It was a sense of care and curiosity that led Melanie Denomme (PhD ’26) and Lucy Teminski (BSc ’26) down their respective career paths.

Though focused on different scientific fields, both recent Brock University graduates have harnessed those qualities with the goal of helping to make the world a better place.

And their efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.

As they prepared to cross the stage at the University’s 119th Convocation on Thursday, June 11, Denomme and Teminski were each recognized with the Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medal. The honour is bestowed upon students who best exemplify leadership, courage, innovation, inspiration and community involvement.

Teminski, who graduated Thursday with her Bachelor of Science, discovered her passion in Brock’s Neuroscience program.

“I found Neuroscience and it just clicked,” she said, calling the field a perfect combination of biology and psychology.

But it was a co-op placement at local long-term care facility that truly offered her a new perspective on care and well-being.

There, Teminski worked with residents living with dementia and progressive illnesses and witnessed how small changes in their health could have dramatic impacts. It was an experience that left an indelible impression, she said.

Now beginning a research-based Master of Biological Sciences (Neurobiology and Physiology) and working in the Learning and Memory Lab of Biological Sciences Professor Gaynor Spencer, Teminski is examining how vitamin A derivatives affect learning and memory at the cellular level.

She’s thankful for the hands-on learning and volunteer opportunities she had throughout her undergraduate studies that helped to shape her Brock experience.

Teminski became involved across campus through open houses, intramural sports and five years of volunteering with Brock Niagara Penguins, a sport program for youth and young adults with physical disabilities.

“I felt a great sense of belonging,” she said. “You really can surprise yourself, with what you become interested in. You just have to go try things.”

Denomme, who graduated with her PhD in Biological Sciences, turned a lifelong fascination with reptiles into research aimed at improving animal welfare standards in captivity.

“Every single week I would check out the same book on reptiles,” she said of her childhood visits to the library. “I couldn’t get enough.”

That early curiosity evolved into a passion for better understanding the behaviour, physiology and well-being of animals, which she pursued in her graduate studies.

“There were a lot of burning questions I needed to answer,” Denomme said.

Her work aimed to provide guidance on ways to reduce stress for animals, particularly bearded dragons, in captivity.

Beyond graduation, Denomme plans to continue her work in the field of animal welfare, ethics and policy development.