MHC grad recognized for love of teaching social studies

By James Tubb on September 26, 2023.

A graduate from Medicine Hat College (MHC) has received a 2023 Education Student Award. Abigail Pohl is the winner of the 2023 Honourable Lois E. Mitchell Graduating Social Studies Teacher Award.

Pohl was able to apply for the award because she took a course that focused on teaching social studies in the final year of her degree. The application process required her to write an essay describing what she loves about teaching social studies. The essay propelled Pohl and one of her peers, Skyler McNiven-Berwick, into the finalist round for the award.

“We were asked to present as if we were teaching a room full of grade four social studies students and needed to integrate a piece of Alberta’s history in our lesson,” explained Pohl. Props, visual elements, and discussion questions were used to create the award-winning lesson.

Pohl, who is originally from Lethbridge, had a dream of teaching young children. “I chose Medicine Hat College because the program here specialized in teaching kindergarten to grade six,” said Pohl. “I also didn’t like the idea of attending a large institution, so being able to get my degree from MRU (Mount Royal University) while being part of a small community college, really attracted me to MHC.”

Upon graduating, Pohl was able to secure a post as a kindergarten teacher in the Crowsnest Pass, which she began this September. “It feels really good to win this award because I was able to combine my passion with what I’ve learned throughout my education. Receiving this award really validates that what I am doing is working.”