Filipina international student Jonhel Patricia Lim Ampil earned the Governor General’s Academic Medal as she completed her studies in Recreation Therapy with a 98.046% average, the highest-grade point average or GPA by a student in the Class of 2022.

The award is the most prestigious honor a student can receive for academic excellence in Canada and is given to only one student at each post-secondary institution in Ontario each year.

Ampil was a licensed occupational therapist in the Philippines and worked in a hospital in Quezon City before moving to Canada with her partner, Ryan Lacson. They both took up a two-year program to further improve their knowledge and skills in the field at Niagara College.

Ampil said that she was able to achieve all these awards because of her persistence and determination. All her hardships paid off, as she also made her family proud.

For Ampil, receiving the prestigious award was a surreal moment. In her convocation speech, she thanked her family and mentors at the college. She also admitted that it was a difficult path to take, but she has no regrets.

The Filipina achiever also received the Dean’s Award for the School of Community. Currently, she works as a recreation therapy assistant in a retirement home in Niagara, helping to create a program for residents with dementia. She plans to get a license to practice occupational therapy in Canada.

All the good things that are happening to Ampil today are just the beginning of a new journey. She also hopes that this will serve as an inspiration to anyone who has taken a leap of faith in fulfilling their dream of having a better life in another country.

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/jonhel.ampil

Source: https://www.niagaracollege.ca/insidenc/2022/07/20/tfc-news-filipina-receives-highest-award-for-academic-excellence-in-canada/, https://www.facebook.com/jonhel.ampil, https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/governor-generals-awards/governor-generals-academic-medal