Brittany Gray

What education have you taken?

In 2017, I graduated from Elton Collegiate and started at Brandon University. I am currently in my third year of a Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Math. I am also a part of the Co-operative Education Program.

What accomplishments (awards, scholarships, volunteer work, organizations, memberships, etc.) are you proud of?

I am very proud of my involvement with the Co-op Program. I joined the program in the fall of 2018, which was when the program first launched. Through this program, I believe I have grown a lot as a person. The job position I received this previous summer was at the Brandon Research and Development Centre as a Soil Nutrient Management Student. In this position, I have learned about career interests that I did not know I had! I feel that without the co-op program, I would not have gotten this job and therefore would not have found out how interested I really was in the field of agricultural research!

I have also had the opportunity to volunteer as a Student Leader at the university. I love helping out at orientation and other events as it allows me to help new students who are in the same position that I was in just a few years ago when I started here. Having a friendly face and a helping hand can make such a difference and I love being able to do that for people.

Give a brief bio about yourself/ your background/ your history.

I am a third-year chemistry major here at Brandon University. Prior to post secondary education, I attended a small high school in Forrest, Manitoba. In my first year here at BU, it seemed like a large university. I have since learned this really is not the case and I have gotten much more used to the environment.

In my second year, I joined the co-operative education program. Through this program, I have found more of what I aspire to be and do career-wise. The position I was able to get last summer because of this program was at the Brandon Research and Development Centre. Here, I learned a lot about the field of agricultural research. I also learned that I am very interested in pursuing that as a career, specifically in a laboratory setting.

Currently, I am working towards my Bachelor of Science degree with the intentions to go further and pursue a Master’s Degree.

How did you become interested in your field of study?

The reason I first became interested in chemistry is because of my high school chemistry teacher at Elton Collegiate, Mr. Dagg. He made it fun to learn about chemistry and so I loved going to that class. From there, I was initially interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy or pharmaceutical manufacturing but wasn’t quite set on it. It was not until joining the co-op program and getting a job in agricultural research did I realize that is what I really wanted to do.

What is your philosophy in life?

My philosophy in life is to always be open to new things. This is not something I always practise but I am working hard to better myself and take opportunities as they come.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

In the future, I see myself working in a laboratory setting, doing some form of agricultural research! So far, I have had exposure to soil analysis and that is something I am very interested in. However, since my philosophy is to be open to new things, I will do my best to take opportunities as they come, which could potentially alter my current ideal future plan.

Nominator’s Comments

I recommend Ms. Brittany Gray as a candidate worthy of consideration for the Brandon University International Women’s Day Award. Brittany is currently a third-year Bachelor of Science student in Chemistry with Co-op. As part of her degree requirements, she took my course on 18:251 and is currently enrolled in the co-op program. Brittany is a very talented and conscientious student with high enthusiasm and strong sense of purpose in her studies. Her initiative, hard work, and her commitment to assigned work are very impressive. Brittany’s academic achievement is very good. Beyond the learning in the classroom, Brittany was part of the first cohort of BU’s new Co-op Program in 2018/2019. I’ve been told by the Coordinator (Cora Dupuis), that Brittany goes out of her way to support the success of others in the Co-op Program. For example:

• She’s generously shares her Co-op story with high school students and their families, as well as newer students in the Co-op Program
• She’s agreed to be the “student face” of the Co-op program, for all print collateral and presentations – sharing her story with a broader audience.
• She’s taken a few female Chemistry & Biology students (who are new to Co-op) under her mentorship, meeting with them one-on-one or accompanying them to the Career Fairs – supporting their success.
• Brittany has been a Student Leader in the Orientation program for a number of years, and will continue to welcome new BU students to the faculty and the institution – sharing her pride.

Brittany also has a tireless work ethic – which is also creating new opportunities for herself and others. In fact, Brittany’s Co-op Work Term supervisor at the Agriculture & Agri-Food Research Development Centre was so impressed with her, that he’s made a part-time position for Brittany so she could continue in the lab while she progresses in her studies. Furthermore, he created a second student summer job so that he could “hire more outstanding students like Brittany.”

Perhaps what is most impressive about Brittany is the fact that she innately takes on these additional roles. No one asked her to, and she doesn’t do it for the recognition, but because it is just who she is and it is the right thing to do. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to Brittany’s character and accomplishments. I sincerely hope you consider this nomination worthy of recognition.