Meet the 2026 Faculty of Arts Gold Medal Recipients

The Faculty of Arts is pleased to present the 2026 undergraduate academic medal winners. Their achievements are recognized in the Spring 2026 convocation ceremony.

University Gold Medal

Kyle Jeffers, B.A. Advanced (Mathematics)

The University Gold Medal is an opportunity to honour the best in the undergraduate graduating class of each faculty. A gold medal is awarded to the undergraduate student in the Faculty of Arts who has achieved the highest standing. This year’s recipient is Kyle Jeffers, who is graduating with a B.A. Advanced degree with a major in mathematics and a minor in history. Jeffers will soon begin his studies towards an MSc in Mathematics here at UM.

Though his major might not give you a hint, Jeffers holds  a deep passion for the humanities. He took classes in Indigenous studies and philosophy and was a T.A. in Dr. Adam Murray’s logic classes. “This position was right up my alley, being my first shot at teaching something related to mathematics,” said Jeffers. “It was through this job that I felt affirmed that I’m on the right career path.” 

His humanities classes had a profound impact on him. “Through courses in the Faculty of Arts, I learned to better articulate the scope of various social injustices, particularly those affecting Indigenous communities, though I recognize I still have much to learn.”

Jeffers is looking forward to graduate studies, getting involved in research and is planning to become an educator at the high school or university level. “I’ve always loved helping my peers understand difficult topics in math,” he shared. “I find immense satisfaction in having those concepts finally click for them.”

Reflecting on the people who were a part of his journey, he is grateful for everyone with whom he connected. “Whether it was the guys I carpooled with every day for the past four years, the familiar and friendly faces of those who frequent the Engineering library or one of my many kind professors, there was always someone who could offer support however it may have been needed,” Jeffers said. 

His advice to fellow grads is to be kind to themselves. “The wisest words ever said to me, were ‘If we treated our friends like we treat ourselves, we’d have no friends,’” he said. “Treating yourself with compassion makes getting over any obstacles such as getting a bad grade or losing out on a job that much easier.”
 

Faculty of Arts Honours Medal

Natasha Diachun, B.A. Honours (English)

English major Natasha Diachun is this year’s recipient of the Faculty of Arts Honours Medal awarded to the student with the highest standing in a Bachelor of Arts four-year Honours Degree Program. 

Minoring in theatre, Diachun appreciates the sense of community she found in the Department of English, Theatre, Film, and Media. “Over the past few years, I formed relationships with my professors and peers, creating both professional connections and close friendships,” she shared. 

One of the most important classes she took during her degree was Representations of Identity and Struggle in Palestinian Literature. “One of the things I value the most about literature is the ability to learn from diverse voices,” said Diachun. “This class gave me an opportunity to learn about both the struggle for Palestinian liberation and cultural identity through the lens of literature.” 

A highlight of her time at UM was taking part in the Hungary travel-study course. “It was a great opportunity to travel with a group of UM students and learn by immersing ourselves in another country,” Diachun shared.

After graduation, Diachun plans to take a gap year to travel the world before pursuing an MA in English. She is considering a career in education, law or publishing. Before she bids farewell to UM, Diachun leaves us with one final, well-deserved shoutout to her favourite campus snack: chicken fingers from Degrees.

Faculty of Arts Advanced Medal

Rheanna McEwen-McMillan, B.A. Advanced (Political Science)

The award for the highest standing in a Bachelor of Arts four-year Advanced Degree Program goes to Rheanna McEwen-McMillan. During her undergraduate degree, she majored in political science and minored in anthropology.  She plans to pursue a career in government and public policy, “I want to apply what I’ve learned about systems, power and people to create tangible improvements in communities,” McEwen-McMillan shared.

A class that stands out to her from her studies is the anthropology class Culture, Society, and Power, taught by Dr. Lara Rosenoff Gauvin. “The learning genuinely extended beyond the classroom,” McEwen-McMillan said. “From bird walks to art exhibits, the course blended different ways of knowing while pushing us to rethink anthropology itself, including what it means to decolonize the discipline in theory and in practice.” 

McEwen-McMillan’s professors had a profound influence on her and changed the way she approaches learning. “My professors emphasized curiosity over memorization and taught me that the right question is often more important than the right answer,” she recalled.

If she could go back in time and give one piece of advice to her first-year-self, she would say: “stop worrying about having everything figured out. Growth happens in the uncertainty.”

Faculty of Arts General Medal

Rhea Bhalla, B.A. (Psychology)

Rhea Bhalla is the 2026 recipient of the Faculty of Arts General Medal, awarded for highest standing in a Bachelor of Arts three-year General Degree Program. Bhalla completed a major in psychology and a minor in anthropology. This fall, she will be attending medical school at the University of Alberta.

“My coursework in psychology supported my experiences working one-on-one with patients through volunteering and research, while anthropology challenged me to think critically about health inequities, accessibility, and how healthcare systems shape people’s lives,” said Bhalla. “Together, they gave me a broader understanding of the human side of healthcare and reinforced my interest in pursuing medicine.” 

Bhalla explored healthcare and accessibility by conducting dementia caregiving research with the University of Calgary and volunteering for the UMSU Centre for Accessibility Resources and Empowerment. 

She also worked as a research and technology reporter and editor for The Manitoban . Bhalla acknowledged the power of storytelling, “through writing over 50 articles and interviewing close to 70 researchers and clinicians, I learned how communication can bridge the gap between research and the communities it aims to serve.”

Her message to current students is to pursue opportunities that connect them with their own communities. “Those moments can shape not only your career path, but also the kind of person you become.”