A North Vancouver resident and Simon Fraser University grad has not only earned his degree but received distinction for his hard work.
Jimmy Peterson, who graduated from Simon Fraser University in June, was presented with the Governor General's Silver Medal for having one of the highest grade-point averages among all SFU undergraduates.
When Peterson started school, he was originally set on earning a business degree and then continuing on to become either an accountant or a lawyer. After his first year, he decided to switch into political science.
The move would prove beneficial.
In Peterson's fourth year he co-wrote a chapter on Canadian foreign policy with political science professor Alex Moens. The chapter is included in a book published by the NATO Defense College. Peterson and Moens, working through NATO, collaborated with the African Union to write the text. The chapter is about the history of Canada's role in Africa, its recent stance and recommendations for the future.
Aside from political science, Peterson also started a North Shore basketball program for Special Olympics athletes with his best friend seven years ago. They've coached more than 60 athletes in what has become one of the most popular Special Olympics basketball programs in Western Canada.
Peterson will begin his master's in political science on scholarship next year at SFU. Once he's completed that, he plans on either attending Stanford for his PhD, or the University of British Columbia for law school.
