Excelling in personal growth: New grad makes her family and herself proud

After being out of school for five years, Madeleine Hayes was nervous about returning to the classroom when she began the child and youth care counsellor (CYCC) program at Lakeland College in 2022. Looking back at it now, the Class of 2024 alumna credits the supportive instructors and atmosphere she discovered at Lakeland with helping her to excel beyond her expectations – leading to being awarded the Governor General’s Medal for academic performance at convocation in June.
“I am so thankful that I picked the CYCC program at Lakeland,” Hayes says. “Throughout my program, my instructors were incredibly supportive and never stopped pushing me to do better. I am impressed with myself and my growth at the college; I went from barely graduating high school to receiving one of the highest awards a student can receive.”
Originally from Edmonton, Alta., Hayes was determined to launch a career supporting children and youth facing adversity. She was intrigued by Lakeland’s CYCC program and, after graduating high school in 2017, worked to save money for tuition.
While studying at Lakeland, she worked to better the campus community, creating a mindfulness bulletin board in the Trades Pit on Vermilion campus, with resources to help her fellow students de-stress. She also created and handed out food hampers to other students and both tutored and proctored for other students.
The highlight for Hayes went beyond life on campus. She loved going out into the community on practicum and learning hands-on skills to improve her ability to help others.
“Another highlight would be the opportunity to meet some amazing people throughout college who now play such essential roles in my life,” Hayes says.
The Governor General medal is awarded annually to one student from Vermilion campus and one from Lloydminster who earn the highest grade point average during their studies.
“Words cannot describe how I felt when I was told I won the award,” Hayes says. “I was so incredibly proud of myself. The main reason I went to college was to make my father proud and now, not only have I made him proud, I’ve also made everyone around me proud. My growth these past two years has been incredible and I am so thankful that I won this medal and for my experiences at Lakeland College. I can’t wait to see what life has in store for me.”
Despite finishing her studies at Lakeland, Hayes won’t be going far – she’s preparing to step into the role of Lakeland’s temporary wellness advisor this fall.