One Red Deerian is among eight students in the province to receive a prestigious honour.
Amanda Beggs, 18, has been awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Citizenship Medal, an honour she received in Edmonton on Monday.
“It really is an honour,” said Beggs, who recently completed her first year of the communications and public relations program at Red Deer College. “And it was very unexpected. I just got a letter in the mail a couple of weeks ago.”
The recipients of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Citizenship Medal all graduated from high school in 2009 and are being honoured for their outstanding contributions to their community through good citizenship, leadership, community service and volunteerism. Each recipient receives a medal and $5,000 for their personal development and general education. Medal recipients were selected from a group of more than 165 winners of the Premier’s Citizenship Award. Every Alberta high school may nominate one student each year to receive the Premier’s Award.
“What these Albertans have already accomplished in their lives is inspiring and sets a great example for all of us,” said Lindsay Blackett, minister of culture and community spirit. “The quality of life in Alberta is enhanced by the actions and selflessness of people like these great eight. I know their families, teachers and friends are proud, and I want to congratulate each of them.”
Meanwhile, Beggs said she plans to take a year off of school to travel.
“I want to travel to Europe and try to figure out where I want to go from here,” she said. “I plan to work while I’m traveling and experience things I’m interested in to help steer me in the right path.”
The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Citizenship Medal is part of a recognition program created in 2002 to honour the 50th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne. The Premier’s Citizenship Award and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Citizenship Medal are administered by Culture and Community Spirit and Advanced Education and Technology. A joint selection committee chooses the medal recipients.
For more information, call the Alberta Scholarship Program Office at 780-427-8640 (dial 310-0000 for toll-free access within Alberta) or visit www.culture.alberta.ca/humanrights and click on Queen’s Golden Jubilee Citizenship Medal.
