Governor General Award at Salmon Arm Secondary

Salmon Arm Secondary graduate Tessa Elliott is the winner of the Governor General’s medal for the 2022-2023 school year.

Salmon Arm Secondary (Sullivan campus) Vice-Principal Rhys Waters presented 2023 SAS grad Tessa Elliott a certificate and medal for the Governor General’s Academic Medal for outstanding scholastic achievement onTuesday, May 13, 2024.  The award is for Tessa’s top academic performance for grades 10 through 12.  Tessa was appreciative of the award and acknowledged the hard work and self discipline it took.

This year, Tessa started her post-secondary school career at the University of B.C. (Vancouver) in the Faculty of Science, with the intention of pursuing a major in Microbiology and Immunology. She is hopeful that this will lead to medical school or a career in laboratory research. Tessa is motivated by her daily interactions with people, the books she reads, and small moments of joy that keep her driven to reach her long-term goals of living a successful and fulfilled life.

Tessa is returning to the area for the summer months to work and travel. She is looking forward to spending time with family, friends and enjoying a Shuswap summer. Tessa also shared a little advice: “There will be days when all you’ll have is 40 percent effort because motivation is running low, but if you give 40 percent, then you still gave all you had. In addition to working hard and being self disciplined, make sure to make some friends along the way!”

For nearly 150 years, the Governor General’s Academic Medals have recognized the outstanding scholastic achievements of students in Canada. They are awarded to the student graduating with the highest average from a high school, as well as from approved college or university programs.