In addition to being an active community member, Katie Bates has been described by her professors as an excellent student earning an outstanding GPA while writing award-winning research papers throughout her degree.
Starting her degree in 2019, Katie made the difficult decision to leave university in 2021 due to health issues. But in 2023, she returned to university as a mature student and is graduating this fall with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.
In 2024, Katie’s paper “The Transitional Importance of Mycenean Children: A Comprehensive Analysis on the Perceptions of Children in Mycenaean Greece” won the MSVU Introduction to Library Research Award for demonstrating outstanding research skills and knowledge of library resources. Katie also received the Sister Francis de Sales Endowed Research Award for her paper titled “Damsels Relieving Distress: The Role of Maritime Women in Relief Efforts Following the Halifax Explosion of 1917”.
Katie is involved in her community in a variety of ways. With health challenges herself, Katie was drawn to work at Brigadoon Village, a camp for children living with chronic health conditions and other life challenges. At Brigadoon, Katie helped these youth to develop their own coping strategies and face challenges head on, just as she did. She also supports children and families facing financial stress in her community by providing a ‘pay what you can’ academic tutoring and childcare service established in 2022.
Katie will deliver her valedictory address during the fall 2025 convocation on Sunday, October 19 at 10 a.m. You can watch the ceremony via MSVU’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
We asked Katie to tell us more about her time at MSVU and what’s next for her. Read on to learn more about Katie.
Hometown: Dartmouth, NS
Degree being awarded: Bachelor of Arts with a Major in History and Minor in English
Why did you choose to study at MSVU?
First and foremost, I wanted to be close to home and my support system, so I was looking at universities in and around the Halifax Regional Municipality. In my applications, other schools were hesitant with my application due to my record showing me dropping out of university in 2021. MSVU, however, welcomed me with open arms and immediately set me up for success offering a plethora of academic supports on campus. This support and welcoming environment truly changed the trajectory of my academic life.
Who are your academic and research mentors (either at MSVU or beyond)?
I was lucky to have a plethora of amazing professors during my time here at The Mount. The history department here is truly a tight knit bunch with academic help always just an email or an office hour away. From tackling the classics with Dr. Campbell, to the intricacies of the Early Modern period with Dr. Benzaquèn, to learning more modern history like the history of women in the Maritimes with Dr. Walls — The Mount has world-class scholars, beaming with support and care for their students, to act as a mentor at every turn.
What class, professor, project or learning activity held the most meaning for you? Why?
The course “Imagining America” with Dr. Krista Collier-Jarvis was a course that was not only impactful but also sat on the crux of English and History in a way that asked students to question their own biases and learn the history behind commonly held ideas that are associated with America. In unpacking this through modern and classic texts, we were able to underscore themes of violence, racism, consumerism, capitalism, and religiosity that characterize the idea of ‘America’.
What is your favourite location on campus and why?
My favorite location on campus is the study room EMF 209. I cannot begin to tell of the countless study sessions, coffees drank, and friendships made in that room.
What do you think differentiates MSVU from other post-secondary institutions?
This is a university where professors want you to succeed, they want you to improve. You are not a number on a class list; you are a person. The small class sizes and dedicated professors allow for one-on-one attention that is simply infeasible at larger universities.
Do you have any advice for current students or people considering going to MSVU?
Growth only occurs when you are challenged, so don’t hesitate to push yourself— there are people there for you to help you if you fall.
What will you miss most about your time at MSVU?
I’ll miss the mundane everyday moments. The chats in the checkout line at Seton Café, the appointments in the writing centre, the office hour chats that end in tangents on current events, special interests, and niche research. The big moments are wonderful, but it is the day-to-day community at the Mount that is what I will miss most.
If you could share just one piece of advice with your pre-Mount self, what would it be?
Your potential is determined by your effort. Put your all into everything you choose to do. Don’t be afraid to take your time to catch your breath and prepare for your next journey, but do not allow that break to turn into hesitation and doubt.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishment here at the Mount would be receiving the Sister Francis de Sales Endowed Award for my fourth-year seminar paper that addressed the under-appreciated work facilitated by Maritime women in the immediate aftermath of the Halifax Explosion in 1917.
What does being named valedictorian mean to you?
Honestly, I did not even consider myself for the award before I was contacted by Dr. Walls about the history department’s desire to nominate me. This nomination, and the later success of the application, is first and foremost an honour. To be recognized and selected by folks who I have admired during my time here truly meant the world. Furthermore, it is a testament to people who have experienced barriers or hurdles in their academic careers to not allow pessimists to limit your potential. Plenty of people told me I would never go back to university and here I am, not only graduating from my degree program, but also being selected as my class valedictorian.