Nursing student Danika Serafin and biochemistry, molecular biology and biology student Katie Timms have been named UNBC's 2020 valedictorians.
Serafin will address graduates of the College of Arts, Social and Health Sciences during a virtual ceremony on June 26 at 9:30 a.m. Timms will give short speech during the virtual graduation ceremony for the College of Science and Management class at 2:30 p.m. on the same day.
Serafin grew up in Fort St. John and Vernon, but plans to make Prince George her permanent home. She applied to the UNBC nursing program after working four years as a metal fabricator in Salmon Arm.
“UNBC may have been the initial reason I moved to Prince George but the community has easily convinced me to stay,” Serafin said in a press release. “Prince George is inspiring… it is the definition of people helping people."
Serafin plans to join the staff at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. working in the internal medicine unit, and wants to continue her training to advance to working in the intensive are unit.
Her passion for community service prompted her to create the Spare a Pair Community Society in 2017, which co-ordinates monthly walks downtown to distribute basic essentials to marginalized individuals.
Timms grew up in Prince George and attended UNBC to stay close to her family and community. While working on her dual-major bachelor of science degree, she conducted research on breast cancer and herbicides with UNBC professors Dr. Sean Maurice and Lisa Wood
“They have taught me so much about what it means to be a researcher and scientist, and I’m so grateful for it,” Timms said. "My mentors, particularly Dr. Maurice, helped me grow so much and gave me invaluable skills and confidence."
Timms has published a review paper on her breast cancer research with Maurice, and is in the process of publishing some of her work on the herbicide glyphosate's impacts on berry-producing plants. she formed with staff, faculty and her peers the most about her time at UNBC.
Timms was one of the first UNBC research ambassadors in 2018-19 and served as a board member of the Prince George Public Interest Research Group (PGPIRG). She will be continuing her education at UNBC this fall, as she works on obtaining her masters degree.
“My degree has allowed me to move on to graduate school, and has given me the confidence and skills I need to hopefully be successful."
