Naomi Diane Lear completed her studies in Psychology at McGill University in the spring of 2002, ranking first in the Department of Sciences. Through her community actions and future professional work, she wishes to enable the most underprivileged in our society to be heard. For example, her involvement with economically disadvantaged, sexually abused or autistic children, as well as her volunteer work with, among others, the Sexual Assault Centre for which she has written a training program and her role as a Big Sister all bear eloquent witness to this student's high level of social conscience. Winner of numerous honorary awards including the Chancellor Gretta Chambers Student Leadership and the Students' Society Co-ordinator of the Year, Naomi has also distinguished herself in numerous research activities. This 23-year-old woman, by her great determination to succeed in everything she undertakes, has impressed her peers, professors and superiors and has actively contributed to research projects on depression, Aids prevention, poverty and child abuse.
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Steve Galarneau, who has just completed a BA in Business Administration at the École des Hautes Études Commerciales, is determined by nature and is not intimidated by pitfalls: he surmounts them. Diagnosed as suffering from Leber Disease in his first college term which brought about a serious loss of his sight, he nevertheless continued his studies and entered university two years later. Elected Membre espoir de l'année by the HEC's AIESEC International (Association internationale des étudiants en sciences économiques et commerciales) during their 2000 Gala of Excellence, Steve then went on to participate in an international exchange in Slovakia and, for one term, pursued studies in Sweden. The young man added to his involvement when he took up the position of director of the Papillon project during which he organized a fund-raising campaign for the Quebec Society for Disabled Children and formed a partnership with the Société des relations d'affaires for which he collaborated in organizing activities aimed at bringing the student community closer to the business world. Furthermore, he distinguished himself as a volunteer for Big Brothers as well as for the group L'Itinéraire which favours social rehabilitation in Montreal.
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As a young girl, Marie-Soleil Bergeron already wanted to give the best of herself. For several years, as a student in Recreology at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, she was involved in the JEM club (Jeunes engagés dans le milieu) which then led her to devote much of her time to different charity organizations such as the Canadian Cancer Society, the Guignolée and the Noël des pauvres. As well as being involved in the cultural and sports fields such as, for example, in different music harmonies and choirs as well as during the Quebec Games and the Jeux de la Francophonie, this avid traveller participated in student exchanges to California and Sweden and even voluntarily took part in archaeological digs in Tunisia. However, her life's most remarkable achievement is her involvement in the Drummondville navy cadets. Marie-Soleil, who for eleven years now has fulfilled her different responsibilities in this organisation with brio and for which she has even been awarded several scholarships, has shown a sense of leadership which is highly esteemed by her peers.
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Having just completed with brio her undergraduate studies in French Literature at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Catherine Lavoie, who aims for a career as a writer or journalist, is already in a Master's program. Elected as a member of the board for her field in her department upon her entrance at university, she has even ventured to offer her time to the reading committee of the student literary journal and to hold the position of director of the association of students in Literature during her final year. Winner of the Lieutenant-Governor's Award, she spares no effort in promoting the cultural development of her region by organizing musical or poetry evenings. Socially committed, Catherine has participated in a three-year international cooperation internship in Burkina Faso where she taught creative writing at a secondary school in a small bush village. This experience has led her to speak out in favour of greater social responsibility towards what is happening elsewhere in the world.
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With her constant quest for excellence, Anne St-Laurent has wonderfully succeeded in maintaining a healthy equilibrium between her academic development, her social commitments and her sports and cultural activities. A student in Secondary Education (mathematics and physics) at the Université de Sherbrooke, this young woman aims towards a professional career dedicated to youth. Through her role as president of the student services committee, her involvement with the university board of governors, the Fédération étudiante de l'Université de Sherbrooke and the Commission jeunesse Estrie, she has shown her militancy in favour of student causes and those of youngsters. Rewarded for her efforts by obtaining the Rénald-Legendre scholarship in recognition of sustained commitment, Anne also contributes generously to the life of her community. Be it in the creation of a small market gardening production industry in her village of Saint-Bonaventure, her implication in different choirs or in the founding of a choir in her department, Anne displays both determination and generosity.
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Frédérick Bourgoin, a third-year student in Physical Engineering at the Université Laval has a passion for optoelectronics and, for a long time, has made both the practice of engineering and social commitment the cornerstone of his education. Frédérick, with a concern for his professional development for which he has received several scholarships two of which were offered by the EXFO firm, was secretary for two years of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute of his university. Furthermore, he participated in the founding and is currently president of Robocup Laval whose aim is to participate in an automated soccer world cup in Italy in 2003 and has also been the editor of the Physical Engineering Department's student newspaper. His participation in the 12th edition of the Quebec Engineering Games, as well as that, as team captain, in the first inter-faculty games at the Université Laval held last winter, are also highpoints in his career. As for his social commitment, it is demonstrated in his involvement with Moisson Québec and Amnesty International and, in particular, with people with a physical handicap for whom he has helped organize sporting events.
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Recipient of the Bourse de la doyenne and the Bourse d'accueil, both of which were awarded by the Université de Montréal, Raphaëlle Derome has maintained a perfect average of 4.3 since the beginning of her BA program in Environmental Geography while at the same time devoting time to community activities such as her involvement with the Atlantic Scouts Federation, Moncton district. With a deep concern for issues regarding the environment and social justice, during her high-school and college education this committed militant has been a long-time member of Amnesty International. Raphaëlle currently lends her voice to the student radio station at the Université de Montréal in the weekly Les Rongeurs du risque show and takes advantage of the platform it offers to approach different social issues. Moreover, this student is involved in the Les Géoverts environmental committee where she has held, in turn, the position of president and secretary. In a few years, Raphaëlle would like to follow a career in the field of scientific communications.
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Justice, equality and solidarity. These are the key elements which have always shaped Christine Renaud's actions. An undergraduate student in Morals Education at the Université de Montréal, she takes advantage of every moment and every action to preach for these three ideals, both in her community and abroad. Christine was the instigator of a recycling program at her elementary school, the founder of the L'Entracte youth centre and of the Peace 'N' Love choir, a participant in a project for international cooperation in Guatemala as well as in Chantiers jeunesse in Wales, the coordinator of the Semaine interculturelle 2002 and a guide for Québec sans frontières student trainees and has always shown dynamism, commitment and leadership. She was awarded the Fondation Hubert-Biermans merit scholarship and even found time to participate in charitable activities such as the United Way fundraiser, Christmas hampers, the Montreal Children's Festival, the Week of Solidarity and many others.
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On completing her studies in Nursing at the Université du Québec en Outaouais, Isabelle Landry already has a highly impressive record. Two-time recipient of an excellence scholarship, as well as the Guy-Moreau award in recognition of university involvement, this young woman, who shows a keen interest in perinatal care, puts tremendous effort into all types of activities relating to health. She is involved, in particular, with Nourri-Lait and the UQO heath clinic where she has been, in turn, president and consultant. Furthermore, Isabelle has developed a true passion for research enabling her to act as a research assistant in two projects relating to routine nursing practice with new-borns and to participate in the annual congress of the Association of Licensed Practical Nurses held last October and to write scientific articles which have been published in the Le Lien journal and in L'infirmière du Québec. Since last spring, she has been participating in another multidisciplinary research project which will last three years and which is linked to children and the family, though this time it has a strong psychosocial element.
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