HAY RIVER - When a Hay River teacher recently won a prestigious award, she turned a presentation ceremony into a learning opportunity for her students.

Ashley West-Pratt, now a Hay River teacher, has won the Governor General's Academic Medal as Aurora College's top student in the 2009-2010 school year. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Ashley West-Pratt found out a couple of weeks ago she had won the Governor General's Academic Medal as top student at Aurora College in the 2009-2010 school year

She was asked where she would like the award presented, and decided it was to be in front of her Grade 2 and 3 students at Harry Camsell School.

"I felt that was the most appropriate place to do it," she said. "It gives my students a chance to see the fruits of strong academic achievement. It shows them what they can accomplish if they work really hard, and I think that's fun for them to see."

West-Pratt said her students weren't that excited about the award until presentation day on Nov. 9, when they heard from a college official about how well she had done at her own studies.

"They were just beaming at me and they were really proud of their teacher, which was a great feeling," she said.

West-Pratt graduated from Aurora College in April with a Bachelor of Education and a 92.2 per cent average, representing the highest academic achievement at the college for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Originally from B.C., she has lived in the North for seven years and in Hay

River for five years.

Before going to Aurora College, the 29-year-old was a special needs assistant for three years and a substitute teacher for another three years.

She completed the four-year Bachelor of Education program at Aurora College's Thebacha Campus in Fort Smith in just three years. That was accomplished by taking some courses online through Athabasca University.

The new teacher praises the education she received at Aurora College, in particular the Native Studies component of her degree.

"I think that's a huge asset," she said. "That's what I've used the most since I've started teaching. It's really affected how I teach and I'm very grateful for that part of the program."

West-Pratt said she is honoured to have been awarded the Governor General's Academic Medal.

The college is also pleased to recognize her academic accomplishments.

"It is always exciting when we can celebrate student success," said Margaret Imrie, Aurora College's vice-president, academic.

The Governor General's Academic Medal reflects the highest grades at an educational institution and various levels of study - gold at the graduate level, silver at the undergraduate level, collegiate bronze at the diploma level, and bronze at the secondary school level.

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