Distinction Awards
2009 Alumni Distinction Awards The Alumni Distinction Awards were created to honour both the contributions Loyalist College graduates make to their respective communities as well as the success they achieve in their chosen fields. Nominees need not be famous, but should have a real commitment to others in volunteer work and/or career success.
This year, at the Alumni Association Annual General Meeting, Loyalist was pleased to present two Alumni Distinction Awards. The 2009 recipients are Karen Mayfield, Architectural Technician, 1985 and Brenda Whitehead, SSW, 1991 and Recreation and Leadership, 1993.
Meet the 2009 Distinction Award Recipients
Karen Mayfield
Architectural Technician, 1985
Karen graduated from the Architectural Technician Program at Loyalist College in 1985. Since then she has made many outstanding accomplishments in her field of study as the Vice President, Partner at Conestoga-Rovers & Associates and the Vice President, Managing Principal at eSolutions Group where she leads the team's ongoing work across many sectors. Conestoga-Rovers & Associates is a worldwide engineering, environmental, construction and IT firm with 90 offices and 2000 employees. Karen has been the recipient of numerous group and individual awards and became the company's first female partner in 2005; there are currently 48 partners across the world. Karen's business unit was to build the creative, marketing, custom programming group to support the engineering projects data and litigation support. With over 20 years of experience in information technology project management, Karen spearheads many initiatives, including extensive research and development Into new ideas for using the web to support community-focused objectives. Karen has overseen many creative design efforts and has been the lead on all of eSolutions Group's award-winning design projects. Her diverse role involves network infrastructure, graphics, website design, custom programming, GIS and internet services.
QUOTE: “ I believe that each person has a unique talent that they can offer society. The way that we are able to achieve our full potential of that unique talent is through education, family and friends. Loyalist College gave me the education that I needed to start my career and also taught me a very important lesson, which was to know how to learn and that learning never stops. I am honoured to have been selected for this award and I am grateful for my education.”
Brenda Whitehead
Social Service Worker, 1991
Fitness & Lifestyle Certificate, Recreational Leadership, 1993
Brenda graduated from the Social Service Worker program in 1991 and the Fitness & Lifestyle Certificate, Recreation Leadership Program in 1993. Since then she has had many outstanding accomplishments in her field working as the Program Manager – Department of Parks, Recreation & Culture for the Municipality of Port Hope where she is responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of municipally operated recreation programs. Through her career she has demonstrated great leadership that positively affects children and youth and has been very successful in creating community awareness and generating support in addition to being an avid community volunteer. Brenda is also the recipient of many local and provincial awards including a prestigious Trillium Award in 2008.
QUOTE:“ Benjamin Disraeli, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, stated that "The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes." I believe that my time at Loyalist (1989 to 1993), both academic and extra-curricular, gave me the foundation for personal success in both my career and in life. As new opportunities arise I am more prepared to attempt them because of the experiential learning Loyalist provided. I hope that the students of today understand how important it is to diversify themselves and experience all that the Loyalist family has to offer. If they allow Loyalist to prepare them with the skills offered they too will be prepared to meet any opportunities that come to them, and celebrate their own personal successes.”
Know a Loyalist graduate who deserves to be recognized? Click here to nominate a graduate.
