2024 Governor General’s Academic Medal Recipients

ERIN BOMBINI

Governor-General’s Academic Gold Medal

Graduate Erin Bombini was honored with the Governor-General Academic Gold Medal. Erin is a graduate of the Master of Education in Educational Leadership program.

As a current educator, Erin felt that further pursuing studies through the Master of Education in Educational Leadership program would better support her through her career. She plans to take the knowledge gained from her master’s program to help strengthen her teaching methods and help her encourage her students to embrace art and augmented reality technologies across subject areas.

“I look forward to continuing to serve upcoming students in creative and innovative ways that embrace each student’s individual gifts and talents,” she says.

Erin completed her Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education (After Degree), and Master of Education
degrees all at Concordia University of Edmonton.

“The smaller class sizes initially drew me to the university; however, returning for my education degree, getting to know the faculty, and completing the program further inspired me to pursue the Master of Education in Educational Leadership,” she says.

For students currently on the path to their degree, Erin says that it’s important to find ways to incorporate your passions into your studies.
“When I was able to integrate my love of art and interest in discovering educational technologies to support student learning into my final project, the work was much more meaningful, exciting, and relevant,” she says.

MORGAN SMITH

Governor-General’s Academic Silver Medal

Graduate Morgan Smith was honored with the Governor-General Academic Silver Medal. Morgan is a graduate of the Bachelor of Science program with a major in
mathematics and a minor in biology.

Morgan began her program planning to major in biology. In her second year, her academic advisor recommended she pursue a math minor—a move that would eventually lead to her new major.

“It caused me to take more math classes and I found that I truly enjoyed math and wanted to major in math instead of biology,” she said.

Beyond her bachelor’s degree, she hopes to further study mathematics, eager to see where the field leads her. Morgan was drawn to the smaller scale of CUE, where she could get to know her classmates and professors. Her parents, both CUE alumni, also recommended the
university.

Through her time at CUE, Morgan has been able to benefit from the smaller community, citing the friendships she’s developed and the research projects she has been a part of as highlights of her time here.

Morgan would offer the same advice she was given: to try different classes and keep an open mind. You never know when your next passion will be uncovered.