Olympian Jacqueline Simoneau named 2020 Vanier College Valedictorian

Vanier College is pleased to announce that Health Sciences graduate, Jacqueline Simoneau, is the 2020 Vanier College Valedictorian. Given that Vanier College is not holding a live ceremony due to Covid 19, Jacqueline will address her fellow classmates as part of a special video prepared to celebrate the 2020 Vanier College graduating class.

Jacqueline impressed the selection committee with her positive attitude, humbleness and deep commitment to both her studies and her athletic career as an Olympic synchronized swimmer.  While studying at Vanier, Jacqueline represented Canada at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio di Janeiro and qualified again for the 2020 Olympics that were to take place in July. Her athletic career has included winning four gold medals at the Pan American Games in 2015 and 2019 and numerous other international Championships.

One thing Jacqueline makes very clear is the depth of her gratitude to Vanier and her teachers without whom she could not have pursued her Olympic career while continuing to study health science.

“From a very early age, my life has been all about pursuing objectives while maintaining balance,” says Jacqueline. “They” say it takes a village to raise a child, and I can attest to the fact that Vanier College has raised me to become an adult. It took me six years to earn my DEC from Vanier because of my sport activity, but Vanier College allowed me the time, space and environment to learn and grow into the person that I have become, and for that I am extremely grateful.”

Although training and competing took up a lot of her time, Jacqueline was also able to give back to the community by working with charities she holds dear such has the Fondation des Étoiles, the Make a Wish Foundation, and Fast and Female.  She also gave conferences at various schools across Quebec and shared messages of perseverance, determination and work ethic.

After the Rio Olympics, she also managed to challenge herself by learning things outside her comfort zone when she joined and participated in the Vanier Robotics Club from 2016 to 2019.

Her immediate goal is to prepare for the Olympics that have been postponed until summer 2021, then apply to study Medicine at McGill University.

Congratulations to Jacqueline Simoneau the 2020 Vanier College Valedictorian.