Student Stories

What can we learn about shoreline erosion patterns from the past that can help with future glacial melt events? 

Dr. Laura Hutchinson has always loved sports. “I played just about every sport I could fit into my schedule in high school and haven’t stopped since,” she says.

She also enjoys math and science, and chose to study engineering in university, as “it seemed like biomechanics was this really cool intersection between science and sport.”

It was around ninth grade that Linnea Brickwood realized just how passionate she was about volleyball.

“I became obsessed with the challenges of volleyball, the diversity and the fast-paced play,” she says. “Growing up as a competitive gymnast in an individual sport, I also loved the team aspect and the connection that can be physically felt when you and your team are on the court all playing your best game.”

Mitch Turko came to VIU in 2018 to join the Mariners golf team, with plans to pursue business and finance programs. After taking a first-year accounting course, he developed a strong interest in the subject. And as he delved deeper into his new field, he realized how many different career paths the industry has.

Jindar Sboto found his educational path at VIU during his first-year courses.

Jindar attended VIU because it was close to home. He didn’t choose his area of study right away but was always interested in the sciences – biology, chemistry and physics.

Ashutosh Mishra says attending VIU was pivotal in his journey to experiencing “true freedom” as a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

VIU students Matt van Dinther and Savonah MacLeod gained hands-on learning experiences during a VIU study to support food security and wellness in a remote BC community.

Students from Horticulture, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Engineering, and the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic programs worked with the Heilsuk (Haíłzaqv) Climate Action Team to design aquaponics and aeroponic tower gardens as a land-based solution to food security and food sovereignty. 

Warning: The play, The Kids Are All Dying, contains conversations about gun violence and a school shooting, loud gunshot sounds, discussion of child death, coarse language, drugs and alcohol.

Ali Dillon-Cardinal wrote a play that explores the often-unheard voices of teenagers dealing with the trauma of a school shooting.

In the wake of the pandemic, Allie Unger decided to make changes in her life. She worked in communications and graphic design but craved hands-on learning in a coastal outdoor setting. She enrolled in VIU’s Fisheries and Aquaculture diploma.

After 20 years of working as a social worker, Christin Collishaw decided it was time to explore potential new career paths.

As she searched for different programs, she “kept coming back to the concepts of sustainability and leisure – in particular the natural environment.”