Danika Serafin and Katie Timms will be the 2020 valedictorians at the University of Northern British Columbia.
They will each give a brief speech during the virtual convocation celebration on June 26.
Serafin, from Fort St. John, is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
Before attending UNBC for nursing, she worked for four years as a Red Seal Metal Fabricator welding and fabricating sawmill equipment in Salmon Arm.
Serafin found herself getting more excited to perform first aid in the shop than fabricate sawmill equipment and thought if she was accepted into the program, she ‘was meant to change paths.’
“Throughout the four years of my Bachelor’s, I’ve always tried to be a student advocate inside and outside the program,” said Serafin.
“So to be selected for valedictorian is just really rewarding, and I’m really excited to be able to speak on behalf of my graduating class.”
She also spearheaded the creation of the Spare a Pair Community Society, coordinating monthly walks downtown to distribute essentials to marginalized individuals.
“For me it also means there’s no cooker cutter mold for who they select as valedictorian because I have a very diverse background before I came into nursing. So I think that’s really cool.”
She plans on working at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. on the internal medicine unit as a Registered Nurse.
She eventually wants to obtain additional training to advance to the Intensive Care Unit.
Timms is graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (honors) and Biology.
She grew up in Prince George and attended UNBC to stay close to her family and community after high school.
Timms says her double major allowed her to undertake research in breast cancer and herbicides with Dr. Sean Maurice and Dr. Lisa Wood.
Timms plans to begin a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies this fall at UNBC and then advance to either a PhD or a degree in scientific illustration.
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