The B.A.R.K. program simply would not be possible without the dedication and passion of our student volunteers. Each year, we conclude the academic year by celebrating our graduating students. This year we show our appreciation for, and celebrate the achievements of, five wonderful volunteers who have dedicated over 20 years between them to the B.A.R.K. program! To celebrate their graduation, we asked them to leave us with a comment that summarizes their favourite aspects of volunteering with the program.
The following students are crossing the stage this week and will be moving on to new adventures across the world. We wish them all the best in their future careers!
Rafael “Rafa” Grey – BSc in Mechanical Engineering, Concentration in Biomedical (‘25)
Many will know Rafa as the charismatic and enthusiastic B.A.R.K. greeter, ready to welcome all of our drop-in visitors with a smile. As one of our 2018 volunteer additions, Rafa is one of our longest-serving and most loyal B.A.R.K. volunteers. During his time with B.A.R.K. he has been involved with numerous innovative research studies, drop-in sessions, BARK2GO, and VEDA. We are grateful to Rafa for always being so willing to support B.A.R.K., regardless of the task, and will miss his loyalty and dedication. We wish him all the best as he forges his new career in engineering!
“This was fun, let’s do it again!”
Kevin Mario – BSc in Computer Science (‘25)
Kevin became a volunteer with B.A.R.K. in 2023. Very quickly, Kevin established himself as a reliable VEDA leader and an excellent handler liaison. He is always ready to jump in and provide support to our wonderful handler-dog teams. We’re incredibly grateful for Kevin’s unwavering support and willingness to jump in wherever needed. His loyalty and commitment have made a lasting impact, and he will be deeply missed. Although we are sad to see him go, we are confident that his kind nature, gentle spirit, and calm demeanor will serve him very well as he embarks upon his career in Computer Science!
“My favorite aspect of being involved with the BARK program is being able to meet new people and be a part of a warm and welcoming community. Also feeling in a safe place where we can destress and enjoy Friday evenings without thinking about university duties.”
We would also like to celebrate three students who will be completing their degrees this summer. Karen will leave us at the end of the summer for further education in Brazil, but we are thrilled that both Maddy and Sunny will be continuing to volunteer with B.A.R.K. as they embark on further education or careers in Kelowna!
Karen Sticchi Zambom – BSc in Medical & Molecular Biochemistry, minor in
Psychology
Often seen with one of our little grey B.A.R.K. dogs (Lacey, Cookie, or Zora), Karen has been a much-appreciated member of the B.A.R.K. family for many years. She officially became a volunteer in 2023 and has since become a integral member of our canine welfare and assessment team. We will miss Karen’s unwavering enthusiasm for all things B.A.R.K.-related, her willingness to volunteer for as many sessions as she could, and her sassy sense of humour. We wish her all the best as she returns to Brazil to pursue her career goals in medicine.”
Suneet “Sunny” DiSilva – MDS in Data Science
Despite Sunny only joining the team officially in 2024, his positive energy and strong ability to connect with others has made him a strong member of the B.A.R.K. team. Sunny has been an integral member of the data collection team during the drop-ins and has always been willing to help with BARK2Go, VEDA sessions, and all of our special events. We are thrilled that Sunny intends to remain in Kelowna and will continue as a B.A.R.K. Volunteer!
Madisyn Szypula – MASc in Mechanical Engineering
Madisyn began volunteering with B.A.R.K. in 2019 and quickly became a senior B.A.R.K. volunteer. Many will recognize Maddy from drop-ins and BARK2Go sessions, but Maddy is also an integral member of the B.A.R.K. research team. Throughout her time with B.A.R.K., Maddy has assisted with many research studies and co-authored studies examining the
outcomes of participating in canine-assisted interventions by gender and the impact of B.A.R.K. on University student loneliness. We are thrilled to announce that Maddy, who is currently wrapping up her Master’s degree, will begin her doctoral studies at UBCO this fall and that she will remain on the B.A.R.K. leadership team!