Former Picture Butte student wins prestigious award at University of Lethbridge

Sunny South News Photo submitted. MEDAL OF MERIT: Former Picture Butte resident and high school student, Jaxon Reiter, right, was presented with a prestigious Medal of Merit from the University of Lethbridge during the 2025 spring convocation ceremony on May 29.

By Kristine Jean
Sunny South News

Former Picture Butte resident Jaxon Reiter, credits his small town upbringing and the close-knit community at the high school he attended, with much of his success as a university scholar and future professor or scientist.  

Reiter was recently awarded the School of Graduate Studies Medal of Merit, Master of Science, from the University of Lethbridge at their 2025 Spring Convocation on May 29.

He is a Master of Science, biological sciences graduate, who has contributed to the University of Lethbridge through research, teaching and collegial governance.

“The community recognition and support for academics at our high school was very strong and I think in general, the community is very supportive of its community members and those students who are the next generation within the community,” said Reiter of his Picture Butte roots. “There were definitely a couple of really influential and inspiring teachers at the high school during my time there, that were very encouraging and were responsible for planting the seed for wanting to continue with school and continue learning.”   

Medal of Merits at the university are awarded to students from each faculty from each graduating class. They are given for a combination of university, community and academic contributions.

“I’m very honoured and very grateful to the university for all of opportunities and for the recognition,” said Reiter, noting the work he’s done in research, teaching and governance was “a very fulfilling and very exciting opportunity.” 

That work included novel and important discoveries about seed production and developing teaching strategies for challenging courses at all undergraduate levels. As a Graduate Students’ Association president, he represented graduate student interests at all levels of university governance and served on several university committees over a two-year period, including the board of governors at the University of Lethbridge.  

In the past year, Reiter was also recognized with a graduate student teaching excellence award, nominated by his fellow peers. In addition to his Masters degree, he also completed his Bachelor of Science undergraduate degree at the University of Lethbridge. 

“In my undergrad degree I really started getting heavily involved in research, through various programs offered in our department as well as working closely with various researchers and academics,” he said, noting his growing fascination with research helped set the stage for further exploration in a Master’s degree with a focus on plant biology.

Reiter also published several papers in scholarly journals throughout his undergrad and his Masters degrees, working alongside Dr. Elizabeth Schultz, Reiter’s supervisor throughout his studies. 

While at the University of Lethbridge, Reiter developed a passion and love for teaching and wants to continue in that direction when he embarks on his next academic pursuit at the University California-Riverside this fall, where he has been accepted into a PhD program in plant biology.

The 24-year-old looks forward to an exciting future in California. One that includes new experiences and gaining a new perspective.

“Coming from a small town … and going to a really large, historic institution I think will be a really cool experience that will offer a new set of opportunities and challenges,” said Reiter. “Meeting new people and being able to continue teaching and doing research that I’ve started here (in Alberta). I’ll keep the University of Lethbridge and Picture Butte in mind as I go on to do that.”