Saskatchewan Post-Secondary Student Council Members

The Saskatchewan Post-Secondary Student Council gives selected post-secondary students from across the province an opportunity to engage with the Ministry of Advanced Education on a variety of topics related to post-secondary education.

Members are nominated by their post-secondary institution to participate. Students provide their own thoughts and opinions; they do not represent their institutions through the council. Learn more about the nomination process.

The 2023-24 Saskatchewan Post-Secondary Student Council consists of 21 students from different backgrounds, geographic locations, areas of study and credential levels. Each student will serve on the council for a one-year term.

Meet the 2023-24 student council members:

	Shae Lynn Beaulieu 2^nd year Dental Hygiene and Master of Science in Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan Moose Jaw, SK Shae always wanted to pursue post-secondary education, and just needed to figure out what to study and where to go to school. Shae's favourite post-secondary experience so far has been the relationships/friendships built with classmates. Shae hopes to learn more about the government's role in post-secondary education and make connections with students from across the province. Fun fact: Shae played volleyball for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies for six years!
	Bryce Buffalocalf-Gurney 2^nd year Business Administration, Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies Regina, SK Bryce was inspired to pursue post-secondary education to help with career advancement and was excited to see what else was in store. Bryce's favourite parts of attending post-secondary have been making connections with fellow students, learning new things, and getting out of a 'comfort zone'. Bryce hopes to learn more about issues affecting post-secondary institutions and students in Saskatchewan. Fun fact: Learning new things is a constant for Bryce, who is always striving for growth.
	Abbi Cross 5^th year Bachelor of Arts Honors in Psychology, St. Thomas More College Martensville, SK A love of learning and a desire to help others inspired Abbi’s post-secondary journey. Abbi has enjoyed meeting new people – especially some close friends and mentors. Fun fact: Some of Abbi's favourite hobbies are camping, film photography and printmaking.
	Samantha Exner 1^st year Practical Nursing, Dumont Technical Institute Regina, SK Samantha has enjoyed gaining some real-world experience while in post-secondary education. Experiencing hands-on SIMS labs has helped Samantha practice on and get familiar with the equipment used by nurses. Samantha hopes to connect with other students, learn from peers and be an advocate for post-secondary education. Fun fact: Samantha's best friend is her Bernese Mountain Dog, Bentley.
	Emma Fedusiak 4^th year Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Saskatchewan Foam Lake, SK Emma loves learning and hopes that post-secondary experiences will provide a broader perspective of the world. The best part of her program so far is exposure to a wide range of perspectives, ideas and cultures. Emma has met many diverse and talented people and made valuable connections. Emma is excited to develop leadership and communications skills, and hopes to represent the interests, concerns and viewpoints of fellow health care students. Fun fact: Emma has been moving every eight weeks across the province/country to complete final pharmacy rotations.
	Lauren Fraess 3^rd year Doctor of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, SK Lauren has dreamed of becoming a physician since childhood. Seeing the profound impact of physicians in her rural hometown inspired her to pursue this dream. Lauren hopes to bring more health care opportunities to individuals in rural Saskatchewan. Lauren is looking forward to working alongside fellow students and the Ministry of Advanced Education to voice students' concerns and ideas on a governmental level. Fun fact: Lauren received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 2019 and worked as a Registered Nurse for two years before going back to school.
	Elias Frank 2^nd year Business Management, North West College North Battleford, SK Elias's decision to pursue post-secondary education was influenced by the success of Neechie Gear from his home reserve, Sweetgrass First Nation. Elias hopes to use knowledge from the business management program to one day own a little hot sauce brand and make clothes. Elias is excited to meet the rest of the students on the council and hear their insights and perspectives. Fun fact: Elias loves golf and has played since the age of six.
	Brad Fraser 3^rd year Bachelor of Social Work, University of Regina Regina, SK Bradley's grandmother told rewarding stories about being a social worker, inspiring Bradley to follow in the footsteps of family members who had an impact on others while working in front-line professions. Bradley is excited to also do this impactful work as a career. Bradley is looking forward to contributing to the growth, strength and health of Saskatchewan's post-secondary sector through the council – including students and the communities where they learn, live and work. Fun fact: Bradley loves to cook elaborate meals for others that he would never cook for himself.
	Robyn Marie Gerow 2^nd year Civil Engineering Technology, Saskatchewan Polytechnic Moose Jaw, SK Robyn was inspired to pursue post-secondary education to make a change and contribute to the world. Robyn enjoys learning and being able to apply knowledge to real-life scenarios. Robyn hopes to learn more about how the post-secondary sector works and hear about other students' experiences. Fun fact: Robyn loves camping and exploring new places.
	Una Goncin 5^th year Health Sciences Ph.D., University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, SK Una's aspiration lies in the constant pursuit of new knowledge and a desire to make a positive impact on the world. Una has appreciated the chance during her Ph.D. to collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds to solve complex problems. Una is passionate about student advocacy and hopes to gain leadership experience, make an impact on the lives of students and learn more about educational policies. Fun fact: Una is a certified laughter yoga leader.
	Mindy Gregory 3^rd year Bachelor of Arts, Luther College Fort Qu’Appelle, SK After completing the requirements for high school, Mindy was inspired to take the next step and pursue post-secondary education. The opportunity to grow as a person, work through new challenges and learn about diverse and complex topics has been Mindy's favourite part of post-secondary education so far. Mindy is looking forward to promoting the needs and concerns of fellow post-secondary students. Fun fact: If Mindy could go back in time for a day, it would be to an early morning solo kayak trip – encountering a family of playful otters, surprising a squadron of sleepy pelicans, and coming within a few feet of a red fox!
	Eric Victor Jacob Horbal 3^rd year Bachelor of Arts, Honours in Political Science, Certificate in Economics, University of Regina Regina, SK Eric is the first person in his family to attend post-secondary – an achievement that originally inspired the decision to start his program. Eric values the opportunity to gain a new skill set that will allow for further evaluation of some of the biggest problems facing our communities today. Eric has enjoyed meeting a variety of like-minded people and getting involved in research. Eric hopes to gain technical experience along with an understanding of how decisions are made in the context of Saskatchewan's post-secondary sector. Fun fact: Eric has been curling since high school and is now an assistant curling coach at the same school where it all began.
	Steven Jose Kattacheril 1^styear Business Management, Saskatchewan Polytechnic Moose Jaw, SK As an international student, Steven's inspiration to pursue post-secondary education came from his parents. Steven wants to follow in their footsteps and start a successful career. Steven has enjoyed meeting students from across the globe who have diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Steven hopes to gain a deeper understanding of the government's responsibilities and its role in post-secondary institutions. Steven also looks forward to connecting with fellow students delving into the unique challenges faced by students in Saskatchewan. Fun fact: Steven speaks six languages and plays the piano.
	SherJan Maybanting 2^nd year Master's in Social Work, University of Regina Melville, SK SherJan was inspired to pursue post-secondary education because of lived experience and a desire to help vulnerable communities. SherJan hopes to use further education and unique personal perspectives to improve the lives of others. SherJan looks forward to drawing from a background of unique life experiences to provide feedback on post-secondary education-related topics and hopes to fairly represent minority voices in the province. SherJan appreciates the opportunity to advocate for students.
	Karsen Rylee Mclachlan 2^nd year Integrated Resource Management, Saskatchewan Polytechnic Prince Albert, SK Karsen was seeking a career in natural resources. This career ambition inspired the pursuit of post-secondary education. Karsen looks forward to exploring different career avenues after completing this diploma. Karsen has enjoyed participating in a variety of activities and research projects during post-secondary studies. As a more mature student, Karsen hopes to use life experience to help advocate for peers and inspire a more positive post-secondary experience for everyone. Fun fact: Karsen works as a wildland firefighter over the summer.
	Misty Autumn Miyosew Iskwew Gardypie 4^th year Indian Teacher Education Program, University of Saskatchewan Duck Lake, SK Misty's mother (who is a teacher) and personal experiences with high school teachers inspired the pursuit of post-secondary education. Every aspect of the post-secondary experience so far, from internships to learning from instructors and classmates, has made the experience meaningful. Misty hopes to help future and current students through contributions to the council. Fun fact: Misty collects highlighters and fine-tip pens.
	Meagan Nolan 3^rd year Indigenous Social Work, First Nations University of Canada Prince Albert, SK Meagan initially thought going to school as a more mature student would be out of the cards. However, after getting laid off, bravery kicked in and Meagan decided to give it a try. Meagan has enjoyed learning about Indigenous people's culture, traditions and history. This history has helped with understanding Meagan's roles and responsibilities as an Indigenous person. Meagan hopes to gain new experiences and knowledge and to take this newfound experience into future experiences. Fun fact: Meagan is a member of a cultural hand-drumming group called Spirit Strong Singers.
	Alana Olson 5^th year University Transfer- Bachelor of Science, Lakeland College Maidstone, SK Alana was always interested in science. Growing up, Alana constantly wanted to know more and knew that pursuing a degree in science was the goal. Alana's favourite part of post-secondary so far has been the opportunity to create connections with other students from different backgrounds. Alana is excited to engage with other student leaders in Saskatchewan to gain a better understanding of how institutions in our province operate and to advocate for the needs of students. Alana hopes to learn new things to take back to Lakeland College. Fun fact: Alana has been a member of the Lakeland Rustlers Women's Basketball team for five years, participating in back-to-back ACAC championships and receiving a CCAA Bronze medal in 2021.
	Dhruval Shah 4^th year Bachelor of Science, Honours in Physics with a minor in Philosophy, Campion College Regina, SK As a kid, Dhruval would often gaze at the night sky in fascination. This is what sparked an interest in astronomy and led to a decision to study physics. Dhruval has participated in a variety of exciting nuclear physics research during summer research terms and has also enjoyed the opportunity to work with numerous scientists on nuclear physics experiments at TRIUMF (Canada's particle accelerator centre). Dhruval hopes to meet ambitious students from other disciplines and to work together to advocate for students across Saskatchewan. Fun fact: Dhruval loves going for a calming walk during a light rain.
	Zohra Zahir 3^rd year Ph.D. Biology Thesis Post Bachelor, University of Regina Regina, SK Zohra's inspiration to pursue post-secondary came from reading about scientists, their discoveries and the endless world of science. Zohra pursued her bachelor's in Environmental Science, her master's in Genetics, and now her Ph.D. research focuses on the relations between microbial biogeochemistry and mercury in prairie wetland ponds. Zohra has loved collaborating on projects with other scientists and participating in outreach initiatives as a part of the university community. Zohra would love to know more about post-secondary education in Saskatchewan and hopes to be a voice for fellow students. Fun fact: Zohra is a co-host of a radio show about fun Persian music at CJTR Regina Community Radio.
	Nicole Zalesak 2^nd year BioScience Technology, Saskatchewan Polytechnic Saskatoon, SK Before pursuing a post-secondary education in Bioscience Technology, Nicole worked in customer service but always knew there was more out there. Nicole wanted to find a fulfilling career that would have a positive impact on others and has especially enjoyed learning from talented and passionate instructors. Nicole wants to be a voice for students and hopes to learn how to make a difference in the lives of students who are pursuing higher education. Fun fact: Nicole went to the University of Saskatchewan directly out of high school and convocated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design in 2013.