The recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal is Ashton Floyd.
The Lieutenant Governor’s Medal is awarded to a student who has excelled in a two-year diploma or four-year undergraduate program and has also contributed in a positive way to the life of the College or their community through their contributions to the promotion of inclusion, democracy, or reconciliation.
Ashton came to College of the Rockies for its supportive academic environment and because its convenient location allowed him to stay close to home and enjoy the Kootenay outdoor lifestyle he values. Having combined his passion for travel, his interest in business, and a love of learning, Ashton has developed a global perspective and deep appreciation for the power of education to create positive change. Today he is graduating from the Bachelor of Business Administration: Sustainable Business Practices program.
Inspired by the mentorship of his College faculty, Ashton discovered a passion for teaching and a desire to work in higher education. He plans to pursue graduate studies with the goal of becoming a professor who can guide and inspire others in their academic and personal growth, just as his instructors inspired him.
Get to know Ashton a little better:
1. You chose the College, in part, because you had heard of its supportive environment. Did it live up to your expectations?
Yes, the supportive academic environment at the College exceeded my expectations. I especially appreciated the small class sizes, which allowed me to build meaningful relationships with instructors rather than feeling like just a number. Even though the College is a smaller institution, my undergraduate degree from here has served as a strong stepping stone and opened up opportunities for graduate studies at other universities.
2. What stands out most to you about your time at the College?
What stood out most to me was the passion of the faculty. It was clear that instructors genuinely cared about their students and wanted to see us succeed. They were also deeply knowledgeable and passionate about the content they taught. Their support and encouragement made a lasting impact on me.
3. Was there anything specific that drew you to the College’s BBA program over the many other option?
I initially enrolled in the two-year Accounting Diploma and was able to seamlessly transfer into the four-year BBA program. The sustainability focus of the program also set the College apart from many others across Canada. As more organizations work to address sustainability challenges, I felt that this focus would give me the knowledge and perspective needed to make a meaningful contribution.
4. What was it about your experiences with your faculty that made you decide to pursue a future as a post-secondary educator? Are there specific things or moments you can point to?
The faculty at the College fostered a collaborative learning environment where students were encouraged to learn from both instructors and one another. I valued the diversity of perspectives in the classroom and the emphasis on peer learning.
Two faculty members who had a significant impact on me were Becky Pelkonen and Katie Burles. I had the opportunity to travel with both of them to Andorra for the Mountain Sustainability Field School in Spring 2024, where I explored sustainability firsthand in a country with a very different approach from North America.
Outside of the field school, I worked closely with Becky on my capstone project, Efficient and Effective Sustainability Reporting at COTR. Her mentorship and passion for sustainable development helped bring my research to the board and management level at the College.
In my fourth year, I took GEOG 101 and 230 with Katie. She made learning fun and engaging by often taking the class into the field for hands-on experiences. Her teaching style brought course content to life and made content exciting.
Both Becky and Katie inspired me through their passion, expertise, and dedication to student learning. I’ve always enjoyed training and teaching others, but I never saw myself working in the K–12 system. Seeing instructors like Becky and Katie teach subjects they were genuinely passionate about opened my eyes to a career in higher education and motivated me to pursue this path.
5. As a future post-secondary educator, what impact do you hope to have on your community?
Growing up, my grandfather inspired me to always stay curious and never stop learning. As a future educator, I hope to pass that mindset on to others—encouraging students to connect what they learn in the classroom to the world around them. I want to empower future generations to remain curious, engaged, and to take pride in the world we live in.