May 18, 2022

With excitement beaming from her audience of students, Medicine Hat College (MHC) Bachelor of Education alum and first-year teacher Amber Kornelson, was presented with the 2021 Lieutenant Governor’s Social Studies Education Student Award in her classroom on Thursday May 12.

Alberta historian, Rob Lennard, helped to create this award alongside the honourable Lois Mitchell and was excited to present Kornelson with the award.

“About seven years ago, I was with the 18th Lieutenant Governor of Alberta and as she decided to make history education one of her big causes, I said, ‘Your Honour, here’s a fun idea, why don’t we create a special award in your name to recognize the finest social studies teacher of the fourth year education students.’ This is now the fourth year that Medicine Hat College has been involved.”

Upon graduating from MHC’s Bachelor of Education collaborative program, Kornelson quickly landed a teaching position in a grade three and four class at Crestwood School.

“It is a huge honour to be presented with this award,” says Kornelson, who was also named MHC’s Student of the Year in 2021.

“While it was given to me when I was a student, to be able to share this moment with my students is very special. It is also a great opportunity for them to see what they can achieve if they work hard.”

To be chosen for this award, students across Alberta were asked to answer two questions: what they believed the role of social studies is in elementary education and how they have brought social studies to life in their teaching. They were then asked to present in front of a panel of judges of educators, who then chose a winner.

“What has been really neat is being able to apply what I learned about social studies in college and through my presentation and then being able to teach that same thing to my students.”

Kornelson took the time after receiving her award to thank her education instructors, Rob Lennard, and Lois Mitchell for their support.

“Congratulations to Amber for winning this award, it is wonderful to see her working in a school in Medicine Hat, so I wish her the best of luck and I’m sure she will cherish this award for a long time,” Lennard says.

To learn more about the Bachelor of Education program at MHC, please see this link: www.mhc.ab.ca/ProgramsandCourses/Academic-Programs/Programs-of-Study/Education