Inuvik - Recent Samuel Hearne graduate David Terry was honoured with a national academic award last week.

Terry was one of the recipients of the Governor General's bronze medal in academics.

Samuel Hearne graduate David Terry was recently awarded the Governor General's bronze medal in academics. The award is given to students for excelling in high school. Terry is now continuing his education at university. From left, Luke Terry, Brian Terry, Leah Seaman and David Terry. - NNSL file photo

He is currently attending university in Nova Scotia, but his parents were on hand to receive the award during an assembly last week.

The award was started in 1873 to encourage academic excellence.

There are four levels for the award, bronze for high school, collegiate bronze for post-secondary, silver for university undergraduates and gold at the university graduate level.

David's father Brian said he is proud of his son.

"It's great, I told him that he earned it and he should enjoy it," said Brian.

He added that David is already in his new courses in university and that this high school award is confirmation of a job well done.

"I think he's already busy with so many new things, this is already history to him," said Brian.

"He has a lot of other demands and challenges, it's no reason to relax."

Brian said that David's schooling in Inuvik seemed like an easy task.

"He was always brilliant, he always seemed like he could get high marks without studying a lot," said Brian.

Brian said that David's mother Leah Seaman should be commended for her work with David in the last years of his secondary schooling.

"She's probably more responsible for his academic success than I am," he said.

Seaman said she was the first to speak with David after he learned of the award and said that he sounded pleased with the news.

"It took a lot of people for him to get here, not just him or us," she said.

"He's proud to live in a country where he can get a good education and the support of his parents."

His younger brother Luke was also at the assembly to give his brother some long-distance support.

"I think he's one of the best to come from the high school," said Luke.

David Terry could not be reached before press time.