Members of the Conestoga community are among the more than 45 distinguished women from across Waterloo Region that have been nominated for the annual Oktoberfest Rogers Women of the Year awards.
"This award has been celebrating the accomplishments of women in Waterloo Region for 45 years," said Margo Jones, festival president. "Nominees are involved with every aspect of the community -- from inspiring others through their thought provoking art, fitness journeys and bold career moves to aiding people both at home and abroad -- and we're honoured to celebrate their achievements."
The women were nominated by residents in the region across 10 categories and will be recognized at the Women of the Year ceremony on October 1 at LOT42.
Jackie Morris, a Conestoga graduate and part-time faculty member and technologist, has been nominated in the STEAM category which recognizes outstanding achievement in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
Morris volunteers her time as an advocate and mentor for women in skilled trades and was named a 2018 Woman of Distinction by the YMCA-YWCA of Guelph.
Conestoga graduates Shelby Behling (Public Relations, 2013) and Melissa Macfarlane (Career Development Practitioner, 2012) have been nominated in the entrepreneur category. Tara Hebblethwaite (Office Administration - Legal, 2017) and Jessica Kuepfer, assistant coach with Conestoga’s cross country team, are nominated in the health and wellness category. Brenda Halloran (Nursing, 1976) is nominated in the community services and lifetime achievement categories.
In 2017, Board of Governors member and 2012 Alumni of Distinction award recipient Jennifer Knapp, and Julia Biedermann, executive dean of Conestoga’s Schools of Engineering & Information Technology, Trades & Apprenticeship and the Institute of Food Processing Technology, were presented with Oktoberfest Women of the Year awards.
For more information, visit Oktoberfest.ca.