Eight of the 15 B.C. high school graduates who earned 1998 Premier's Excellence Awards have chosen to study at UBC in September.
Established in 1986, the award recognizes a student in each of the province's college regions based on academic excellence and community and school service. It includes a medal and a $5,000 scholarship to attend a B.C. university, college or institute.
Solveig Adair is graduating from Caledonia Senior Secondary in Terrace. Adair has enrolled in Science with a goal of becoming an ecologist/botanist. Among her other awards are UBC's President's Entrance and Outstanding Student Initiative Scholarships.
Gina Chong is graduating from J. Lloyd Crowe Secondary School in Trail. Chong will study science on her way to a career in optometry. She has also earned UBC's Avenor Inc. Major Entrance Scholarship and the Governor General's Bronze Medallion as well as other awards and scholarships.
Darren Haines is a Terry Fox Secondary School graduate. The Port Coquitlam native, who will study science, wants to work in the field of artificial intelligence. He has also earned a UBC Outstanding Student Initiative Award and the President's Entrance Scholarship.
Deanne Malinsky is graduating from Kelowna's Mount Boucherie Secondary. Although enrolled in Science, she will also study languages. Malinsky has earned UBC's Outstanding Student Initiative Scholarship, the Charles and Jane Bank UBC Entrance Scholarship and other awards.
Alicia Miller of North Vancouver's Sutherland Secondary School has enrolled in Arts with a goal of writing from a background of social or counselling psychology. Miller has earned UBC's Chancellor's Entrance Scholarship and a Governor General's Academic Medal among other honours.
Jennifer Mills has completed Grade 12 at Correlieu Secondary School in Quesnel and will study science in hopes of specializing in plastic surgery. She has also earned UBC's Outstanding Student Initiative Scholarship and local scholarships from her hometown.
Hilary Quinn, from Sardis Secondary School, will study science. She hopes to "become a doctor and work in countries which are in desperate need of medical aid." She has also won a UBC Outstanding Student Initiative Scholarship and the Norman MacKenzie Entrance Scholarship.
Titus Wong is graduating from Vancouver Technical Secondary School. He will study science with hopes of entering medicine and specializing in cardiology. Among his other honours are UBC's Chancellor's Major Entrance Scholarship and the Lister Alumni Award.
Two winners from last year who deferred awards have also elected to study at UBC.
Leslie Dampier, the 1997 award winner from South Peace Secondary School in Dawson Creek, has registered in Agricultural Sciences. Dampier earned UBC's Outstanding Student Initiative Scholoarship and other honours.
Damien Gillis, a graduate of Campbell River's Carihi Secondary School, is enrolled in the Arts One program and wants to pursue a music writing career. Among his other awards are UBC's Chancellor's Entrance Scholarship and the Governor General's Academic Medal.