RRU celebrates Spring 2023 Convocation award winners

Students file in to the Dogwood Auditorium for Convocation.

Royal Roads University congratulates Spring 2023 graduates and salutes the achievements of students for academic excellence and extraordinary contributions to the classroom and beyond. 

Governor General’s Gold Medal

Doctor of Social Sciences graduate Courtney Defriend receives the Governor General’s Gold Medal in recognition of her thesis, You belong to everyone”: Urban First Nations access to health care. 

This highly prestigious award recognizes student at each of Canada's public Universities twice a year for having presented the most outstanding dissertation, thesis, or graduate research project. 

Learn more about her award-winning thesis and find out what she’s learned about the impact Indigenous friendship centres have on feelings of belonging and connection with culture.

Royal Roads also recognizes the following candidates for receiving a nomination for the Governor General’s Gold Medal:

  • Kerri-Lynne Hysuick, School of Business
  • Joanne Kathleen Connauton, School of Communication and Culture
  • Michael Bryan MacKay, School of Education and Technology
  • Bryanna Louise Matthews, School of Environment and Sustainability
  • Jodi Leanne Enns, School of Humanitarian Studies
  • Laura May Hahn, School of Leadership Studies
  • Aisha Bello-Asemota, School of Tourism and Hospitality

Royal Roads Chancellor’s Award

The university presents the Royal Roads Chancellor’s Award to graduates who achieved the highest academic performance in their undergraduate or graduate program.

Spring 2023 Chancellor’s Award recipients:

  • Esther Nadine Eidse, Master of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Management
  • Carden Elizabeth Georgina Serviss, Master of Disaster and Emergency Management
  • Erin Marie Edwards, Master of Arts/Science in Environment and Management
  • Catherine Adela Albertson, Master of Arts in Environmental Education and Communication
  • Crista Valentino, Master of Arts in Global Leadership
  • Rebecca Anne Lacharity, Master of Arts in Human Security and Peacebuilding
  • Melissa Ashley Jahn, Master of Arts in Justice Studies
  • Melina Lee Scholefield, Master of Arts in Leadership
  • Behnaz Tanha, Master of Arts in Tourism Management
  • Heather Megan Domzal, Master of Business Administration 
  • Robin Todd Steward, Master of Global Management

Founders’ Award

The Royal Roads Founders’ Award is presented to a student or a small collective of students in each graduating cohort of a degree program for exemplifying the qualities of leadership, commitment to sustainability, positive and proactive work in equity, diversity and inclusion, and personal growth.

Spring 2023 Founders’ Award recipients:

  • Matthew James Edward Schell, Master of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Management
  • Danielle Helene Vernooy, Master of Arts in Disaster and Emergency Management
  • Tai Satie Uhlmann, Master of Arts/Science in Environment and Management
  • April Maiko Kuramoto, Master of Arts in Environmental Education and Communication
  • Lynn Marie Weaver, Master of Arts in Global Leadership
  • Jennifer Rosado, Master of Arts in International and Intercultural Communication
  • Jamie Lyn Marie Sterling, Master of Arts in International and Intercultural Communication
  • Emily Marie Addicott, Master of Arts in Justice Studies
  • Rowena Browne, Master of Arts in Leadership
  • Charlene Margaret Lafreniere, Master of Arts in Leadership
  • Melina Lee Scholefield, Master of Arts in Leadership
  • Tasha-Marie Rene Clarke, Master of Arts in Leadership – Health
  • Benjamin Lee Borne, Master of Arts in Professional Communication
  • Minh Tra Tran, Master of Arts in Tourism Management
  • Heather Megan Domzal, Master of Business Administration in Executive Management
  • Ruhan Eng, Master of Global Management
  • Priyanka Gandhi, Master of Global Management
  • Ankit Khanna, Master of Global Management
  • Tyler Thomas Blackwood Walton, Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management 
  • Tamara Wai-Chi Pittis, Master of Arts in Leadership