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Dilkinas form medal-winning sisterhood
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Terry Lavender, Media & PR, 604.291.7408; terry_lavender@sfu.ca
Terry Lavender, Media & PR, 604.291.7408; terry_lavender@sfu.ca
May 31, 2004
On June 3 two sisters will graduate from Simon Fraser University with two of the university’s most prestigious undergraduate awards.
Katia Dilkina will receive the dean of arts convocation medal with a first class honours degree in cognitive science, while her sister Bistra Dilkina will receive the dean of applied science convocation medal with a first class honours degree in computing science and a cooperative education diploma.
The similarities between the two sisters’ academic achievements are many. Bistra and Katia were chosen to receive a highly competitive International Shrum Scholarship a year apart when they were applying to SFU from the United World College of the Adriatic in Italy in 1999 and 2000.
"I was stunned when they gave me the scholarship after having accepted not simply another person from my country, or another person from the same college, but also another person from my family just the year before!" says Katia.
The sisters have also both earned places on the dean’s honour roll List every eligible semester at SFU. Both have worked as research assistants and had their works published, Katia’s academic interests have spread her research work over three different departments – linguistics, psychology, and computing science. Both sisters come highly recommended by their professors and colleagues.
"I think we have both thrived on and were inspired by the dedication and successes of the other in her respective field," says Bistra. "It is so much easier to work hard when you have such a hard working academic as Katia by your side. Her emotional support has also been critical."
The native Bulgarian sisters have led similar academic lives until now. But the future sees a parting of ways. In September Katia will begin her graduate studies in psychology at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Although Bistra will remain in Vancouver another year to continue working as a senior research scientist at the Actenum Corporation, she plans to make Ithaca, New York her home as a PhD student at Cornell University in the fall of 2005. However, they are determined not to let physical distance weaken their strong bond.
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Katia Dilkina will receive the dean of arts convocation medal with a first class honours degree in cognitive science, while her sister Bistra Dilkina will receive the dean of applied science convocation medal with a first class honours degree in computing science and a cooperative education diploma.
The similarities between the two sisters’ academic achievements are many. Bistra and Katia were chosen to receive a highly competitive International Shrum Scholarship a year apart when they were applying to SFU from the United World College of the Adriatic in Italy in 1999 and 2000.
"I was stunned when they gave me the scholarship after having accepted not simply another person from my country, or another person from the same college, but also another person from my family just the year before!" says Katia.
The sisters have also both earned places on the dean’s honour roll List every eligible semester at SFU. Both have worked as research assistants and had their works published, Katia’s academic interests have spread her research work over three different departments – linguistics, psychology, and computing science. Both sisters come highly recommended by their professors and colleagues.
"I think we have both thrived on and were inspired by the dedication and successes of the other in her respective field," says Bistra. "It is so much easier to work hard when you have such a hard working academic as Katia by your side. Her emotional support has also been critical."
The native Bulgarian sisters have led similar academic lives until now. But the future sees a parting of ways. In September Katia will begin her graduate studies in psychology at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Although Bistra will remain in Vancouver another year to continue working as a senior research scientist at the Actenum Corporation, she plans to make Ithaca, New York her home as a PhD student at Cornell University in the fall of 2005. However, they are determined not to let physical distance weaken their strong bond.
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