MHC graduate receives 2023 Education Student Award
A passion for teaching and a tool kit of skills are ingredients for success for Medicine Hat College (MHC) graduate, Abigail Pohl, who has been declared the 2023 Honourable Lois E. Mitchell Graduating Social Studies Teacher Award winner.
Originally from Lethbridge, Pohl’s goal was always to teach young children, making MHC’s Bachelor of Education, in collaboration with Mount Royal University (MRU), the perfect choice.
“I chose Medicine Hat College because the program here specialized in teaching kindergarten to grade six,” says Pohl. “I also didn’t like the idea of attending a large institution, so being able to get my degree from MRU while being part of a small community college, really attracted me to MHC.”
In her program’s final year, Pohl enrolled in a course which emphasized curriculum instruction in teaching social studies, inspiring her to apply for the award. To qualify, she was asked to write an essay, demonstrating what she loves most about teaching social studies and was chosen as a finalist alongside her peer, Skyler McNiven-Berwick.
“We were asked to present as if we were teaching a room full of grade four social studies students and needed to integrate a piece of Alberta’s history in our lesson,” explains Pohl, who used props, visual elements, and discussion questions to create a captivating lesson.
“It feels really good to win this award because I was able to combine my passion with what I’ve learned throughout my education. Receiving this award really validates that what I am doing is working.”
Confident in her abilities and ready to embark on a new challenge, Pohl is leading her own classroom this September with the opportunity to teach kindergarten in Crowsnest Pass.