Jasper Junior/Senior High School鈥檚 top student from last year鈥檚 graduating class returned to its halls last week to pick up some prestigious hardware.
Alexandra Bruni-Bossio is pursuing a business degree from the University of Alberta, but made the trek back to Jasper to accept the Governor General鈥檚 Academic Medal.
She and half a dozen family members descended on the high school, Nov. 12, for the brief medal presentation in front of one of the Grade 12 classes.
Awaiting the presentation, Bruni-Bossio sat at one of the desks and as students filtered to their seats, many greeted her with surprised laughter.
鈥淗i guys,鈥� she said as she grinned up at them, 鈥淚 actually failed so I have to do this class again,鈥� she joked.
Although it was a simple five-minute ceremony, the award is quite prestigious. It goes to the graduating student with the highest overall marks.
The honour puts Bruni-Bossio in good company: Pierre Trudeau, Tommy Douglas, Kim Campbell and her older sister Brianna have all won the award.
鈥淭oday is a special day,鈥� Mark Crozier said at the presentation, adding that Bruni-Bossio鈥檚 honour is well deserved.
As the smiling principal handed her the medal, audience members (mostly her family) called out for a speech.
鈥淥h,鈥� she said glancing at the floor and smiling, 鈥渟tudy hard, guys.鈥�
After the presentation, she explained that she attributes her success to the great high school teachers who helped point her in the right direction. For Bruni-Bossio, that direction is a business degree.
鈥淚n high school I really enjoyed English and social [studies], but I really enjoyed math at the same time, so [business] kind of brings all those things together,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 just find that it鈥檚 pretty dynamic鈥攖here鈥檚 lots of different things you can do with it, and it leaves room for a little bit of creativity in your work.鈥�
She said that while she isn鈥檛 sure exactly what her future plans are yet, she鈥檚 considering pursuing law or possibly an MBA. But 鈥渢hat鈥檚 looking quite far ahead,鈥� she admitted. 鈥淚 kind of want to keep my options open for now.鈥�
聽Trevor Nichols
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