminster, Lebo says choosing Lakeland was an easy decision, since it was so close to home. Choosing a program, however, proved more difficult.

“Whenever anyone asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I had a different answer for everyone,” she explains.

It was that need for versatility that led Lebo to Lakeland’s business administration diploma program, majoring in small business and entrepreneurship.

“There’s a business component to every single industry. They all have a marketing, accounting and financial department. This is a vast field and I can do almost anything with it instead of being stuck doing one thing for the rest of my life. It’s a great starting point to figuring out where I want to go in the future.”

To get the most of her experience, Lebo started her second year determined to get as involved as possible in campus life.

“I wanted to jam-pack two years into one,” Lebo explains. “I wanted to make as much of it as I could to get the full college experience.”

Her college experience included being team leader for the Finding the U in Business event, moderating the Inspiring Women’s Conference, and being a member of the Students’ Association. She was an academic council member and a representative of Lakeland for the Chamber of Commerce at the Lloydminster craft fair. Lebo participated in the Alberta Dean’s Case Competition and Synergy Speakers’ Corner, where she was awarded a facilitator and leadership award.

“The highlight was definitely being part of the Students’ Association,” Lebo says. “We have a little Students’ Association family and I’ll forever be proud that I was part of that.”

Lebo was also a recipient of Lakeland’s student awards program. She received the Louise McKinney Post-Secondary Scholarship, Centennial Business Administration Achievement Award, Pat Tenney Award and the Ulmer Chevrolet Scholarship, as well as the Lakeland College Academic Award.

Lebo finished a busy year at Lakeland with convocation at the Lloydminster campus on May 27, where she was awarded a Lakeland College President’s Medal. The medal is Lakeland’s highest honour, awarded to a student on the Vermilion and Lloydminster campuses who has excelled, both inside the classroom and beyond.

“Winning the president’s medal is a very proud moment for me,” Lebo says. “I’m so proud that my hard work paid off and the time and dedication was worth it. It’s bittersweet to be leaving Lakeland. I’m excited to start building my career, but at the same time, I’m sad because I built a life here. It’s like a family.”