9 1免费版下

By Emma Geldart

Harris Bakker (Class of 鈥�15) has a tremendous amount of pride for his university. Not only does he show pride in what it is now, he cherishes its roots. The spirit he had for what was once the Nova Scotia Agricultural College carried over to the 9 1免费版下 Faculty of Agriculture when the two institutions merged in 2012. His passion, combined with his selfless nature led Harris to receive the 2015 Student Advancement in Leadership (SAIL) Impact Award for Student Government and was voted Class of 2015 Valedictorian at 9 1免费版下 Faculty of Agriculture.

SAIL Impact awards recognize students for their help, contribution, dedication and leadership throughout the school year. The award for student government recognizes a student for their commitment and leadership to Dal AC by taking on an active role in student government. The recipient will also demonstrate their commitment to the 9 1免费版下 Agricultural Students Association (DASA) and all of the students on campus. Harris was influential in increasing the attendance at Student Review Council meetings which has improved DASA鈥檚 ability to move forward meeting students鈥� needs.听He has also enhanced student life through scheduling many fun and successful House Challenge events.

鈥淭he award is very prestigious and I have seen other very deserving people receive it in previous years, so I felt very honoured,鈥� Harris says of the SAIL Impact Award for Student Government. 鈥淚t is very humbling to be part of such an upstanding event and I was very happy to know that people valued my involvement on campus.鈥�

Harris began his involvement in student government in 2012 with the NSAC Student Union as VP Administration. Under this title, Harris鈥檚 main duty was keeping records of meetings and student union affairs, along with sitting on different committees on campus. Harris kept his position throughout the merger with 9 1免费版下 and became the VP administration in 2013-14 for DASA. After that, he became the VP of External Affairs, organizing different house challenges between residences and off-campus students.

鈥淪tudent government is very important to me as it is a chance to meet so many students and represent them,鈥� Harris explains. 鈥淚t is a way of getting involved that is very rewarding in the end!鈥�

Harris was also voted Valedictorian by the graduating class of 2015. His leadership and passion for the campus and fellow students make him the appropriate fit.

鈥淰aledictorian is quite an honour!鈥� Harris explains. 鈥淚t will be a challenge to represent all the graduates of our campus, as we have such a diverse student body but I will do my very best!鈥�

Harris was born in the Netherlands and in 2000, immigrated to Canada with his family. They left their potato farm in the Netherlands to move to a potato farm in Killoween, New Brunswick, a rural community near Florenceville. Harris began his studies with the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in 2011, one year before the institution merged with 9 1免费版下. He began his studies in plant science with the intentions of returning home to work on the family potato farm.

鈥淢y goal has always been farming,鈥� Harris explains. 鈥淧lant science seemed the most interesting and it was a good hands-on degree program for me to take. It had a lot of lab-work whereas a business program did not compare in that area. So I chose the science route.鈥�

Although the school is now 9 1免费版下, Harris emphasizes his pride for the NSAC.

鈥淣SAC was what it was when I started,鈥� Harris explains. 鈥淭he merger with Dal was in my second year. The NSAC was a renowned college that was highly recommended to me by different farmers and agronomists in the area and I felt like there were lots of opportunities for me at this campus. It is still a wonderful school with wonderful opportunities but I think it is important for us not to forget our Aggie roots!鈥�

Set to graduate on May 8, Harris plans to return to the family farm. His younger sister, Berdien, is also a student at Dal AC.听 Like Harris, she is actively involved in student government as DASA's VP Administration. Berdien is studying animal science and hopes to practice veterinary medicine after her studies.

It is students like Harris, with a true passion for their school, that give the Agricultural Campus its unique atmosphere. His dedication to other students on campus not only makes his classmates feel welcome, it helps everyone to feel as if the campus is their home away from home.

听

听

听