Congratulations to Julia Thompson, who was awarded the Andrew Dunn Memorial Award at the 2023 Springfield Collegiate Institute’s Convocation on Tuesday, June 27. The $1,000 award goes to a graduate with strong academic standing who plans to pursue post secondary studies related to the mental health field.

Julia had this to say in her application for the award:

I’ve worked hard throughout my last four years of high school maintaining a solid average.

If one of my friends needs help, I’m always there to lend a hand. I hope that my friends and peers will always see me as someone they can trust and come to with anything.

The topic of mental health is super important to me. I will be studying Psychology at the University of British Columbia this coming falI. I hope to further my understanding of mental health and everything that goes into it.

In the future I would love to advocate for those who are struggling with their own mental health, and those who may feel like they don’t have a voice. I know how hard it can be to bring yourself out of that place.

I applied to UBC thinking I wouldn’t get in. Months later I was accepted and I continue to prove myself wrong. I believe that if I can prove my own self wrong then I can show others dealing with their own struggles that they can do the same.