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Emily McKinnon

I started at Â鶹ÊÓƵin the fall of 2024, and I was initially admitted into the Sustainable Energy Engineering program. After taking ECON 103 as an elective in second year, I realized that economics was the right path for me, and started taking my business and economics requirements for the joint major. I officially transferred this summer to the Business Economics program, and I hope to complete a concentration in data analysis with honours.

Outside of the classroom, I am involved in a variety of school and community initiatives and clubs. I am Vice President of Events for Amnesty Â鶹ÊÓƵand Secretary for Embark Sustainability Society, and I am a member of the Fraser Valley Rotaract Club. I also volunteer with Mission Community Services, run my own private swim lessons business, and work as an archives assistant for the Mission Historical Society.

I am excited to start applying for co-ops next semester to gain more business economics experience! I am particularly interested in econometrics and energy economics, looking at how we can use Canada’s natural resources to expand our production of renewable energy. I plan to pursue a Master’s degree abroad once I graduate, and I am looking forward to the rest of my journey here at SFU.

Oscar Bon Miranda

I joined Â鶹ÊÓƵ in 2024 after transferring from Fraser International College, where I initially intended to study Actuarial Science. However, my introductory macroeconomics course sparked my interest in how financial markets and economic policy affect people's decisions and shape economic growth. I became particularly interested in how policies can encourage saving, consumption, and investment, and realized that I wanted to work on these kinds of problems. This made me want to pursue a double major in Actuarial Science and Economics.

What I enjoy most about these disciplines is how they complement each other. I believe economics helps us understand problems and create strategies to address them, actuarial science gives us the tools to evaluate different solutions, and finance allows us to put those solutions into practice. My main interests are macroeconomics and development economics, particularly how financial systems can create opportunities and improve people's welfare.

I have also had the opportunity to work at ICBC and TELUS Health through co-op placements, where I worked on insurance pricing, pension valuations, and financial risk analysis. Working in these different areas helped me better understand the practical applications of actuarial science and finance and gave me a clearer idea of what I want to do professionally.

Alongside my studies and co-op experiences, I founded Impeler, a nonprofit organization in Mexico that supports economically vulnerable communities through entrepreneurial training, psychological counselling, and affordable financial services. As Executive Director, I have been responsible for setting the organization's direction, managing its finances, and making sure we have the resources to achieve our goals. Working at Impeler has been particularly rewarding because I get to apply what I learn to problems that directly affect the communities we serve.

My experiences so far have motivated me to pursue both the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) designations. After graduating in Spring 2028, I hope to build a career combining economics, finance, and actuarial science to develop financial services that improve people's well-being.

I am honored to receive the Pamela Yoon Award and sincerely grateful to Ms. Yoon for her generosity. The financial support provided by this award will help me continue my professional training as I prepare for my next CFA exam, while also supporting my social responsibility work at Impeler.