A pair of students at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) has taken home two of the first-ever 3M National Student Fellowships. Third Year Environmental Studies student Cameron Bell, and Health Sciences student Selena Demenoff are among only 10 winners nationally and the only honorees from a western Canadian university. The awards are sponsored by 3M Canada and the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE).

The Fellowships recognize students who have demonstrated qualities of outstanding leadership and who embrace a vision where the quality of their educational experience can be enhanced in academia and beyond. Both students will receive a $5000 award and have the opportunity to develop a collaborative project that can embrace teaching and learning at the post-secondary level.

“I'm excited and pleased to have been granted this award,” says Bell, who hails from Barrie Ontario, and ultimately wants to pursue a career as an organic farmer. “I’ve been heavily involved at UNBC with Students for a Green University, the University Farmers’ Market, and the Green Day planning committee, and I'm glad that there are awards that recognize this sort of participation."

On 3M’s website, the organization sites Bell’s outstanding leadership as displayed by his involvement with residence council, his roles as Associate Director of Campus Sustainability with the Northern Undergraduate Student Society, and with goBEYOND, which promotes sustainability in higher education, as being reasons for his selection. Bell has also received  the TD Undergraduate Bursary, which is available to students enrolled in Environmental Studies.

3M lists Demenoff as a “strong advocate for peace and empowering youth,” by making the case for a culturally inclusive learning environment. “It is an honour to be recognized in this way,” says Demenoff who grew up in Grand Forks, BC, and says she wishes to work in public health and research. “I encourage others to be passionate about their causes and to confront challenges in education. I think educational and field learning should be unified and reciprocate one another. I would really like to thank UNBC for fostering continued support for student success as well as making this award happen."

STLHE will honour the 2012 3M National Student Fellows formally at the annual conference, hosted by McGill University, Concordia University, Université de Montréal and Champlain College St. Lambert on June 21 in Montreal.

Last year, UNBC English professor Lisa Dickson was awarded a 3M National Teaching Fellowship, UNBC’s second professor to achieve the honour. International Studies Professor Heather Smith was the first UNBC professor to receive this distinction.