Community Congrats: Celebration of Service and Excellence (2019)
Each fall, the university recognizes faculty and staff members who have attained service milestones of 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years at the Celebration of Service. As part of the celebration, we also recognize individuals and groups who are nominated by their peers for outstanding contributions to healthy and vibrant workplaces.
Excellence in Leadership
The Excellence in Leadership award is intended to recognize outstanding leaders or leadership teams for their awareness of and attention to issues and concerns that impact the quality of the work and learning environment. The 2019 recipients are Blessie Mathew and Doris Lunardon.
Blessie Mathew, Director Career Centre and Experiential Learning
Blessie first started at the University in 1995 as a student staff member of the Career Centre. Today she is the Director of the very same Centre. Blessie colleagues highlight that she has cultivated a work environment that values work-life balance, staff autonomy and collegiality. They truly appreciate her, especially her authenticity and her compassion and say that she goes above and beyond to accommodate and support her staff.
Doris Lunardon, Associate Chair, Clinical Operations, Dentistry
Doris sets the example by modeling the behavior she wishes to see in others. A firm believer in empowering her staff, she involves others in decision making and encouraging them to think critically about what’s best not only for them, but the organization. They say that her style is to just simply be available and present. If you need her, she is there.
Excellence in Learning Support
The Excellence in Learning Support award is specifically designed to recognize members of the University community whose role does not involve teaching, but who nonetheless directly and significantly contribute to the student learning experience. The 2019 recipient is Cosette Lemelin.
Cosette Lemelin, Educational Developer, Centre for Teaching and Learning
Cosette’s enthusiasm and great ideas are inspiring. Her nomination highlighted her caring and approachable nature, and how it makes her an excellent conduit from which instructors can hone their craft in the art of teaching. Her colleagues say that Cosette has consistently been an enthusiastic and passionate supporter of teaching and learning. She not only exemplifies scholarly knowledge about teaching and learning, but also professional generosity and service orientation.
APO, FSO, MAPS and Librarian Recognition
Xuejun Sun, Faculty Service Officer, Oncology
Xuejun stands out as a scientist and friend who personifies the fundamental criteria for this award including patience, positivity, humour, and bringing out the best of others. His nomination highlighted that his professional experience is highly regarded by graduate students; they feel privileged that he lends his abilities to furthering graduate student research as he does.
Support Staff Recognition Award
The Support Staff Recognition Award recognizes university staff who provide exceptional service to clients, bring the best of themselves to work on a regular basis, and who contribute to a positive work environment. In 2019, three stellar University employees were selected: Michael Abley, Anita Green and Lily Laser.
Michael Abley, Senior Technologist, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences
Michael has served the university for more than 35 years. A proud University alumni, his colleagues say what stands out most is his personable and respectful attitude towards everyone he works with, coupled with his uncompromising willingness to help others. Michael said it’s the combination of working with great people and continually challenging and changing job duties that has kept him interested and involved with his work.
Anita Green, Graduate Services Administrator, Faculty of Nursing
If Anita doesn’t know the answer, she will find it for you! Her nomination states that what makes her exceptional is that she enacts this approach in such a genuine, thoughtful and compassionate way. Her colleagues proclaim Anita is a great ambassador for the Faculty and the University. She puts the effort in, letting people know that they are appreciated. They have seen people’s expressions change as her kindness impacts them. She has a gift for making others feel welcome and valued.
Lily Laser, Graduate Administrative Assistant, Chemical and Material Engineering
Lily’s nomination describes her as open, welcoming, cheerful in every interaction and as someone who truly embodies “For the Good of the People”. She has an impressively deep reserve of patience and compassion, while managing to keep space for others and actively listen to each person who steps into her office. Lily inspires others to push through the challenges and relish the good moments. Her colleagues say that she infuses their department with fun, vitality and determination
The Celebration of Service 2019 Celebrants
The Celebration of Service recognizes faculty and staff members who have service reflecting 25, 30, 35, 40 or 45 years within the 2019 calendar year.
45 Years Service
Loren Kline, Dentistry
Karlis Muehlenbachs, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Danny Shpeley, Biological Sciences
Kathy Urban, Libraries
40 Years Service
Daniel Bobryk, Trades Projects and Operations
Walter Boddez, Mechanical Engineering
Raymond Chabaylo, Utilities
Cecile Cochrane, Dentistry
Douglas Davidson, Trades Infrastructure and Maintenance
Edmund Herr, Building and Grounds Services
Nicole Johnson, Campus Saint-Jean
Tona Katicic, Facilities and Operations
Robert Kropinski, Building and Grounds Services
Margarita Rojas, Extension
Antonella Scaccia-DeWitt, Elementary Education
Rebecca Yau, Extension
35 Years Service
Vickie Baracos, Oncology
Wally Busko, Ancillary Services
Roger Cheng, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Tony Coccimiglio, Building and Grounds Services
Matthew Dean, Trades Infrastructure and Maintenance
Richard Durocher, Building and Grounds Services
Marian Forre, Augustana Campus
Mary Gora, Biological Sciences
Donna Guest, Office of the Registrar
William Hackborn, Augustana Campus
Thomas Hantos, Biological Sciences
Jed Harrison, Chemistry
Joanna Haynes, Bookstore
Douglas Huber, Trades Infrastructure and Maintenance
Gerald Kubina, Libraries
Jan Kurzatkowski, Ancillary Services
Richard Makowski, Information Services and Technology
Trevon Mayes, Libraries
Alena Monias, Human Resource Services
Anne Naeth, Renewable Resources
Debbie Preston, Biological Sciences
Robert Rankin, Physics
Colleen Ruptash, Alberta Diabetes Institute
Jonathan Schaeffer, Science
Tony Selinger, Environment, Health and Safety
Margaret Sisley, Chemistry
Dianne Smalridge, Supply Management Services
30 Years Service
Stephen Aaron, Medicine
Sandra Abraham, Biological Sciences
Annalise Acorn, Law
Cecilia Anders, Biological Sciences
Rachelle Anderson, Psychiatry
Gordon Atwood, Science
Vincent Bain, Medicine
Amy Barr, Pharmacology
Toni Bayans, Animal Support Services
Catherine Bell, Law
Rick Bidniak, Supply Management Services
Jacques Bobet, Engineering
Anna Bombak, Libraries
Jan Boulter, Psychology
Jack Brese, Supply Management Services
Wu Chin, Critical Care Medicine
Sandra Cockfield, Medicine
Paolo Coco, Ancillary Services
Doris Corrigan, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Tracey Dean, Surgery
Terry Deeb, Ancillary Services
Lori Diachuk, Dentistry
George Elleker, Medicine
Michael Ellison, Biochemistry
Candice Enjeneski, Financial Services
Brian Esslinger, Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation
Janet Fast, Human Ecology
Larry Fliegel, Biochemistry
Nicole Fluet, Supply Management Services
Noelle Fraser, Libraries
Alice Fung, Ancillary Services
Michel Gauthier, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Barry Greig, University Botanic Garden
Tim Hanson, Augustana Campus
Carol Hartle, Biomedical Engineering
Hani Henein, Chemical and Materials Engineering
Terry Higgs, Trades Infrastructure and Maintenance
Giles Hinse, Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences
Sherry Humphreys, Libraries
Karim Jamal, Alberta School of Business
Kendall James, Cell Biology
Zenona Kawecka, Dentistry
Mariusz Klobukowski, Chemistry
Darren Knudsen, Design and Technical Services
Garth Langner, Facilities and Operations
Tony Larson, Protective Services
Bernard Lemire, Biochemistry
Jamie Lewis, Surgery
Liang Li, Chemistry
Robert Luth, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Ellen Macdonald, Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences
Karen Madsen, Medicine
Ken Manke, Information Services and Technology
Christopher Marks, Trades Infrastructure and Maintenance
Ronald Maskell, Operations Building
Gail Mathew, Philosophy
Jack Moore, Biochemistry
Peggy Morgan, Libraries
Carolyn Morris, Information Services and Technology
Evelyn Omasta, Gastroenterology
Alan Payot, Operations Building
Lynn Podemski, Medical Genetics
Linda Pon, Libraries
Andrzej Potoniec, Ancillary Services
Susan Querengesser, Glen Sather Sport Medicine Clinic
Ronald Ritter, Financial Services
Stephen Shafran, Medicine
Judith Shaw, Human Resource Services
Linda Slater, Libraries
David Smith, Trades Projects and Operations
Leonard Swanson, Engineering
Frank Sysyn, History and Classics
Han-Kuang Tan, Dentistry
Feral Temelli, Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences
Sandee Tocheniuk, Medicine
Linda Trimble, Political Science
Ruzica Trkulja, Building and Grounds Services
Neil Tyreman, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Shawna Walden, Office of the Registrar
Janet Williamson, Libraries
Sherry Woytovich, Information Services and Technology
Dean Wilson, Biological Sciences
Yingfeng Xu, Economics
Janusz Zwiazek, Renewable Resources
25 Years Service
Doris Audet, Augustana Campus
Carol Burgess, Alberta Law Reform Institute
Sharon Campbell, Research Services Office
Al Denington, Psychology
Shufen Edmondstone, History and Classics
Mark Freeman, Physics
Tim Gawreletz, Building and Grounds Services
Sandra Hamilton, Physics
Larry Heaman, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Tom Hobman, Cell Biology
Karen Hughes, Sociology
Thomas Hunter, Museums and Collections Services
Glen Hvenegaard, Augustana Campus
Michal Kantoch, Pediatrics
Chris Le, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Holly Lomheim, Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research
Mang Ma, Medicine
Arthur Mar, Chemistry
Lisa Maraj, Libraries
Lea Matton, Human Resource Services
Irvin Mayers, Medicine
Lynn McMullen, Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences
Vijayan Menon, Libraries
Deborah O’Neill, Physiology
George Owttrim, Biological Sciences
Andie Palmer, Anthropology
Pauline Paul, Nursing
Frances Pownall, History and Classics
Toni Samek, Education
Karen Seeberger, Surgical Medical Research Institute
Barry Sinclair, Pediatrics
Michael Smith, Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation
Julie Stephens, Research Services Office
Amy Tse, Pharmacology
Fred Tse, Pharmacology
Ingrid Urberg, Augustana Campus
Sharon Watanabe, Oncology
Anita Weiler, Chemistry
Christine Wiesenthal, English and Film Studies
Richard Wozniak, Cell Biology
Douglas Wylie, Biological Sciences
