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Community showcases riveting stories of adversity, culture and creating change. These stories are from SFU community members which include volunteers, Graduate students, Alumni, Indigenous students, and many more to show you the power of giving back to our community.

Photo of Victoria at the SFU Surrey campus
How Co-op Inspired Me to Get More Involved During my Undergrad

As a communications assistant on campus, Victoria San Martin learned about the value of volunteer work in strengthening soft skills and finding community. Read about how her work term inspired her to seek out more involvement opportunities at SFU.

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Resisting Structural Violence Through Research and Policy

An exemplary researcher in the health sciences community, PhD graduand Amanda Butler has been awarded the 2022 Graduate Dean's Convocation Medal. Their research involves the intersections of mental health, substance use, and incarceration.

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Pursuing Grad School With a Backpack Full of Life Experience

After enduring a zoom-mediated MBA, David Whiffin moved to Vancouver, rediscovered his love for the outdoors and catalyzed a career change.

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Reconciliation Through Indigenized Nursing Education

Joanna Fraser graduates with an EdD in Culturally Inclusive Place-Based Education (CIPB). Read about her reflections on being a community nurse and educator in rural settings, as well as her learnings from Indigenous mentors in creating an inclusive practice.

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He Shoots, He Scores! A Legacy in Robot Soccer

Applied Sciences graduand, Arvin Amini, leaves SFU with a lasting impact by founding the SFU Robot Soccer Club. Over the years, the club has received funding from various engineering organizations and has been involved in community outreach with students in grades 5 to 8. Read about his passion for highlighting the fun in STEM.

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Building Accessible Software for Educators

Computing science graduand Laton Vermette graduates with a Ph.D. in Computing Science. His thesis was on improving the lives of educators by providing ways for them to customize the classroom software they use for teaching.

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Driven by a Passion for Research

Chao Bao graduates with a Ph.D. in Mechatronics. Equipped with a master's degree in engineering and nine years of experience in government research and industry, he made the difficult decision to leave a stable job to pursue his passion in research, with the goal of making a difference in society.

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Studying Mental Health Stigma for Social Change

As an undergraduate student, Spencer Chen excelled with a GPA of 4.21 and received numerous merit-based scholarships and awards. She also sought diverse research and community service opportunities to make meaningful contributions to the SFU community.

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Tackling Socially Relevant Problems

Dr. Alberto Lusoli, Ph.D., receives the Graduate Dean's Medal. Currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Digital Democracies Institute, he reflects on his research findings and his overall experience as a graduate student at the School of Communication.

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Centering the Stories of People, Community, and Self

FCAT student speaker, Fegor Obuwoma, reflects on her time as an SFU student studying film and communications, and as an active member of campus advocacy groups.

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Years of Involvement in the SIAT Program

Carolyn Yip graduates with a BA in Interactive Arts & Technology. During her time as a SIAT student, she was heavily involved in the IAT student union and took part in several co-op internships where she gained experience in various fields such as video editing, UX design, and entrepreneurship.

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Honing Skills in Visual Storytelling

Inda Macias graduates with a Master in Digital Media (MDM). As a project manager, production coordinator, and storyteller from Mexico, she shares her experiences in the MDM program and how she will apply the skills she learned in the future.

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From Student Advocacy to Law School

It only took one archaeology course in her first year for Charlotte Taylor-Baer to discover her love for the subject. With a passion for forensic sciences and a dream of one day becoming a criminal defense lawyer, a double major in archaeology and criminology just made sense.

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Seeking Solutions for Social Change

Being a bystander is not in Mireta Strandberg-Salmon's nature. The Resource and Environmental Management graduand and Dean’s Convocation Medalist is known widely as a faculty superstar for her impact on campus sustainability and beyond. As her undergraduate journey comes to an end and she prepares to walk across the stage, she has a lot to look back on.

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Facilitating Change Through Community Service

Ashley Kyne wins the Inclusion, Democracy, and Reconciliation Medal for her selfless contributions to the SFU community and beyond.

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Taking a Break Is Not Equivalent to Giving Up

Vanessa Gottfriedson’s journey toward earning her BA in Indigenous Studies started in 2005. During her nearly two decades as an SFU student, Vanessa’s life transformed in a myriad of ways. 

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Fostering Inclusion and Equity in the Community

Jess Dela Cruz graduates with a minor in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies (GSWS), passionate about furthering social justice, inclusion, and equity on and beyond campus.

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Championing Multidimensional Care at SFU and Beyond

Bachelor of Sciences graduand Charity Mudhikwa hit the ground running when she came to Canada in 2018 for university, dedicating her undergraduate degree helping SFU students and the community at large.

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Advocating for the Wrongfully Convicted

Criminology student, Asia Clarke, shares her journey into community building and how she became an advocate for the wrongfully convicted.

Simrit's workspace at Beedie HQ
A Day in the Life of a HR & Marketing Assistant

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of the SFU Business co-op office? Well, let me tell you – it is a very busy place! The HR & Marketing Assistant co-op position plays a vital role in ensuring students are receiving access to a diverse selection of postings and employers. Keep reading to find out why being in the HR & Marketing Assistant role was such a rewarding experience.