Medicine Hat College marks 2026 convocation while presenting awards to recipients

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Several major awards have been presented during the event.

Prairie Rose Public Schools superintendent Dr. Reagan Weeks received an honorary applied baccalaureate degree for her work in education and her role in expanding dual-credit and career-focused learning opportunities in partnership with the college.

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READ: Dr. Reagan Weeks earns honorary degree from Medicine Hat College (May 26, 2026)

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The Student of the Year award was presented to Occupational/Physical Therapist Assistant graduate Gabrielle Hales.

The award recognizes a student who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement and contributions to campus life.

Hales maintained strong academic performance throughout her studies and was involved with the Rattlers women’s hockey team and the MHC media team, while also volunteering with youth programs and community initiatives.

Following graduation, she will continue her education at the University of Calgary in the Community Rehabilitation program.

Information Technology graduate Aiden King earned the Governor General’s Academic Medal for the highest academic standing in the graduating class.

King said he was surprised when he learned the award recognized achievement across the full graduating class.

“I was very surprised to receive it. I was shocked. Once I learned that it was for the full graduating class, I was really honoured,” King said.

King, who maintained a 4.0 GPA in the Information Technology Co-op Software and Internet Development stream, credited a co-op placement with Auto-Star Compusystems Inc. and his shift toward software development as key influences on his success.

“Having that job really pushed me towards the software development side, and that’s really what I wanted, [for] me to strive to be better there,” King said.

King is continuing his studies at the University of Lethbridge this fall.

The Instructor of the Year award went to Heather Stahl, academic chair of the School of Business and instructor in Business Administration and Advanced Accounting.

Stahl said being recognized by students carried special meaning.

“It’s amazing. It feels like I’ve really made a difference in their lives,” Stahl said.

“If I can make people like something like accounting and make it fun, then I’m doing a good job.”

Stahl added the recognition reinforces her commitment to teaching and improvement.

“It reminds me that what I do is important and how I’m doing it is great, and I can always get better and keep improving and making it better for [students] in the future,” Stahl said.

She also emphasized pride in the college’s programs and learning environment.

“I’m really proud of our program. Our program is so amazing,” said Stahl.

“We’re trying to just build that reputation here in Medicine Hat that we’re just as good as those big schools, but even better because we’re small classrooms, and we all care,” she added.

“We really do care about our students.”

by Jett Schwaier

Medicine Hat College marks 2026 convocation while presenting awards to recipients

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