Past Awards Recipients

2023 BCIT Graduating Student Awards Celebration

In 2023, over 600 BCIT students received graduating awards. We are very proud to recognize their success, which was demonstrated by outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and positive contributions in our community. Congratulations, students, and thank you, donors, who made many of these awards possible.

Featured Awards

These achievement awards recognized outstanding BCIT students that exemplified excellence, both as students in their programs and as leaders among their peers.

BCIT President’s Award

This award is presented to a student who has achieved a first-class average, exhibited strong teamwork skills, and demonstrated active participation in student activities that have brought recognition to the Institute. This award is presented to Cameron J. Bates upon completion of the Electrical Engineering program.

Cameron achieved a 94 percent cumulative GPA over four years – the highest GPA ever earned in this program since its launch 16 years ago. In addition to an impressive academic track record, Cameron has been involved in many extra-curricular activities at BCIT. Along with his team, Cameron won first place in the Senior Design category of the 2023 Western Canada Engineering Competition (WEC) for building an innovative trash can sorter in just nine hours.

Outside of work, Cameron also volunteered as a peer-tutor – helping fellow students navigate and succeed at BCIT.

Well deserved, Cameron!

BCIT Graduating Achievement Award for Baccalaureate Degrees

This award recognizes a student who has achieved an excellent academic record and contributed positively to the life of the Institute or the community at large. This award is presented to Laurel Kinahan upon completion of the Electrical Engineering program.

Laurel graduated with an 82% GPA while working tirelessly to foster a positive experience for her peers in the Electrical Engineering program during her time at BCIT. Her portfolio includes receiving the 2022 Distinguished Set Rep Award, resurrecting the Women in Engineering club after the pandemic, and winning first place in the Communications category at the 2023 Canadian Engineering Competition (CEC) in Waterloo, Ontario.

A strong role model, Laurel advocated for further gender inclusivity and diversity in her program. She was a member of the Equity and Sustainability Committee and volunteered as the councillor to the Chair of the School of Energy.

Well done, Laurel!

Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Inclusion, Democracy and Reconciliation

The Lieutenant Governor’s Medal recognizes a student who has excelled in promoting diversity and inclusion, civic engagement, and acted to transform society by answering the call to Reconciliation. This award is presented to Cody Pallin upon completion of the Civil Engineering program.

During his time at BCIT, Cody has continuously answered the call to be of service to the community. He showed great leadership by chairing the Student Spaces Development Committee at the BCIT Student Association and has volunteered for various initiatives by representing BCIT at conferences, tours, and events.

As a passionate advocate for his program, Cody organized inclusive activities in the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering (CSCE) student chapter and won the CSCE National President’s Award twice. His exceptional commitment to the betterment of the BCIT community, and his impressive academic record (graduating with a 97% GPA), makes him a proud BCIT alumnus.

Congratulations, Cody!

BCIT Board of Governors’ Award for Leadership

This award recognizes a student who has achieved a GPA of 70 percent or higher and demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to the BCIT community or the community at large. This award is presented to Shanise Reddekopp upon completion of the Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) program.

Shannise has exemplified the BCIT spirit of building meaningful impact by contributing to the community in many ways, while maintaining and graduating with an 87 percent GPA. She was the MLS Set Representative, Health Sciences Councillor for the BCIT Student Association, Councillor for Student Spaces and Development Committee, Student Representative for the Program Advisory Committee, and Student Representative for the BC Society of Laboratory Science.

In addition to her outstanding portfolio, Shannise has demonstrated strong leadership skills through her commitment in helping her peers. During the pandemic, she created social media groups to help connect classmates, notified her peers on upcoming events, conferences, class deadlines, educational opportunities, and financial assistance programs, and acted as a liaison between classmates and instructors to provide valuable feedback to help improve the class.

Congratulations, Shanise!

BCIT Board of Governors' Award for Leadership

This award recognizes a student who has achieved a GPA of 70 percent or higher and demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to the BCIT community or the community at large. This award is presented to Theodore James Robson upon completion of the Airport Operations program.

Graduating with a 90% GPA, Theodore has not only shown high academic achievement, but also an impressive proactiveness to be of service to the BCIT community. Throughout his time at BCIT, he has demonstrated great passion for education and subjects related to aviation, stepped up to become a class representative and shared class feedback with the department, volunteered as campus councillor, and was the Chair of Aerospace at the BCIT Student Association – contributing and implementing ideas that benefited many aspects of student life.

Congratulations to you, Theodore!

Awards Program

The 2023 Graduating Student Awards Program highlights our high-achieving students, the significance of the donor-funded awards they have received, and the generous donors that support our students’ success.

View the program