Photo Courtesy Medicine Hat College

By Chris Brown

MHC grad wins provincial teacher award

Sep 24, 2023 | 10:00 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A graduate of Medicine Hat College’s bachelor of education program is at the front of the class this year and has a prestigious honour to help mark the occasion.

Abigail Pohl has been declared the winner of the Honourable Lois E. Mitchell Graduating Social Studies Teacher Award for 2023.

Pohl came to MHC from Lethbridge, attracted by two things she felt would help her on the road to her chosen profession.

“I chose Medicine Hat College because the program here specialized in teaching kindergarten to grade six,” says Pohl in a news release. “I also didn’t like the idea of attending a large institution, so being able to get my degree from MRU while being part of a small community college, really attracted me to MHC.”

MHC’s bachelor of education program runs in collaboration with Mount Royal University in Calgary.

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One course in Pohl’s final year emphasized curriculum instruction in teaching social studies, which inspired her to apply for the award. She had to write an essay demonstrating what she loves most about teaching social studies and was chosen as a finalist alongside her peer, Skyler McNiven-Berwick.

“We were asked to present as if we were teaching a room full of Grade 4 social studies students and needed to integrate a piece of Alberta’s history in our lesson,” explains Pohl, who used props, visual elements, and discussion questions to create a captivating lesson.

“It feels really good to win this award because I was able to combine my passion with what I’ve learned throughout my education. Receiving this award really validates that what I am doing is working.”

Pohl is teaching kindergarten in the Crowsnest Pass this year.