Monday, May 4, 208 Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile 27th Annual Alumni Recognition Awards Banquet
concordia.ca/alumni #CUalumni #CUpride THE CAMPAIGN FOR CONCORDIA NEXT-GEN. NOW. You’ve come a long way since joining TAKE PRIDE Concordia’s 2,000 alumni family. IN YOUR ALMA MATER! • Update your contact details: concordia.ca/keepintouch • Write us about your recent achievements: [email protected] Gwen Tolbart Alexandre Bilodeau Louise Archambault
CONCORDIA PRESIDENT ALAN SHEPARD (LEFT) WITH BUSINESS LEADERS, PHILANTHROPISTS AND CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS ANDREW MOLSON (RIGHT) AND LINO SAPUTO JR. (CENTRE)
$250-MILLION INITIATIVE FOR CONCORDIA TO LEAD AS Frederic Bohbot Régine Chassagne Tetsuro Shigematsu CANADA’S NEXT-GENERATION UNIVERSITY Join @ConcordiaAlumni on social media Whirlwind change is compelling a rethink of everything, including university education and research. To prosper in a time of fast change, students need dynamic learning that connects to the world and public good that aligns tradition with emerging fields and global opportunities. With a strong reputation as Canada’s top university under 0, we have the momentum and vitality to develop talented graduates who can engage society’s biggest 2st century challenges. 8,000 students. 2,000 alumni. A lot of talent. A lot of action #CUpride #CUalumni JOIN US! CONCORDIA.CA/CAMPAIGN Debra Arbec Michael Meaney Anne-Marie Withenshaw 2 3 PROGRAM MENU FIRST COURSE SECOND COURSE AWARD PRESENTATIONS FIRST COURSE Samuel Rancourt WELCOMING REMARKS AWARD PRESENTATIONS Quinoa salad, broccoli, roasted red peppers, Honorary Life Membership Master of ceremonies Samuel Rancourt crumbled feta and fresh mint Oscar A. Pekau Join the conversation on Samuel Rancourt, GrDip 5 International Excellence Award John F. Lemieux Medal social media, tag your posts President, Concordia University Rita Kwai Ching Ng, BSc 87, and SECOND COURSE Thomas Dowd, BComm 92 Alumni Association Gerard Walsh, BA 7 Beet risotto, oyster mushrooms, tarragon #CUalumni Humberto Santos Award of Merit Kim Fuller, BFA 96 Alumna of the Year and mascarpone Susan E. Raymer, BA 7, and Benjamin Concordia President Fay Arjomandi, BEng 98 Wygodny, BA 69 Alan Shepard Benoît Pelland Distinguished MAIN COURSE Free-range chicken breast stuffed with AWARD PRESENTATIONS Service Award Donal P. Ryan, BComm 67 DESSERT wild mushrooms, celeriac mousseline Samuel Rancourt and parsnip Outstanding Student Leader Award CLOSING REMARKS Rachel Rammal and Maxime Desharnais Vice-president, Advancement DESSERT Young Alumna of the Year and External Relations Passion fruit caramel pie Bram Freedman Niloofar Moradi, BEng 0 Coffee, tea and tisane Outstanding Staff Award Rosa Cerone, BComm 9, Cert 94 Alumni Award for Innovative Teaching Yasmin Jiwani
4 MAIN COURSE 5 HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF AWARDS BENOÎT PELLAND DISTINGUISHED NEW JOHN F. LEMIEUX MEDAL HUMBERTO SANTOS AWARD SERVICE AWARD Presented to a member of the OF MERIT The Alumni Recognition Awards were launched by the Concordia University Alumni Association in 990. The awards honour Awarded to a Concordia community This most prestigious outstanding achievements and exceptional service of Concordia’s community members. graduate who has whose trailblazing spirit honour is awarded demonstrated a long- and next-generation to a graduate OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARD FOR ALUMNI OF THE YEAR term commitment of approach in the pursuit who has made a STUDENT LEADER AWARD INNOVATIVE TEACHING Awarded to a graduate who has outstanding service to of excellence challenges lifetime contribution Awarded to a Concordia student leader Awarded to a member of Concordia’s demonstrated professional excellence the alumni association Benoît Pelland current-day boundaries. John F. Lemieux of exceptional Humberto Santos who is an outstanding contributor to faculty who embraces innovation in and community leadership. and university. The This award was created in leadership and service student life and the university community. his/her field of research, sharing of Distinguished Service Award was 208 to honour John F. Lemieux’s legacy to Concordia and the community. The knowledge, teaching ability and/or HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP renamed in 200 in honour of Benoît and lifetime of school spirit. Lemieux was Alumni Award of Merit was renamed in YOUNG ALUMNI OF THE YEAR accessibility to students. Awarded to a non-graduate who has Pelland, BAdmin 88, a member of the a senior counsel at Fraser Milner Casgrain 998 in honour of Humberto Santos, Awarded to a recent graduate with a demonstrated a long-term commitment Concordia University Alumni Association in Montreal. He served on the Loyola BComm 75, MBA 79. A Portuguese record of exemplary service to his/her NEW INTERNATIONAL EXCELLENCE of outstanding service to the alumni from 990 to 998 and its president Alumni Association’s Board of Directors immigrant, Santos enrolled in night classes community and/or profession. AWARD association and/or university. from 992 to 994. He was also a from 2004 to 204 and represented at Sir George Williams University. He Awarded to a graduate or community member of the university’s Board of the association on Concordia’s Board went on to a successful business career, OUTSTANDING STAFF AWARD of graduates outside of Montreal who, Governors from 998 to 999. of Governors from 2006 to 202. In yet never forgot his alma mater. He Awarded to a Concordia University staff through a lifetime contribution of 205 he established the John F. Lemieux served for six years on the university’s member who has made an exceptional exceptional leadership and outstanding Fellowship in Genocide and Human Board of Governors, chaired the contribution to the alumni association or volunteer service in the alumni Rights Studies to enable emerging university’s Annual Giving Campaign and to the university community. community or country, has enhanced leaders to meet the goal of helping to was chairman of the Major Gifts division the reputation and prestige of the alumni prevent mass atrocities. of the Capital Campaign. association and university.
6 7 Niloofar Moradi, BEng 0 Rosa Cerone, BComm 9, Cert 94 208 AWARD RECIPIENTS Young Alumni of the Year Outstanding Staff Award Rachel Rammal Maxime Desharnais After earning her undergraduate Rosa Cerone has worked for the Outstanding Student Leader Outstanding Student Leader degree in mechanical engineering university intermittently since 988, from Concordia in 200, Niloofar but she has been positively impacting Rachel Rammal is a graduating Maxime Desharnais is a graduating Moradi started her career at Rolls lives as the internship coordinator student in Concordia’s student in Concordia’s undergraduate Royce Canada. In 20, Moradi joined for Concordia’s Department of undergraduate psychology program. civil engineering program. He strongly Pratt & Whitney Canada as an aerodynamicist in the Turbine Education since July 202. It is Cerone’s responsibility to ensure As a member of the 60th Garnet believes in community involvement Aerodynamics department. that all students applying for internships in her department are Key, Rammal represents Concordia and in empowering youth to lead successfully placed. as an official ambassador at various functions. She has projects to improve society. In 206, Moradi earned her Master of Applied Science at spearheaded several academic, philanthropic and community École de technologie supérieure in Montreal, while working full She is renowned for always going the extra mile for students initiatives as vice-president of Academic and Loyola Affairs for Desharnais has been the president of the Engineers Without time. She currently works in the Turbine Mechanical Design and her commitment to her work and her department is the Arts and Science Federation of Associations (ASFA). Borders (EWB) Concordia chapter since 206, but he has been department at Pratt & Whitney Canada, where she designs and without equal. Cerone’s nomination for the Outstanding Staff heavily involved with the organization since 204. He spent four integrates turbine components and coordinates interfaces with Award was backed by 24 individual letters from faculty, staff, In her role as vice-president of External Affairs in the Concordia months in Ghana, volunteering on a EWB project to improve other modules. students and alumni — each with their own stories about her Undergraduate Psychology Association (CUPA), Rammal agricultural techniques. warmth, dedication, guidance and encouragement. advocated for mental health and raised awareness to reduce Moradi is passionate about creating new opportunities for the stigmatization. She represented students on diverse committees For his many contributions, Desharnais has received the Loyola next generation of engineers. She is an active participant in and boards across the university and served as a mentor at the Alumni Prize in Engineering in Society, the Order of Merit in the women and leadership events and hopes to inspire more young university’s Student Success Centre. humanitarian category from the City of Brossard, the Brian T. women to enter the field. Moradi was a guest speaker at Aero Counihan Scholarship for Outstanding Contribution to Student Conference 207, organized by the Canadian Aeronautics and Life and a Concordia Volunteer Award in 208. Space Institute and she is a member of the Aerospace sub- committee at Montreal’s Palais des congrès.
8 9 Yasmin Jiwani Rita Kwai Ching Ng, BSc 87 Gerard J. Walsh, BA 7 Fay Arjomandi, BEng 98 Alumni Award for Innovative Teaching International Excellence Award International Excellence Award Alumna of the Year
Yasmin Jiwani is a professor in Rita Kwai Ching Ng arrived in Canada Gerard J. Walsh is the co-president Fay Arjomandi has 20 years of Concordia’s Department of from Hong Kong in 98, completing of the New York City chapter of entrepreneurial experience in digital Communication Studies. She is high school in Ottawa before moving the Concordia University Alumni communications and computing. the author of Discourses of Denial: to Montreal to attend Dawson Association (CUAA). A native New She has served in C-level executive Mediations of Race, Gender and College. After graduating from Yorker, Walsh entered Loyola College roles covering engineering, strategy, Violence, and co-editor of Girlhood, Redefining the Limits,and CEGEP 984, Rita Ng was accepted in Concordia’s actuarial in the seminal year of 967 (Expo 67), graduating in 97. He operations, product development and marketing. She is the Faces of Violence in the Lives of Girls. mathematics program, earning her BSc in 987. played varsity basketball for the Loyola Warriors and was co- executive chairwoman of H2 Wellness and founder and chief captain in his senior year. product officer at mimik. Jiwani’s work has appeared in a wide variety of journals and She then moved back to Hong Kong and began a successful anthologies. Her research interests include mediations of race, career in insurance. Rita Ng also immediately joined the Hong Walsh spent the bulk of his career as a director of Patient Arjomandi served as CEO of NantMobile, Tensorcom, gender and violence in the press, as well as representations Kong chapter of the Concordia University Alumni Association Financial Services in a number of prestigious hospitals across Vodafone xone, Mobidia, and L3 Technology, a board member of women of colour in popular media. She is currently the (CUAA), where she remains a highly active committee member. New York City. at Wibbitz, MEF, US Vodafone Global Enterprise Inc., and Concordia University Research Chair in Intersectionality, She is also vice-president of the Concordia University Hong chairwoman at Vodafone Americas Foundation. In 2007, she Violence and Resistance. Kong Foundation Committee. Thanks to Rita Ng’s hard work Walsh is the heart of the New York City chapter. His annual was the Canadian technology and innovation representative to and dedication, the Hong Kong chapter is one of the CUAA’s activities, such as the Terry Fox run and his St-Patrick’s Day the White House. Jiwani embraces new technology in her teaching methods most active communities. BBQ help make New York one of the most vibrant chapters and encourages her students to engage with various media in the CUAA. Arjomandi has authored 4 patents and in 204 she was named platforms to optimize their learning. one of the most influential women business leaders in Silicon Valley by San Francisco Business Week.
10 11 Donal P. Ryan, BComm 67 Oscar A. Pekau Thomas Dowd, BComm 92 Susan E. Raymer, BA 7, and Benoît Pelland Distinguished Service Honorary Life Membership John F. Lemieux Medal Benjamin Wygodny, BA 69 Award Humberto Santos Award of Merit Soon after joining the Department of Thomas Dowd is auxiliary bishop and Born in Montreal, Donal P. Ryan Civil Engineering at Concordia (then Vicar-General of the Roman Catholic Susan E. Raymer and Ben Wygodny earned a Bachelor of Commerce Sir George Williams University) in Archdiocese of Montreal. After are long-time supporters of higher from Loyola College in 967. After 97, Oscar A. Pekau was asked to managing an international business education and their alma mater. graduation, Ryan worked for Expo transform the undergraduate program unit at Ericsson Research Canada, he Raymer and Wygodny are deeply 67 before travelling to France where he began a career in from five to four years. left the corporate world in 995 to begin his studies for the committed to their communities in Montreal and in Israel. financial services. He has extensive experience in securities sales, priesthood. He was ordained a priest in 200. Their support of Concordia is legendary, as is their hospitality. corporate and investment banking and investment management Later, as department chair he modernized the undergraduate The door to their Miami home is always open and many and worked around the world, including in Geneva, Zambia, curriculum and expanded the department activities to include Bishop Dowd was involved in the internet revolution early on, Concordians in Florida have experienced their warmth and New York City, Calgary, Vancouver and Montreal. Environmental Engineering. In 206, Concordia was ranked becoming the first Catholic priest in Canada with a blog. He was generosity at alumni events at their residence. They have 20th in the world for civil engineering programs, and number named a bishop in 20 by Pope Benedict XVI. Bishop Dowd established several initiatives at Concordia and Technion, Israel In 2006, Ryan was approached by the Loyal Alumni Association one in Canada. was very involved in student life during his time at Concordia, Institute of Technology. To bridge the gap between these (LAA) to help organize a fundraising golf tournament and he and continued his association years later as a part-time theology two institutions, they created the Goldie and Joe Raymer never looked back — eventually becoming director and then In 205, thanks to his significant financial support to Concordia, teacher. He has served on many community boards and was Endowment Fund in honour of Susan’s parents. The fund president of the association. From 203 to 204, in his dual- the Foundation for Undergraduate Scholarships in Civil named an Honorary Senior Fellow of Renison College in promotes the exchange of students and faculty between role as president of the LAA and executive vice-president of Engineering was created. He retired in 207 after a 46-year Waterloo, Ont. in 204 for his work in ecumenism. Technion and Concordia. They also endowed the Raymer- the Concordia University Alumni Association, he oversaw the career as Distinguished Professor Emeritus. Wygodny Global Engineering Initiative and are supporters merger of the alumni associations. of the entrepreneurial programs at District 3 Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
12 13 207 ALUMNI Outstanding Student Award REVISIT and RECONNECT! Julia Sutera Sardo RECOGNITION Young Alumni of the Year AWARDS RECIPIENTS Sudhir Jha, MEng 05 Outstanding Staff Award Michel Gendron Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching Philippe Caignon Alumna of the Year RETROUVAILLES Sandra Paikowsky, BA 67 HOMECOMING Alumnus of the Year Paul Desbaillets, BFA 03 September 8 to 25 Benoît Pelland Distinguished Service Award Robert Frances, BComm 87, MBA 9 @CONCORDIA.ALUMNI Humberto Santos Award of Merit Mark your calendar:homecoming Ghislain Arsenault Jr., BComm 85 Visit concordia.ca/ For questions or to update your contact information: #CUpride [email protected] 54-848-2424, ext. 5647, or toll-free: -888-777-3330
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