SWAAC Student Leadership Award

I am currently in my fourth year of the Bachelors of Business Administration majoring in Accounting at Vancouver Island University (VIU) in Nanaimo, BC. I am excited to be graduating in April 2024! Right after my last exam, I will be heading to the University of Saskatchewan as I am enrolled in the Masters of Professional Accounting (MPAcc) program. I aspire to achieve my Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation. 

I am proud to have made the VIU Deans’ Honour List for my first three years at VIU and proud that I am on track to make it for my fourth and graduating year. In my time at VIU, I have won many awards and scholarships including the CPA Education Foundation of BC Award which went to the top accounting student in a specific class. I take great pride in my academic performance and leadership in the classroom. 

Like many student run organizations, the Vancouver Island University Accounting Students’ Association (VIUASA) struggled during the pandemic. The VIUASA had essentially collapsed, losing all of its student leaders. As students returned to campus, I put my name forward to serve as a junior board member in my second year. I was then elected by my peers to be the president of the Association the following year. I then served as the first two-time president of the Association in my fourth year. My hard work and dedication has taken the VIUASA to new levels. I have been invited to participate in the VIU Accounting Department Faculty monthly meetings as a student representative. I have led the VIUASA to host many presentations and functions that have been the most widely attended student functions in the past 20 years. Under my leadership the VIUASA has taken the leading role of fostering alumni outreach and hosting recruitment fairs. 

I love sailing! I have had a passion for sailing since I was a little kid. I started off in small dinghies and have moved up to Olympic class boats. My sailing partner and I were BC circuit provincial champions for 2 years in the 420 class fleet, before we started sailing the 29er skiff in provincial regattas, the North American Championships, and internationally. I have now started sailing 49er skiffs and WASZP foiling boats for fun! I enjoy spreading my love of sailing to the kids that I have taught at our local yacht club. I have been a sailing instructor and the head instructor for many summers teaching CanSail certified level 1-6 lessons. I have enjoyed teaching the students and working with individual children over the years. 

I am very honoured to have been selected as a recipient of a SWAAC award. This means so much to me! 

Currently a third-year undergraduate student at BCIT, part of the BCIT-UBC Honours in Biotechnology program. Tiffany’s passion for biotechnology stems from its potential to enhance human health and society. This has driven her to excel academically within the rigorous biotechnology program and gain further hands-on experience working at a local biotechnology company. 

Tiffany is also an active member of the BCIT community. She is the current President of the BCIT Biotechnology club which provides mentorship, community bonding, and career development opportunities for biotechnology students. She also works as a peer tutor with the BCIT Learning Commons, providing academic support to BCIT students in all programs. 

Outside of BCIT, Tiffany is involved in initiatives aimed at breaking down barriers to scientific engagement. Since 2019, she has been involved in UBC GeeringUp, a nonprofit organization that promotes science to youth across BC, where she first started as a volunteer and later worked as a camp instructor in 2022. She also helped organize the Research Experience program with the UBC Undergraduate Research Opportunities Club, which paired over 500 undergraduate students with mentors to complete theoretical research projects. 

Outside of academics and science, Tiffany is an avid badminton player with numerous provincial titles. She is committed to fostering a positive community within her badminton club and enjoys mentoring younger players. 

Tiffany is honoured to have been selected as a recipient of a SWAAC Student Leadership award. She hopes to continue developing her skills as a biotechnology student and a leader to make greater contributions to her community and society as a whole.

Celia Sutton is enrolled in the Bachelor of Applied Science program at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology, majoring in Horticulture. Celia has served two terms as President of the Students’ Association of Olds College (SAOC) as well as two years as a member of the Board of Governors of Olds College. As the Chair of the Alberta Students’ Executive Council (ASEC), Celia also represents a broader population of post-secondary students in the province of Alberta. Celia has achieved academic distinction in every semester, and continues to strive for excellence as she embarks on her fourth and final year of study. As a student leader, Celia has contributed to governance overhauls at every organization she’s served over the past two years. She consistently prioritizes the alignment of service delivery with strategic vision and streamlining internal processes for efficacy and efficiency. In particular, she has worked to empower student leaders to be a voice for positive change, especially those who identify as a member of a marginalized community. In 2024, there are more women, 2SLGBTQ+, and international students on the SAOC board than ever before. There are also more scholarships and bursaries to support students who have overcome adversity, mature students, and students who are single parents, as a result of Celia’s execution of her strategic vision for the future of post-secondary. As the Chair of ASEC, Celia is privileged to unite the voices of 100,000 students across the province as a young woman who represents the relatively small and often underserved student body of an agricultural institution. All of Celia’s goals in student leadership have been centered around empowering others, helping others to advocate for themselves, and promoting a culture of balance and respect. These principles have formed the foundation of Celia’s leadership philosophy as she embarks on the next chapter of her career.