Lauren Bytelaar (centre) with (left to right) Pushor Mitchell LLP partners Ron Solmer, Steve Wilson, Lisa Wyatt, and Sue Connaghan; and Cynthia Mathieson, Dean of the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences

When she enrolled at UBC’s Okanagan campus, Lauren Bytelaar didn’t know what she was looking for in her studies. Four years later she has graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in geography, a clear vision for her future, and the first-ever Pushor Mitchell LLP Gold Medal Leadership Prize.

Born and raised in Kelowna, Lauren decided to stay in her home town to attend university. She admits she was initially “all over the map” in her course choices at UBC. However in her second year she began to focus on geography, and courses with Associate Professors Fes de Scally and Carlos Teixeira ignited her interest in physical and human geography, and urban planning.

An exchange experience with UBC’s Go Global program was pivotal to Lauren’s university experience. “I had my heart set on going to Africa,” she says. “My initial placement was at a university in Norway, but then I travelled with the Norwegian students to Uganda. I was so excited that I went to Kampala before my studies began and did volunteer work in an orphanage.”

Lauren’s studies involved work both in and outside of Kampala.” We spent one week in a rural district, interviewing farmers and finding out what they grew. Another week we were in one of the largest slums in Kampala, and my group was with the sex trade workers, listening to their stories.

“It was incredible. It was personally challenging, and I really had to push myself, but it was the best experience of my life.”

Lauren returned to Kelowna with a much clearer idea of her future. “I’ve always tried hard in whatever I’ve done,” she says. “But once I found the courses I was truly passionate about, everything came more easily.”

Lauren was thrilled to learn she had received the Pushor Mitchell LLP Gold Medal Leadership Prize, which is awarded each year to a top graduating student in the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences. The award honours outstanding students who are also leaders in community service, athletics, arts, or diversity.

Paul Mitchell, managing partner of Pushor Mitchell LLP, says that the idea for the Prize reflects the company’s values. “Some people put a lot of emphasis on marks, but we also value hard work and a social conscience and good emotional intelligence and the ability to work in the community,” he says.

“Because it’s awarded to a graduating student, the Prize rewards results,” he adds.”The recipients have actually walked the walk and talked the talk. People who win the Prize are also role models. Others can see in the prize winners that these things [e.g. leadership] are valued in the business community.”

Lauren sees great value in the Prize. “It’s been a huge blessing for me because it helped me with some of my student loans, and has encouraged me to pursue further education, to continue learning what I am so passionate about,” she says. “I would eventually like to go to graduate school and pursue urban planning with a focus on low income housing and women, possibly women living on the streets. I definitely have some dreams, but I have to take it one step at a time.”

Paul Mitchell adds, “I hope that Prize recipients follow their dreams and make a difference in the world. Lauren is a very worthy recipient, and we are proud to help her out.”