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Convocation
FASS graduands awarded Convocation Medals recognizing their devotion to leadership and academic excellence
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) congratulates the seven FASS graduands honoured with convocation medals in recognition of their achievements and devotion to leadership.
Governor General's Silver Medal
Awarded to the two undergraduate students who achieve the highest scholastic standing upon graduation from a bachelor’s degree program.
Selena Prentice
BA, Psychology, Minor in Early Learning
Selena Prentice graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Early Learning. After beginning her education at Langara College, Selena was awarded the Ken Caple College Transfer Entrance Scholarship upon her transfer to SFU. While at SFU, Selena fostered her long-held passion for working with children through her childcare work with the Association of Neighbourhood Houses of British Columbia and by volunteering with organizations like the Girl Guides of Canada. Selena’s combined passions for learning and working with children have led her to pursue a career in teaching, with plans of obtaining a master's degree in education.
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Inclusion, Democracy and Reconciliation
Awarded to an outstanding undergraduate student in any faculty who has completed the requirements for a Bachelor’s degree and/or a Certificate or a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma and has demonstrated academic excellence and outstanding contributions in support/promotion of one or more of the following areas: (1) inclusion, (2) democracy and/or (3) reconciliation, on campus or in their communities.
Julia Mosi
BA (Hons.), Psychology, Minor in Sociology
Julia Mosi graduates with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. Throughout her degree, she has been deeply dedicated to fostering inclusive and accessible spaces on campus. Her leadership as president of the Psychology Student Union and former president of the Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies Student Union, alongside her peer mentor and support work, has helped students access meaningful social, academic and professional opportunities. She has also contributed to several research labs, with her honours thesis examining diversity in Canadian newcomers’ attitudes and wellbeing. This fall, she will begin a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology at UBC’s Okanagan campus.
Gordon M. Shrum Undergraduate Medal
SFU’s most prestigious undergraduate medal is bestowed on the graduating student whose high scholastic standing and extracurricular activities demonstrate outstanding qualities of character and unselfish devotion to the university.
Mishael Abu-Samhan
BA (Hons.), Philosophy and Political Science
Mishael Abu-Samhan graduates with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Philosophy and Political Science. During his time at SFU, he completed the NATO Field School and Simulation Program and served the student body as a peer educator, student Senator and mentor, as well as president and co-president of the Philosophy and Political Science Student Unions, respectively. In recognition of his academic achievements and community service, he has been named to the President’s Honour Roll seven times, awarded a FASS Dean’s Undergraduate Fellowship and won the 2024 Laurine Harrison Undergraduate Service Award, among other recognitions. He will attend law school at the University of Toronto this fall.
Dean of Graduate Studies Convocation Medal
Recognizes graduating students from each faculty who achieve the highest level of academic excellence in their graduate program.
Michaela McGuire
PhD, Criminology
Dr. Michaela McGuire graduates with a PhD in Criminology from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Her research and work focus on decolonization, racism, genocide, state crime, resurgence, Indigenous justice, and governance. In her dissertation research she considered identity displacement and belonging affecting the Haida Nation, within the framework of state crime. During her PhD, she maintained a 4.33 CGPA and held multiple awards and fellowships, including the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. She is a fellow with the Yellowhead Institute and will begin as an assistant professor in Indigenous Governance at the University of Victoria this summer.
August Skrudland
MA, Criminology
August Skrudland graduates with a Master of Arts in Criminology from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. During his master’s research, he analyzed risk-taking behaviours of sexual homicide offenders in Canada and found that increasingly complex offender decision-making led to a greater likelihood of witnesses potentially seeing or hearing aspects of the offence. His research provides practical investigative insights for identifying behavioural patterns with the aims of strengthening criminal investigations, informing prevention efforts and enhancing public safety. At SFU, he earned a 4.33 GPA and several awards and received a SSHRC Doctoral Scholarship to support his SFU doctoral research in criminology, where he will study offender typologies, victimology and geographic mobility patterns in sexually motivated abductions.
Dean's Convocation Medal
Recognizes undergraduate students in each faculty whose cumulative grade point average places them in the top five per cent of their class.
Harkirat Kang
BA (Hons.), Economics
Harkirat Kang graduates with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She extends her gratitude for the generous support from members of the Economics program for their mentorship, academic and career guidance and research opportunities during her time at SFU. Harkirat presently works as a research assistant at the Bank of Canada where she supports economists in conducting research on monetary and fiscal policy. She plans to pursue a Master of Arts in Economics next year, followed by a PhD with the goal of pursuing a career in research.
Emily Yiling Ma
BA (Hons.), English
Emily Yiling Ma graduates with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in English. Their honours research focused on queer spatiality in Chinese diasporic cultural production under the supervision of Dr. Joanne Leow, and they presented this research at the FASS Undergraduate Research Symposium and the SFU English Graduate Conference. She is a recipient of the Robert C. Brown Award, the Tom Grieve Honours English Program Award and the Ann and William Messenger Undergraduate Scholarship in English. Additionally, Emily volunteered with the SFU Student Learning Commons as a peer educator and served as undergraduate representative on a hiring committee for the English department. They look forward to beginning a graduate degree in Archives and Library Studies at UBC.