McMaster honours top students

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Lambert_Andrew2.jpg” caption=”Third-year mechanical engineering student Andrew Lambert earned a spot on the Provost’s Honour Roll for the past three years in a row. Below, President’s Award recipients include (front row): Resham Ejaz, Meghan Dua, Julia Kolesnik and Stephanie Paolone. Back row: Angela Irwin, Cassie Smith and Lisa Robertson. Photos by Susan Bubak.”]Maybe it was luck, maybe it was hard work, or maybe it was a combination of both, but Andrew Lambert must be doing something right to achieve a perfect GPA three years in a row.

The third-year mechanical engineering student was one of 45 students who received a 12.0 sessional average on at least 30 units last year, earning them a spot on the Provost's Honour Roll. They were honoured at a reception in Convocation Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 12.

“I wasn't expecting to win,” said Lambert, who is currently on a co-op term and will return to campus for his fourth year in the fall. “I had a couple of hard classes, but I'm happy that I [won].”

He stressed the importance of hard work as well as having interests outside the classroom. He writes for the Silhouette, McMaster's student newspaper, and plays guitar in a band.

Second-year bachelor of health sciences student Marc Succi also achieved a perfect GPA.

“The award is certainly something I will pick up down the road and look back at the 07/08 year in thanks to those who have supported me here at McMaster as well as at home,” he said.

Melanie Larock, a member of the Provost's Honour Roll for the second year in a row, graduated last year with a bachelor's degree in health sciences and is now attending law school at Osgoode Hall in Toronto.

“I'm very happy to have maintained my average,” she said. “It's nice that they have this reception to recognize your hard work and sacrifice.”

She said achieving a perfect GPA takes some sacrifice, but it's important to balance academic responsibilities with extra-curricular activities and volunteer work.

Cassie Smith, a first-year bachelor of health sciences student, received a President's Award for achieving a 95 per cent average in high school. She was one of 185 students to receive the award.

“I was really pleased,” said Smith. “I worked really hard in high school to get into the program. It takes a lot of focus and hard work. It's a much different atmosphere from high school. It's a challenge, but a good one. You learn a lot.”