Léonie Matteau, a graduate of the Master’s in Nursing Science program at the Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR) and a RRISIQ student member, has recently been awarded the Gold Medal from the Governor General's Academic Medal program. Each university bestows this honor annually to at least one exceptional graduate or postgraduate student who has achieved the highest academic results. During her master's studies, the excellence of Ms. Matteau's academic record and the outstanding quality of her work were recognized by a scholarship from the ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur and a scholarship stipend from RRISIQ.
Ms. Matteau conducted her graduate studies under the supervision of Ms. Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet, Associate Professor at UQAR and a member of the RRISIQ steering committee. The findings from her master’s project, titled "Conditions de réalisation des études, détresse psychologique, intention d'abandonner le programme et stratégies de soutien durant la formation infirmière : Une étude en deux phases auprès d’une population étudiante de deux milieux d’enseignement supérieur du Québec", were presented in a webinar she hosted on November 7th as part of RRISIQ scientific activities.
The expertise Ms. Matteau developed during her master's will be further utilized in her doctoral studies in occupational health and implementation science, which she has begun this fall at UQAR. We, therefore, extend our sincerest congratulations to her for this recognition along with our best wishes for success in her doctoral studies!
About the Governor General's Academic Medal
Established in 1873, the Governor General's Academic Medal is a prestigious honor awarded to Canadian students to highlight academic excellence. Given to graduates with the highest averages in their educational institution, this distinction has been awarded in the past to notable individuals such as Pierre Trudeau and Gabrielle Roy. The Governor General's Academic Medal is awarded at four levels — bronze for secondary school, collegiate bronze, undergraduate silver, and gold for graduate studies — and is accompanied by a certificate signed by the Governor General.