Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts Graduate

Thunder Bay, ON

"I chose Lakehead University because I love Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay is a beautiful mid-size city that offers many opportunities to celebrate various cultures as well as outdoor activities. Lakehead is the right university for me because it offers quality educational programs with opportunities for individualized instruction and support. If you are open to a new and unexpected adventure, come to Lakehead University- a place that offers an amazing educational experience with a personal touch, located in the heart of Northern Ontario.

The Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts program is phenomenal! The profs are inspiring and you are given opportunities to promote artwork through the Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition held every spring at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery. My degree has prepared me for my next venture, the one year Bachelor of Education program. I really look forward to the next step in my education at Lakehead and in my career.

One of my favourite spots on campus is the 5th floor of the Chancellor Paterson Library, the Northern Studies Resources Centre. It is a quiet space for learning, with a beautiful view of Thunder Bay . If I had a chance to name my second favourite place, it would have to be the main cafeteria. The great lighting and view of Lake Tamblyn provides the right environment for me to study in. Plus, after 4 hours of essay writing, it is great to have a nice bowl of soup and a sandwich close at hand.

Outside of class I like to stay active by running, rollerblading, biking and hiking. These activities allow me to be out in nature, which is prominent throughout Thunder Bay and area. Also, one of my passions is creative expression, so I try to be creative in most things that I do. I enjoy reading as well."

Honours Bachelor of Science in Geology
Guelph, ON

Lakehead is an excellent place to study, especially a subject such as geology. Thunder Bay has lots of interesting geology and natural beauty in and around the area. The small class sizes at Lakehead have allowed me to get to know the other students in my program as well as get to know my professors. The professors at Lakehead are enthusiastic and care greatly about the quality of education of their students. Going to school at Lakehead has so far been an unforgettable experience and I'm very excited for the next two years!

For second year field school, our class mapped the rock outcrop along the McIntyre River on the Lakehead campus and produce a geologic map. We also had the opportunity to do this in other locations in Thunder Bay such as the Current River running through Centennial Park. We then learned to create geologic maps and cross sections of the areas in the park. We use a Brunton compass and a GPS provided by Lakehead to gather data that will be used to create our final maps.

On the last day of field school, we logged drill core at the drill core library at the Ministry of Northern Mines and Development in Thunder Bay. When logging core, we made note of changes in lithology and mineralogy, and other characteristics of the core. We then used the notes we made from looking at the drill core to create a geologic interpretation of the core.

Kinesiology
London, ON

"Originally from London, Ontario, I chose to come to Lakehead University because it is a smaller school with a more personal touch. As a student you are given many more opportunities to have one-on-one interaction with professors.

Lakehead is an amazing school that is situated in a city that has everything that you would need and all the bonuses of a natural environment. The classes that I am taking in the Kinesiology program are very interesting and include hands-on experience with clients in early stages. The profs are very approachable and are always willing to go the extra mile.

Outside of class I enjoy playing sports, and doing outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, and camping. I also enjoy reading, and listening to music. When I am on campus I like to hang out in the Hangar and when I need to get some studying done I like to go to Lake Tamblyn."

Honours Bachelor of Arts & Science, Bachelor of Education
Midhurst, ON

I have always wanted to be a teacher. I always assumed I'd go to the school my mom attended, as she is an amazing teacher. But through tours I realized that I had no interest in attending a larger institution. I told my parents I wanted to be a big fish in a small pond. I knew I needed to go somewhere that would allow and encourage me to grow and change. I thought the best way to do that would be choosing to attend a school with a smaller environment. I applied to 4 schools and was accepted to and offered scholarships to all. After taking tours I was able to narrow down my four schools to two, one of which being Lakehead.

Ultimately, when I applied to Lakehead it was a sign out front; a building site more than a university. But I liked the idea of Lakehead. The possibilities it could create for me seemed too good to pass on. The warm and welcoming people and overall environment fulfilled everything I could have hoped for in a school. In my four years here I have seen such growth, on a personal level and a literal one. Lakehead fosters kindness the same way it fosters a sense of community and of home. It encourages growth and development. That's why I chose Lakehead. That's why I love Lakehead.

As cheesy as it sounds, I can't say anything bad about Lakehead. What I like about academic and student life at Lakehead is academic and student life at Lakehead. The Interdisciplinary Studies program allows students to explore their interests. As a somewhat indecisive person, I've had the opportunity to dabble. To find areas I'm interested in that I was previously unaware of entirely.

Lakehead has expanded my thinking in a multitude of ways. Not only have I been taught to look at things from an academic standpoint with a critical eye but also my horizons have been broadened on the whole. I like to think that I approach problems and situations from a more global standpoint than I once did and am able to make more complex inferences and connections in daily life. But more than that, I am able to communicate in a more intelligent fashion than I was previously able. I've met more people and have become associated with various communities and subpockets of the Lakehead world and the world of Simcoe County. These experiences have expanded my thinking and my mindset hugely on the whole. I've worked with the Student Union, the Alumni Association, and Recruitment and as an Orientation Leader among other things. Each of these experiences has taught me a great deal about myself.

My Lakehead experience has far exceeded anything I could have hoped for in a university experience. My time at Lakehead has prepared me for what's next. I often look back on my decision to come here as one of the better decisions I've ever made. Both academically and personally, Lakehead encourages students to push themselves. I am confident that the exceptional experience Lakehead has provided me with will allow me to succeed in my future as a teacher

When people accept their offer to Lakehead, I always say "Welcome to the Family" and I mean it. It's not just something I say. Lakehead fosters kindness in its students the same way that it fosters a sense of community and of home. You aren't confined to friends in your program or year level, you can and will meet everyone.

If I had to describe my time at Lakehead in two words I think they'd be growth and home. My time as an Orientation Leader taught me to expand my comfort zone, to go after opportunities and to interact with as many people as possible, because everyone has such cool and unique stories. These lessons made way for my time as a Tour Guide. Being a Tour Guide has allowed me to better my communication skills while interacting with thousands of prospective students. The people I have been able to meet as a result have entirely enriched my life.

Lakehead, in itself, has for me been an exceptional experience. My professors have been amazing and involved and invested in my education. My roles in student life have been entirely life changing. When they first rolled out the new branding "Exceptional, Unconventional" I remember wondering why they chose the word Unconventional. But now, I understand. Not every student can speak as highly of his or her school as I can of Lakehead. Not every student knows his or her Profs personally. Lakehead provides students with an Exceptional and Unconventional experience that is truly second to none and I am lucky to be able to say I've had this experience.

HBA Women's Studies

President's Award, Robert Poulin Award for Outstanding Citizenship, Millennium Laureate, Leonard Foundation Award, First Class Standing

"I am proud to say that I have an Honours degree in Women's Studies; words not often spoken by men. These words are true for me, and my time with the Women's Studies department at Lakehead is something which I will speak happily about with whoever asks or will listen. The time I spent in the Women's Studies department prepared me to work in a world of changing landscapes by giving me the tools to think critically and progressively about the present and the future.

I am currently the ongoing Director of Camp Nagiwa for the YMCA-YWCA of Guelph. Working in program development for children, I am faced with the changing landscape of families and social structures as I design, implement, and oversee programming for a range of participants ages 5-18. The critical analysis and information gathering skills I learned through my Women's Studies degree permit me to better analyse and react to overt and underlying behavioural factors for my clients and families. The socio-cultural understandings I gained through the program help me to better serve their diverse needs and build safer spaces for all clients. As I move forward in my career, I believe that my Women's Studies education will be invaluable."

Business of Commerce - Accounting
Thunder Bay, Ontario

"I knew Lakehead University was the place that I would continue my post-secondary education when I found out that the business program was so strong. With the help of current students at the time, I was informed about the successes of previous students in the real world. Students from the program earned so many phenomenal jobs – I thought to myself that I would like to be one of those people one day.

My first day of Financial Accounting, I came to meet one of the most influential people in my life, Camillo Lento. It only took one semester to decide my career path of accounting because he teaches with such compassion and knowledge, more than any lecturer I have ever had. Listening to him teach accounting makes me want to be successful because he really demonstrates the greatness of higher learning and career paths associated to the field. Every lecture is an inspiration to learn, and to be better at all you can be.

Joining the Lakehead University Business Association in my 2^nd year at Lakehead was a pivotal experience that shaped who I am today. Being a part of LUBA, opened many doors, not only academically, but also socially. I met so many students, friends and faculty. LUBA gave me the opportunity to be a leader, and help change the lives of others, along with my own."

Honours Bachelor of Environmental Management (Specialization in Wildlife Coservation & Management)
Cambridge, ON

I went to a small high school and loved the rapport between students and staff, and was happy to find the same atmosphere at Lakehead. Most of my classes over the past four years have had less than 30 students, with many courses having only 10-15 students. This really allows for a connection to develop between professor and student, and makes learning opportunities, such as field trips, more possible. 

 I had a strong interest in environmental studies coming out of high school, and loved that Lakehead offered a range of environmental programs with lots of hands on opportunities. One of my favourite opportunities I've had as part of the NRM faculty at Lakehead was the opportunity to travel to Finland for Field School. For three weeks, a small group of students travelled around the country studying forests, forest management techniques and how Finland is dealing with a changing climate. Through this trip I was able to experience new cultures, food, traditions and landscapes that I would never have an opportunity to see on my own. It really helped broaden my knowledge and shed light on how other countries are tackling similar issues to those here in Canada.

Now that I have graduated, I hope to pursue a career in outdoor education and interpretation. My studies at Lakehead have given me great perspective on the need for community involvement in environmental issues. Lakehead's location in Northern Ontario also showed me how important community and First Nations consultation is in order to balance the needs of the public, industry, and the environment. In the future, I know that all of the knowledge and skills I've gained at Lakehead will aid me in communicating environmental concepts to all ages and skillsets.