UNBC has unveiled Masters of Business student Reuben Mann as its valedictorian for their second graduation ceremony this spring.
“It is still something I have to process, but it is amazing,” Mann told My PG Now.
“To be nominated by my peers means I made a good impact, and I am very proud of that.”
Mann enrolled at UNBC for the first time in 2011 for an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry, coming to UNBC from his home in California.
“That was to experience the north,” he explained. “When I had the opportunity to go up north and experience that it was novel to me, it was amazing.”
Mann said he was excited to see his first moose, experience “severe” winter snow, and Canadian culture.
He completed his undergrad in 2016, then came back for his Masters of Business Administration – which he is now completing.
“The close community feel, the campus itself, the outdoors – the trails and the runs I would go on, overall it was just an amazing time for me,” he said, thinking back to his first time on campus and why he decided to return.
When he addresses his fellow graduates later this month, Mann said he hopes their main takeaway is “we can make an impact no matter where we are.”
“We are more connected than ever, what we do can have far-reaching consequences. It is up to us to put that notion to the test and extend ourselves farther than we thought possible… we shouldn’t limit ourselves based on our geography,” he said.
Mann has been working with SKYTRAC, a company based out of Kelowna that focuses on low earth orbit satellite communications, as their head of marketing.
He said while being a smaller company, SKYTRAC has that far reaching impact into all seven continents.
Looking at those just starting a post-secondary journey, Mann’s advice is to simply follow your passion.
“If you truly know what you want to achieve and you are passionate about it, I don’t think anyone will be able to stop you,” he said. “Think about what you want to do for the rest of your life, don’t let other people influence that.”
UNBC’s spring convocation will take place on May 26.
For more information on Mann and his story, click here.
To learn about UNBC’s other valedictorian, Furqana Khan, click here.
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