Faculty of Health Sciences Gold Medal
All students who have graduated during the academic year* with Great Distinction (with a GPA of 3.75 or higher) are eligible for consideration for the Faculty of Health Sciences Gold Medal, awarded at Spring Convocation.
If you are eligible, you are encouraged to seek nominations from academic staff in the your area of study. Academic achievement (including GPA, actual grades on transfer courses, and number of A+ grades), involvement in University or Faculty committees, student government, participation in University clubs or other activities, and contributions to the community are all considered.
For more information about Convocation Medals, visit ulethbridge.ca/convocation/convocation-medals.
*All students, whether you graduate in October, February, or May, are eligible for consideration for the Gold Medal. Awards are announced at the Spring convocation.
Gold Medal Recipients
Elizabeth Orel graduated from the BN-AD program in October 2025 and was truly a shining star within the nursing program. Orel exemplified excellence across academic, clinical, research and leadership domains. She excelled in all coursework, achieving top grades while demonstrating a deep understanding of complex nursing concepts. Her ability to integrate theory into practice reflects strong critical thinking and a clear commitment to lifelong learning. In practice settings, Orel distinguished herself through exceptional professionalism, sound clinical judgment, and compassionate, patient-centered care. She demonstrates strong advocacy, calmly navigating challenging conversations with families while prioritizing patient safety. In addition to her academic and clinical accomplishments, Orel contributed to a research project examining Canadian guidelines for physical activity during pregnancy, which she presented at an international conference in Montreal, Quebec.
Oghenekome Obrutu has earned several ULethbridge awards and scholarships, including the Chinook Summer Research Award and the Prentice Institute Undergraduate Research Award. In her final semester of a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Public Health, she completed a practicum where she conducted qualitative research on LGBTQ2S+ newcomer youth experiences with gender-based violence and explored social enterprise models for black and racialized communities. She has served as a student mentor with Student Enrolment and Registrar Services and as an undergraduate representative on the Accessibility, Belonging and Community Advisory Council.
Caitlin MacGregor, a Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation graduate, earned the highest graduation GPA in this academic year with an impressive 3.98. Regarded as an intelligent, creative and insightful young woman committed to advancing her knowledge and skills, she is receptive to new information and always strives for a deeper understanding of novel topics and ideas. MacGregor has great respect and always shows professionalism in her work.
Martens graduated in the Fall from the Bachelor of Nursing program. Remarkably, this is the second Gold Medal that she has received from the University of Lethbridge. Her first was awarded following her Bachelor of Health Sciences in Public Health, in 2016. She is currently a labour and delivery nurse at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary.