UNBC has officially announced Arctica Cunningham and Sukhpreet Buttar as the 2018 valedictorians.

Photo Credit: UNBC

Cunningham is graduating with her Bachelor of Arts degree with a joint major in environmental studies and political science and a minor in global studies.

The Telkwa native started her university journey in 2013 and has since honed her leadership, student government and community service skills.

“When I saw that UNBC offered a joint major in Environmental Studies and Political Science, I felt like all my interests were coming together, and I knew I that I had found the perfect school. It is impossible to pick just one thing that I enjoyed the most, but I would say the campus culture, in general, is incredible, with so many events and activities happening all the time," said Cunningham.

“Students have so many opportunities to share their passions and it is easy to get involved with new things.”

Cunningham does not see this as the last stop and plans on pursuing a master’s degree.

Cunningham is set to give her valedictorian speech at the College of Arts, Social and Health Sciences Convocation on May 25 at 9:30 a.m.

Photo Credit: UNBCArctica Cunningham

Buttar is graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry and molecular biology with a minor in psychology.

Buttar was born in Prince George but grew up in Mackenzie.

Throughout her life, Buttar always knew that UNBC was the school she wanted to attend and in 2013 she made it happen. While on and off campus, Buttar was an avid learner, volunteer and leader.

“There was a sense of unity amongst all of the citizens situated in the North which further drew me to attend UNBC,” she said.

“The staff-student ratio was another reason why I attended UNBC as this fostered interaction and connectedness with professors, all of which was appealing to me,” said Buttar.

Photo Credit: UNBCSukhpreet Buttar

Buttar’s undergraduate honors thesis centred around the anti-cancer healing properties of mushrooms collected from Northern B.C.

She also plans on continuing her studies by pursuing a career in medicine.

Buttar is set to give her speech at the College of Science and Management Convocation Ceremony at 2:30 p.m. on May 25.