As part of the 38th Convocation ceremonies of Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning on June 14-15, President John Tibbits will present the following College-wide achievement honours.
The Governor General's Academic Medal
This bronze medallion is commissioned by the Office of the Governor General
of Canada. It goes to the graduating student with the highest overall
academic grade average for all courses in a diploma-level program.
The winner is Alicia Weber of Kitchener. She is graduating from the Electronics
Engineering Technology - Telecommunications Systems program. The program
deals with the design, development and application of electronic devices
and circuits used in analog and digital communications systems, in networks
and transmission media, and in digital signal processing. She compiled
a composite average of 95.50 per cent, including marks of 100 per cent
in ten of the program courses.
The James W. Church Award
Established by Conestoga's founding president, the James W. Church Award
recognizes excellence in a combination of areas: achievement in learning,
concern for the dignity of the individual and a personal contribution
of benefit to society. The award consists of an inscribed and framed program
shield, plus a cheque for $1,000.
Sherry Zettler of Walkerton is this year's winner. She is graduating from
the post-graduate Early Childhood Education Resource Teacher program,
and previously completed the Early Childhood Education program. She is
employed by Bruce County Social Services as a traveling preschool resource
teacher.
From an early age, she has been involved with community, volunteer and
caring activities in various ways: with a program for special needs children
called Extend-A-Family; as a personal support helper to a child afflicted
with cerebral palsy; as a home child care provider for a disadvantaged
family; and as a peer mentor to student colleagues at Conestoga. She has
been recognized by employers and supervisors for exemplary work as a community
support services worker, early childhood educator and teacher's aide.
The Conestoga College Mastercraft Award
Established by former Conestoga President Kenneth E. Hunter, this award
recognizes outstanding technical achievement by an individual or a student
team in the creation of a program-related technical project. Eligible
projects must first win a program-level competition to qualify for College-wide
judging. The prize consists of an inscribed and framed program shield,
plus a cheque for $500.
The winning project was developed and produced by Stephen Connell of Paris,
Jonathan Musselman of Kitchener and Derek Novakowich of Kitchener. Connell
and Novakowich are graduating from the Computer Engineering Technology
program and Musselman from Electronics Engineering Technology - Telecommunications
Systems. The three collaborated on their final-year, comprehensive technical
project. Known as the DigiPhase Acoustic Processor (DAP), it employs a
remote mobile calibration module that provides quality digital sound processing
for home entertainment centres - regardless of how the owner arranges
the system components and furnishings in the room containing the centre.
The DAP allows any system to sound at its best by automatically compensating
to ensure sound quality.
The Aubrey Hagar Award for Teaching Excellence
The College’s top honour for a faculty member, this award is named
for Aubrey Hagar, a distinguished member of the Conestoga community for
more than 20 years. A member of the College's founding Board of Governors,
he went on to provide valuable service to Conestoga as Director of Academic
and College Planning, then as Director of Strategic Planning. The award
consists of an inscribed and framed Conestoga Coat of Arms, a specially
designed Conestoga College Liripipe and a professional development bursary
of $800.
This year's winner is Geoff Johnstone, a professor in the School of Liberal
and Media Studies. He holds a baccalaureate degree from the University
of Wales and a master's degree from McMaster University. His fields of
study were economics and social studies, and sociology. He has been at
Conestoga since 1970, earning a reputation for excellence in developing
curriculum in areas such as science and diversity, multiculturalism and
the multidisciplinary courses in Conestoga's four-year degree programs.
The author and co-author of a number of research papers, he also co-wrote
a sociology textbook now in use at a number of Ontario colleges. He has
been an active member of a number of academic committees and groups at
the College, has been varsity soccer head coach since 1971 and has received
a recognition award from Conestoga for his contributions to student life.
Alumni of Distinction Awards
These awards, which consist of an inscribed and framed program shield
for each recipient, recognize outstanding graduates for their personal
and professional achievements, as demonstrated through career success
and commitment to others through community and volunteer work.
This year's awards go to four alumni:
Convocation comprises four ceremonies, recognizing more than 3,000 graduating
students. The afternoon ceremony on Wednesday, June 14 involves full-time
and part-time programs from two academic areas - the School of Engineering
and Information Technology, and the School of Trades and Apprenticeship.
The Wednesday evening ceremony is for full-time and part-time programs
from the School of Business and Hospitality. On the afternoon of Thursday, June 15, participating
programs are from the School of Liberal and Media Studies, plus all Health
Sciences programs and programs directly administered by the Continuing
Education Division. The evening ceremony is for Community Services programs.
CONTACT: John Sawicki, 519-748-5220, ext. 3336
(With regard to the Alumni of Distinction Awards, contact Monica Himmelman,
519-748-5220, ext. 3459)