A lifelong fascination with the law and “how it works to shape the life of our community” has led to a career in the Canadian Armed Forces for VIU graduate Liam Kenney.
Kenney is a military policeman, a role he says includes overseeing “military members, military property, and the families who live nearby, and ensuring security at home and abroad.”
During his time at VIU he studied criminology, which opened his eyes “to the inequalities in our whole world”. It also gave him “the skills, the knowledge, and the opportunity to change it for the better”.
That perspective went beyond the traditional classroom, and Kenney participated in a variety of community programs, including Big Brothers and Big Sisters, as well as VIU’s Inside-Out prison exchange program.
With his combination of coursework and community service, Kenney was named a recipient of this year’s Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Inclusion, Democracy and Reconciliation, an award recognizing a top graduate who has excelled in his studies while making a positive contribution to life at VIU has done and / or in the wider community.
We met Kenney to get some personal insight into his time at VIU, thoughts on being a recipient this year, and his advice to new and current students. Here is what he had to say:
What does it mean for you personally to be elected this year’s winner of the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Inclusion, Democracy and Reconciliation?
Inclusion, democracy and reconciliation are three principles that I take into account in my everyday life and that I promote intensely in everything I do. To be recognized for promoting these essential ingredients of a happy and healthy world is an honor.
Tell us how and why you took part in the Big Brothers program and how that shaped your VIU experience?
The Big Brothers and Big Sisters program is an amazing community based program that provides mentoring to young people who need it. My mother was a little sister as a child and loves how much the program has affected her life. I started the program as a mentor in high school and then switched to the community program after graduation. During my four years as a mentor with them, I built a lifelong relationship with a young person. This experience helped me in my VIU degree as it taught me to be extremely compassionate and patient. These skills were crucial in studying inequalities in society and were very helpful in group work.
Can you explain what the inside-out program is to those who don’t know? Why did you choose to get involved and how was that experience?
The Inside-out prison exchange program is a great opportunity for social science students and inmates to share a classroom and learn about various social topics. Throughout my course, I visited the Nanaimo Correctional Center weekly to sit down with my classmates and discuss several books we read, various political and social topics, and complete group work. This course enabled me to interact with people who have different perspectives than me and who have had firsthand experience of the justice system. I decided to take this course as it was another unique opportunity to expand my understanding of our world.
What were the highlights of your time at VIU?
The highlights of my time at VIU include taking part in the Inside-Out program and the Community-based applied interdisciplinary research Course. These experiences enabled me to connect with real people in our community and learn how my skills can be used to improve the lives of others. During my project, I had a great opportunity to work with the Nanaimo Association for Community Living, a local organization that supports people with disabilities in our community. My research has focused on the barriers companies face when employing people with disabilities. The opportunity to work with them was an amazing experience that taught me a lot about the value of community-based research.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic shaped your overall experience and how have you adapted?
At the beginning of the pandemic, I switched to virtual school lessons, which took some time to adapt to how best to learn through social interaction. As the pandemic progressed, I have learned how best to work with my friends to learn together and have connected even more than I had before virtual tools. For me, that included zoom learning and hangout sessions. These meetings were easy and quick to arrange and allowed me to meet with my colleagues much faster.
Looking back on your time here, do you have any advice for new students or those considering taking their post-secondary education at VIU?
The VIU offers a unique opportunity to build relationships with teachers and students from other faculties that are not possible at other universities. I would recommend taking any chance to build these relationships as they will be of great help both during and after your time at VIU to get where you want. I would also recommend looking for the courses VIU has that offer a hands-on learning experience. Attending these courses was the highlight of my time at VIU. Make use of everything that is offered to you as it will make your experience much more fulfilling.
Would you like to add anything else?
Take care of yourself, take care of others and be safe.
source https://collegeeducationnewsllc.com/catching-up-with-this-years-recipient-of-the-lieutenant-governors-medal-vancouver-island-university/
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