Strong grades and meaningful community work have earned a biochemistry graduate a major award.

Keira Dail, who recently completed an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, has received the $10,000 Pushor Mitchell LLP Prize. Presented each year, the award recognizes a graduating student who pairs strong academic performance with leadership in areas such as community service, diversity initiatives and extracurricular activities.

Dail says her time at UBCO helped shape both her academic and personal goals.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

Following her degree, Dail plans to pursue medicine with the goal of becoming a physician. She says her undergraduate experience allowed her to explore the intersection of research, healthcare, and community engagement—an area she hopes to continue building in her career.

“I’m interested in combining scientific knowledge with patient-centered care and contributing to improvements in health and wellbeing,” she said.

Q: What stood out about your experience at UBCO?

Dail points to the university’s close-knit learning environment as a key factor in her success.

“Smaller class sizes allowed for meaningful interactions with professors and the ability to seek guidance when needed,” she said, noting that faculty were not only knowledgeable but also supportive of student growth.

She also highlighted opportunities to get involved beyond the classroom, including participating in research through programs like the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Undergraduate Student Research Award (NSERC-USRA).

Q: What did you learn beyond your degree?

While her studies focused on science, Dail says some of the most important lessons came from her work in the community.

“Solving complex challenges requires more than just knowledge—it requires empathy, collaboration and recognizing where support is needed.”