Vancouver Island University graduate Lori Ann Shibish is the winner of a provincial tourism award.
Shibish, who graduated last June with a Bachelor of Tourism management degree, received the Tourism Industry Association of B.C.’s Pat Corbett Leadership undergraduate award recognizing her academic excellence and exceptional leadership qualities.
At her graduation ceremony last June, Shibish served as class valedictorian and received the Governor General Academic Silver Medal for obtaining the highest marks in a four-year degree program.
During her time at VIU, she took advantage of study abroad opportunities, completing an internship in Ghana where she studied community-based ecotourism.
She also helped reduce poverty and improve living conditions in Ghana during a one-month field school as part of VIU’s Canada-Ghana project.
She was also one of 80 students selected worldwide to participate in an international scientific expedition to the Antarctic celebrating International Polar Year.
Shibish, who hopes to start a Masters in Tourism by Research program at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia, said her goal is to make a significant contribution to the tourism industry.
“I feel fortunate that the tourism faculty at VIU had the foresight to place a high regard on the development of leadership skills in their tourism students,” said Shibish.