‘Natural born leader’ is the recipient of the 2013 Pushor Mitchell LLP $10,000 Award.
Karly Drabot gives her time and talents to help those in her own community and abroad, and now she is on the receiving end of a generous award. Drabot, a native of Penticton, is the recipient of the 2013 Pushor Mitchell LLP Gold Medal Leadership Prize. Established by the Kelowna law firm in 2009, the $10,000 award is given annually to a top graduating student in the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences.
Drabot is graduating with a BA in psychology, and has been a student of Dr. Paul Davies throughout her undergraduate degree. Davies recognized early on Drabot’s drive and determination. “Karly is a natural born leader,” says Davies. “She is one of those extremely rare humans who bring out the best in those around her.”
The Pushor Mitchell Gold Medal Leadership Prize recognizes students who demonstrate leadership in community service or volunteerism, cross-cultural relations, promotion of diversity, intellectual pursuits, and artistic or athletic endeavours.
Drabot excels in all of these areas. She is passionate about increasing the well-being of vulnerable populations, and independently undertook her first international aid trip to Mexico at the age of fourteen. She went on to fundraise for and participate in six more international aid trips. During her time at home, Drabot founded and lead the UBC Dance Club, and initiated an outreach dance program for underprivileged children. She organized fundraisers and lead campaigns to raise awareness of homeless and/or sexually exploited people in the Okanagan. While on campus, she worked as a psychology tutor, teaching assistant, research assistant, and professional association representative. She also served as VP of Academic Resources for the UBC’s Student Research Society.
Drabot is humble when she speaks about her accomplishments and volunteer work, but she doesn’t hold back when she expresses her desire to help others.
“I want to get as much out of life as I can,” says Drabot. “I try my best to seek out diverse experiences and opportunities, and learn as much as I can from them. I stay inspired by the people I get to meet and work with.
The managing partner at Pushor Mitchell LLP his firm are impressed by Drabot’s accomplishments and the leadership she has shown in all of the activities and volunteer work she is involved in.
“Through awarding Karly the 2013 Pushor Mitchell LLP Gold Medal Prize, we honour her dedication to enriching the lives of so many in her community and abroad, and congratulate her on her outstanding achievements. Karly has the leadership qualities that our firm promotes, and we wish her success as she continues to grow as a student and a leader.”
Drabot has been accepted into the Masters of Philosophy program at the University of Cambridge, England, UK, where she plans to major in Social and Developmental Psychology.
“Words can’t express how appreciative I am to Pushor Mitchell LLP and the Barber School for the generosity of this award,” says Drabot. “It will significantly impact me and change what this next year will hold. I hope the value of this award will allow me to accept the offer to attend Cambridge in the fall.”
“Throughout her undergraduate studies, Karly has always stood out as an exceptional person and a student leader,” says Cynthia Mathieson, Dean of the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences. “Karly possesses self-determination and confidence, and uses these qualities to improve the lives of children and vulnerable populations both in the Okanagan and internationally. She demonstrates a passion and maturity that inspire others to make the world a better place. We are proud to have Karly join the growing list of outstanding Barber School graduates who have received the Pushor Mitchell Award.”
The Pushor Mitchell LLP Gold Medal Leadership Prize is a $10,000 prize offered by Pushor Mitchell LLP to a graduating student in the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences at UBC’s Okanagan campus. In addition to academic achievement in the students final fifty-four credits, candidates for the award must demonstrate leadership in one or more of the following areas: community service or volunteerism, cross-cultural relations, promotion of diversity, intellectual pursuits, and artistic or athletic endeavours. The prize is awarded based on the recommendation of the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences.