The numbers tell the tale.
Out of 90 applicants for a $5,000 national fellowship for college and undergraduate students, there were 10 winners across Canada. Two of those students attend UNBC.
Health sciences student Selena Demenoff and environmental studies major Cameron Bell each were selected for the 3M Canada/Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education fellwships and will represent UNBC at a four-day conference in June in Montreal.
"I think it's great that UNBC has been recognized again for its support of student success by having two nominees recognized, it's a real honour," said Demenoff.
"The award recognizes people who have vision and students who really are passionate about being involved in their community, who don't hesitate to take initiatives in areas that require it. I really believe my best work will be ahead of me and this is a stepping stone to further be able to be involved with education."
Both third-year students have gotten into the habit of taking on voluntary projects outside of their course workload which have enhanced the educational experience for all students.
Demenoff, a native of Grand Forks, lives at the UNBC residence and is a peer support network councillor and volunteers with the First Nations Centre and Native Friendship Centre. She puts her people skills to work as health sciences club president, helps her fellow students as a biology tutor, and is an active member of the Prince George Public Research Interest Group, taking part in the UNBC farmers' market and composting projects.
Demenoff, 20, has a background in working with youth and childhood development projects in Grand Forks and has designs on a career in public health and research in northern and rural areas. She's involved in three ongoing research projects, working with the International Association for Ecology and Health, the B.C. Cancer Society's cancer survivorship program, and as an environmental toxicology researcher studying drinking water and public outreach for Northern Health.
Bell, A native of Barrie, Ont., is active in goBEYOND, an organization to promote sustainability education in post-secondary institutions, and is the associate director of sustainability for the Northern Undergraduate Student Society.
UNBC is big on clean energy initiatives such as its biofuel heating system and Bell has embraced several green projects as an organizer, including Students for a Green University environmental club, the UNBC farmers market and the Green Day committee.
"It's pretty awesome to win this," said Bell, 21, who hopes to one day earn a living as an organic farmer. "UNBC is nice and small with lots of opportunities to talk to profs and senior administration and because it's so small, it's easy to get involved in the student society and clubs and start up initiatives, and I think that's the reason I was chosen for this fellowship."
Bell is now involved with UNBC's dome greenhouse project at the north end of the campus, which, when complete, will give students a chance to grow their own vegetables and herbs using a system that relies solely on passive solar heating.
"We'll hopefully be able to grow things you can't normally grow outdoors in Prince George and it will provide some opportunities for research. Hopefully we'll have some expressions of interest from profs on projects they would like to undertake and there will lots of opportunities for student engagement.
"My personal dream at the north end of the campus is [to] have increased food production, maybe even a campus farm. UBC has one, why can't we?"
During the Montreal conference, June 19 to 22, Demenoff and Bell will take part in a plenary session to generate ideas on teaching and learning initiatives they hope to bring back to Prince George.
