Crystal is not only graduating from the U of A this Spring with her BA in Criminology, she is also leaving with two of the highest accolades from the Faculty of Arts: the Douglas E. Smith Medal in Arts and the Governor General's Silver Medal.
The Douglas E. Smith Medal in Arts is awarded annually to a convocating student student from a Bachelor of Arts program (other than Honors) who has shown the highest distinction in scholarship based on the convocation average.
The Governor General's Silver Medal is awarded annually to the three undergraduate students who achieve the highest academic standing overall upon convocation from his/her Bachelor degree program.
Even more remarkable is that this isn't Crystal's first Governor General's Medal -- she was awarded the Bronze Medal when she was still in high school.
But perhaps the most impressive thing about Crystal is how humble she is, despite these outstanding achievements. I meet her at an atrium on campus to find out what the medals mean to her and how she won them, but she's almost embarrassed to even talk about them. And it isn't until we change the subject to something other than her medals does she start to tell me some terrific stories about her time at the U of A.
The Douglas E. Smith Medal in Arts is awarded annually to a convocating student student from a Bachelor of Arts program (other than Honors) who has shown the highest distinction in scholarship based on the convocation average.
The Governor General's Silver Medal is awarded annually to the three undergraduate students who achieve the highest academic standing overall upon convocation from his/her Bachelor degree program.
Even more remarkable is that this isn't Crystal's first Governor General's Medal -- she was awarded the Bronze Medal when she was still in high school.
But perhaps the most impressive thing about Crystal is how humble she is, despite these outstanding achievements. I meet her at an atrium on campus to find out what the medals mean to her and how she won them, but she's almost embarrassed to even talk about them. And it isn't until we change the subject to something other than her medals does she start to tell me some terrific stories about her time at the U of A.
Edmonton born and raised, Crystal graduated high school from the full International Baccalaureate (IB) program, enabling her to finish her Criminology degree in just three years.
Calling herself "lucky," she credits her very supportive family for helping her achieve such high marks. Living at home, she explains "I didn't really have to work [a job], or worry about having to pay rent or put food on my table, so I was able to devote all my time to studying." It worked! Crystal was able to secure enough scholarships to fully pay for her entire undergraduate degree.
I asked Crystal how she managed to juggle such a focused academic schedule with a life outside school. "There was no life outside school," she laughs.
During her first two years at the U of A, what little leisure time Crystal did have was spent completing her Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) program in piano. For those two years, it was only about school and piano.
But once she finished her RCM, she replaced it with something unusual: aerial circus training.
"I saw my first Cirque du Soleil show when I was 13, and it suddenly went on my bucket list: I was going to do flying trapeze one day. So I tried it once, fell in love with it, and went from there."
Having had a dance background, Crystal says she's always been interested in that kind of physical movement. "I started training at a dance studio that offered classes in aerial silks and pole, but when that studio closed, I moved to a different one where I started to train in trapeze, silks and rope."
Crystal will be moving to Vancouver shortly, where she'll be pursuing a Law degree. She hasn't decided yet what field she'll pursue, but she does have an interest in social justice.
As she leaves the U of A, she reflects on what she'll miss the most. "I'll miss the fact that I really did enjoy my program -- I learned a lot, and I enjoyed learning. A lot of the courses I took weren't about memorizing. They were about research and writing a good paper. And I'm going to miss the level to which my classmates and profs were willing to challenge each other in my classes."
Congratulations, Crystal, on all your achievements! The U of A and the Faculty of Arts wish you all the best with your future plans. Whether it be in the courtroom or on the trapeze, you're sure to soar to new heights.
Calling herself "lucky," she credits her very supportive family for helping her achieve such high marks. Living at home, she explains "I didn't really have to work [a job], or worry about having to pay rent or put food on my table, so I was able to devote all my time to studying." It worked! Crystal was able to secure enough scholarships to fully pay for her entire undergraduate degree.
I asked Crystal how she managed to juggle such a focused academic schedule with a life outside school. "There was no life outside school," she laughs.
During her first two years at the U of A, what little leisure time Crystal did have was spent completing her Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) program in piano. For those two years, it was only about school and piano.
But once she finished her RCM, she replaced it with something unusual: aerial circus training.
"I saw my first Cirque du Soleil show when I was 13, and it suddenly went on my bucket list: I was going to do flying trapeze one day. So I tried it once, fell in love with it, and went from there."
Having had a dance background, Crystal says she's always been interested in that kind of physical movement. "I started training at a dance studio that offered classes in aerial silks and pole, but when that studio closed, I moved to a different one where I started to train in trapeze, silks and rope."
Crystal will be moving to Vancouver shortly, where she'll be pursuing a Law degree. She hasn't decided yet what field she'll pursue, but she does have an interest in social justice.
As she leaves the U of A, she reflects on what she'll miss the most. "I'll miss the fact that I really did enjoy my program -- I learned a lot, and I enjoyed learning. A lot of the courses I took weren't about memorizing. They were about research and writing a good paper. And I'm going to miss the level to which my classmates and profs were willing to challenge each other in my classes."
Congratulations, Crystal, on all your achievements! The U of A and the Faculty of Arts wish you all the best with your future plans. Whether it be in the courtroom or on the trapeze, you're sure to soar to new heights.