Senior Recipient
Edward Chu
My acceptance into UBC Engineering has become one of the defining moments in my life. From themoment I stepped into my first class at UBC, I could feel a passion building up within me. My eagernessto excel as an engineer took me to places I have never thought I would go.
One of the greatest experiences of my life is undoubtedly being a senior member of the Formula UBCteam. My first time participating at the Formula SAE 2011 competition in California was invaluable. Iwas honoured with the opportunity to work alongside some of UBC’s brightest and learned so much,not only about how cars were designed, manufactured, and tested, but also where I might see myselffurther down my career path.
Because UBC Engineering has given me so many opportunities and inspiration, I have made an effortto give back to the engineering community, especially in the 2011 year. I spent my time volunteeringat the ASME Turbo Expo 2011 and the ASEE Annual Conference 2011. On top of these one-timeopportunities, my greatest dedication is to the Engineering Student Team Council as vice-chair. Servingas a liaison between team and faculty, I have had the humbling experience of knowing each of theengineering competition teams in great depth.
Studying engineering here at UBC has been a humbling but prideful experience. As it has defined myfuture career, my goals and my life, so it shall, in turn, define the world we live in!
Junior Recipients
Andrea Palmer
Influenced (and perhaps somewhat inspired) by my big sister, I decided to study engineering at UBC. I have now been
a part of the engineering community for 2 years, and I have tried to be as involved as I could. I just finished Mech2 (thank goodness) and I am currently on my 8-month co-op work term in Salmon Arm, BC.
Motivated by my experience as a first year on Imagine Day, I became a MUG Leader at the beginning of my second year sporting a red bowtie and a vuvuzela. Throughout the rest of the year, I tried to dedicate as much of my time as possible towards first-year engagement. This included answering questions and tutoring first years during Frosh Week and Frosh Retreat, as well as volunteering for E-Week.
This past year I was a junior mentee in the UBC Engineering Mentoring Program, an experience that I hope to share as a senior mentee in the future. I am also an active member of Engineers Without Borders, Women in Engineering, and a team captain for the UBC Thunderbots.
When I’m not building kickass robots, I enjoy long walks on the beach. And kickboxing. But mostly walking on the beach.
Adrian McNeill
My name is Adrian and I am currently working my way through my third year of Engineering Physics. Despite a heavy course load, I currently sit on the Fizz Exec Council as the Penthouse Manager.
I have been largely involved with the EUS and the engineering community since my first year. I am an active volunteer and have helped run parts of E-week and Frosh Week events. Last year, I held the position of Cheeze Reno’s and this year, I am the Cheeze Manager. I enjoy tutoring and have done tutoring for first years, both through the Fizz Tutoring Service and privately. I immensely enjoy helping first years find their places in the Engineering community and I plan on being heavily involved in Frosh Week as a volunteer.
For the social side of Engineering, you can often find me at the various engineering events, often helping set up and keeping the event running smoothly.
I hope to see everyone out and about over the next year.
Graham Beales
Before coming to UBC I lived in Kelowna, except for the few years I spent in Winnipeg andVancouver studying to become a professional ballet dancer. However, my dream of ballet was not tohappen, and lying in St. Paul’s Hospital early in 2010, I decided to follow my other interests in scienceand its applications through studying Engineering at UBC.
In my new life I was determined to become more involved. The first thing I did when I got toUBC was set out to buy a Red because my sister, (an UBC alumna), had told me that I had to have onewhen we both were home at Christmas break. That was when I first saw the Cheeze, which wasgetting painted at the time. To find it I needed to be directed over the phone and it still took me half anhour to figure out my way around the buildings! This was the beginning of my relationship with theEUS.
As part of my plan I went to every Frosh event I could, (which was annoyingly few with myspecific standard time table!), and, to replace my ballet, joined the UBC Dance Club, taking lessonsand competing in ballroom dance. I made a spontaneous decision to join Frosh retreat only a couple ofdays before it started. There I learned that if you were part of the First Year Council, you would get apatch for your Red. Well, I had to have it! and became the First Year Secretary. I was determined tomake sure I earned that patch and I like to think I did. I am now working to expand my responsibilitiesas I begin this year as the Secretary for the whole of the EUS, with plans to take on greater facilitativeand competitive roles in the future.