A Faculty of Arts staff member on making a difference through Giving Day
April 3 is UBC Giving Day—a 24-hour university-wide fundraising event aimed at bringing our entire community of students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors together. In anticipation of Giving Day, we spoke with Julie Walchli (BA’90, MA’93), Executive Director of Work Integrated Education and Career Initiatives and a 2025 nominee for the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards. She shared her thoughts on getting involved as an ambassador for the Undergraduate Arts Co-op Student of the Year Award for Giving Day.
Why did you decide to fundraise for the Undergraduate Arts Co-op Student of the Year Award on Giving Day?
We are so thrilled to mark the 25th anniversary of the Arts Co-op Program. It has been such a force in giving thousands of Arts students high-level workplace experience as part of their degrees while they also earn money to help finance their education. As the Founding Director of Arts Co-op, I believe participating in Giving Day is an excellent way to help us ensure we will be able to continue to recognize outstanding co-op students in the decades ahead. We’re hoping to motivate 25 donors to unlock our Giving Day challenge gift and support our Undergraduate Arts Co-op Student of the Year Award. Small gifts can really add up, and Giving Day is a remarkable opportunity for alumni and friends of UBC to engage at a level that works for each person.
How does support for the Student of the Year Award impact recipients?
The Student of the Year Award is one of the ways we build community with our Co-op employers and students, which doesn’t end when students graduate. Many of our alumni stay in touch. They are now mid-career professionals with lives of meaning and purpose, and they credit their success to participating in Arts Co-op all those years ago. The award only enhances our students’ achievements as they begin their career track.
Why should staff and faculty consider getting involved in Giving Day this year, whether through fundraising, donating or volunteering?
Giving Day encourages an incredible culture of giving in your program that has potential benefits beyond financial ones. It creates the opportunity to connect with others in your Faculty, elsewhere at UBC and with UBC alumni in ways that you don’t normally get to. It’s a wonderful way to expand your network, gain new perspectives and build your awareness of the great things that UBC does to support students. Getting involved is a very rewarding experience.
The far-reaching impact of giving
“Receiving the 2015 Student of the Year Award as an Arts Co-op student was really instrumental in helping me pursue a career in the public sector. By exposing me to new ideas and new experiences, the Co-op program helped me find my passion in public policy.”
When Audrey Tong became the Arts Co-op Student of the Year in 2015, the recognition of her hard work reaffirmed her desire to pursue further education. Catching up with Audrey in 2025, she has more good news to report on the impact of donor support.
“Receiving the 2015 Student of the Year Award as an Arts Co-op student was really instrumental in helping me pursue a career in the public sector,” says Audrey. “By exposing me to new ideas and new experiences, the Co-op program helped me find my passion in public policy. The award not only alleviated financial stress but also provided me with the motivation to strive for excellence in my studies and beyond.
After graduating from UBC, I moved to Ottawa and received a master’s degree in public policy and public administration at Carleton University. I worked at the Department of Finance Canada for several years, and I am currently working as a Senior Analyst at the Bank of Canada. The work that I do helps build confidence in the safety, reliability, and efficiency of Canada’s payment ecosystem while protecting end users from certain risks. My educational pursuits and career path within the public sector would not be possible without the generous support.”
“The skills, mentors, and networks I gained through the co-op program, coupled with the recognition of this award, played a key role in shaping my journey and driving my commitment to making trade more accessible and equitable”
Avril Espinosa-Malpica was a 2017 recipient of Arts Co-op Student of the Year. She recently shared that donor support for programs like Arts Co-op empowers students to pursue ambitious goals and give back to the communities that invest in them.
“Receiving the Arts Co-op Student of the Year Award was an incredible honour and a significant moment in my early career,” says Avril. “Beyond the recognition, it gave me confidence in the path I was pursuing and opened doors to new opportunities. The award highlighted the value of my work and experiences, helping me stand out as I transitioned from student to professional.
Today, I proudly represent Canadians abroad as part of Canada’s Foreign Service, currently serving as a Vice-Consul and Trade Commissioner at the Consulate General of Canada in São Paulo, where I lead on inclusive trade initiatives. As I prepare to close my first posting and move to a new country this summer, I find myself reflecting on all I’ve learned since my time at UBC and how I can continue carrying that forward. The skills, mentors, and networks I gained through the co-op program, coupled with the recognition of this award, played a key role in shaping my journey and driving my commitment to making trade more accessible and equitable.”
