2017
2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009
Rich Lauzon
General Arts and Science
Rich Lauzon is the Program Coordinator of the Pre-Animation and Illustration Program in General Arts and Science. Highly admired by his students and colleagues, Rich’s energy, passion, and commitment to the college is unfaltering. While in high demand by his students, and occupied with many projects and initiatives, his generosity to fellow professors and coordinators is exceptional. His work in steering the ambitious relocation of four arts programs is an example of how quickly Rich adapts to challenges and offers support for his colleagues and managers.
In December of 2016 plans for the relocation of four GAS arts programs became a reality. After months of discussion, collaboration and strategizing, coordinators and faculty packed supplies, equipment, furniture and offices. Rich steered the four faculty-teams, and acted as their primary liaison. His work as the faculty leader on this project involved guiding consultations over the layout of the new studios and offices, participating in ongoing communication about the timeline of the move, and overseeing technical issues and concerns after the move was accomplished.
The time and attention Rich invested in keeping faculty and coordinators organized cannot be underestimated. This included hours of conference calls each week, transcribing conversations into emails, and communicating the ongoing needs and the concerns of the faculty. This work was not without moments of frustration, though Rich’s attitude remained personable, helpful, and always accompanied by notes of humour that were much welcomed. The GAS arts coordinators are grateful for the steering and support of Rich Lauzon, and would like him to receive the Presidents Star for his contributions.
Nominated by: Natasha Mazurka
Presented on: December 6, 2017
Martine Plouffe
Financial Aid & Student Awards
I would like to nominate Martine Plouffe for a President’s Star Award.
Martine is a very caring person who works well with her colleagues and puts all of her efforts into the “success of students.” As the coordinator, of Financial Aid and Student Awards Martine is whole heartily committed to helping students.
I have worked with Martine over the past several years and her knowledge and experience about student matters and issues are her priority. On numerous occasions she has helped me with students who are in extreme situations such as a student living in their car, a student who hasn’t eaten for a few days, and students who need the basics for emergency situations. Recently she helped me find accommodations for a student from mid semester to graduation, who was in an abusive relationship.
She consistently demonstrates Algonquin’s core values of caring, learning, integrity and respect for students, faculty and staff. She maintains ongoing support to students of unique needs and takes action before they are in serious troubles. Martine’s willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty is evident to all that know her. This is demonstrated in her commitment.
In collaboration working with Martine, her expertise plays a significant role in helping students adjust to college life and reduce the confusion of many first year students. She has been a member of the “Intercept Program” in which we meet all students who are considering withdrawing from a course or program or are unsure of their academic paths within the first ten days of College.
She is truly a dedicated employee and the Algonquin Community should feel fortunate that she goes out of her way to help others.
Nominated by: Lisa Lamb
Presented on: December 6, 2017
Sandy Miller
School of Business
Sandy shares her 32 years of teaching experience within a variety of secondary and post-secondary institutions with the student through her enthusiasm, pride in the curriculum, and her innovation with keeping the courses fluid with changing technology and workplace practices. Sandy embraces technology and change and encourages students to embed these new skills into their toolboxes.
Sandy was responsible for leading her students to success in five events, one being the School of Business Part-time Teachers Job Fair. With Sandy’s guidance, encouragement, and direction, some low-key students stepped outside of their comfort zone and did an amazing job!
Sandy is the faculty cheerleader. Sandy is consistently sending out emails and posts on the AC Water cooler site for Office Administration to encourage and motivate her faculty.
Sandy is also a program coordinator with CCOL, and she has formed a professional working relationship with the full-time program coordinators to ensure she is being consistent with procedures.
Last spring the coordinators for the Office Administration – General and Executive programs, at all three campuses, were tasked with ensuring curriculum alignment as per the new program standards. This involved a series of face-to-face meetings where we carefully reviewed the curriculum of each program. Always generous with her time, Sandy was present at each meeting, and added value to the alignment process through her knowledge of the Executive program, and her involvement with CCOL. She volunteered to take notes during these meetings, which clearly captured the key elements within the programs that needed attention.
You can often find her outside her classroom just talking with the students. However, it’s her dedication to her students and learning that stands out the most for those of us who are familiar with her style and work ethic. It is important to Sandy that what we are teaching reflects the real world and her passion for this clearly shows each and every day. She continually works and revises curriculum so that what students are preparing in class is a genuine reflection of what happens in the workplace. It is amazing the ways she can find to make a classroom “come alive.” Our curriculum has certainly been enhanced because of her efforts.
Nominated by: Lynn Berry, Cathy Collyer, and Christine Doody
Presented on: December 6, 2017
Pauline Sawyer
Registrar’s Office
Pauline Sawyer has exhibited true dedication to the ideals of Caring, Learning, Integrity and Respect. Over the last year she has been managing her team short staffed and has never faltered in her drive to ensure that students are the center of focus. She has taken on additional responsibility of enrollment monitoring, while a vacancy in the management ranks in the RO was being filled and has taken on this responsibility permanently. She just roles up her sleeves and does whatever is necessary to get the job done. She is a role model for being approachable by her staff and colleagues and always willing to offer a helping hand. She has been a huge help to me in my transition from HR to the RO.
When the RO was having problems with automated communication with students in the enrollment process, Pauline was instrumental in identifying issues and to ensure that solutions were actioned. This was not an easy fix, as the subject matter expert on the CRM had left the College and Pauline had to learn the from scratch how the system worked and what had been implemented, so that solutions could be found.
Pauline flies under the radar but does such a difficult job with a smile and a kind word to everyone. She is a pleasure to work with.
Nominated by: Nigel Parker
Presented on: October 25, 2017
David Kenny
Registrar’s Office
I recently became coordinator of a large program (over 500 students) and Linda Crane gave me David Kenny’s name as an RO contact, saying he was very good and he always comes through despite the huge volume of requests he deals with. That opinion seems to be consistent among my colleagues.
As I have struggled to ramp up on my coordinator role, I have had many questions for David, and he always answers his phone even in peak periods when we are all under the gun (especially David), and he patiently takes the time to share his abundant knowledge and explain to me the sometimes mysterious aspects of my coordinator role at the college. He inspires me to attempt to present that same attitude to my other colleagues and my students.
When I am discussing student issues with David, it is obvious to me that he genuinely cares about the students. The first time I actually saw him in person, he was mingling and shaking hands with students at convocation, and I could tell they held him in high regard.
Whenever I speak to David or make a request of him, he is a model of professionalism, and he consistently promptly comes through with a high standard of service, even at peak times when it’s particularly important for us in the Academic Dept.
Nominated by: Todd Kelley
Presented on: April 12, 2017
Janet Scharfe
English, Health and Community Services
I first met Janet in the summer of 2010; she was on the hiring committee when I first began my career as a part-time Communications instructor. Since then, she has been my lifeline here at the college.
She took me under her wing when I first started, ensuring that I had contacts and resources as needed to do my job. She set me up with a professor-mentor, provided me with office space, and made herself available for questions or concerns any time. These were gestures that went a long way toward making me feel comfortable and prepared in a new job, and they are things that many busy coordinators often can’t or don’t see to.
Janet has been a constant source of guidance and support over the past 7 years, giving me opportunities to expand my portfolio and helping me network with colleagues. She has worked tirelessly to provide me (and other part-timers) with course development, AODA compliance, and teaching opportunities.
Janet has always striven to ensure that I, as a part-timer, have felt included in the department. She even held a get-together for part-timers at her home over the summer as a “thank you” for the role we play in the department. She has always tried to make us feel supported and valued, and that has given me a sense of belonging and acceptance in what can often be a toxic and challenging circumstance to navigate. I think I speak for all part-timers in the English department in Health and Community Studies when I say that Janet has been invaluable to us as a colleague and coordinator.
Nominated by: Amanda Keon
Presented on: April 12, 2017
Joshua Garbo
Learning & Teaching Services
Joshua Garbo has been a tremendous support towards the Host 150 Training Tool project with Ottawa 2017 and Algonquin College. Joshua has been a dedicated volunteer with the project and has devoted hours of time to this project.
On top of his eLearning and Academic Applications Systems Analyst role, Joshua has helped out with tracking of analytics and data, scripts, Storyline project files, certificate design and programming as well as attending all off-site meetings, and countless hours audio editing. His contributions to this project have been voluntary and really harness his skillset with responsibilities such as narration voices, cutting, levels, noise reduction, video editing (green screen chroma keying, editing, audio noise reduction, and final production video files).
The volunteer work Joshua has provided to this project has impressed our partners at Ottawa 2017, Ottawa Tourism and La Cité. Joshua has gone above and beyond his call of duty and the whole team has been consistently impressed by his excellent service/dedication, collaboration and leadership to this project.
Nominated by: Lisa Barker
Presented on: February 2, 2017
Cheryl Dowell
Cheryl demonstrates an above and beyond work ethic but most impressively brings caring for the needs of students to a whole new level. Cheryl, has on her own time and with her own resources has taking on the initiative of helping a single mother student from another country. She has helped this student, whom has very limited support and no family in Canada, find a place to live, provided her food, caregiving for her baby as well as assisted in many other tasks. All of this out of the goodness of her heart and her desire to help someone that needs help. Cheryl also volunteered and was part of the TedxAlgonquin College team all while coaching the College Marketing Competition Team. Once again all of this is outside of her regular role of a coordinator and professor. Cheryl time after time amazes me with her ethics, integrity and her caring. She is a role model and someone that we should highlight at the College in hopes of encouraging others to hold these same principles.
Nominated by: Christopher Doré
Presented on: Monday, January 23, 2017
Sheri Lynn St Germain
Registrar’s office
Sheri Lynn works as a scheduler in the registrar’s office and we have had the pleasure of working with her for many years regarding timetabling for various programs. Unfortunately it often happens that the information we input at the initial deadline for loading is not complete or incorrect due to a number of reasons, including error or omissions on the part of others (including me). It always means that she has to do the same work more than once. Sheri Lynn is always so professional and helpful when it comes to accommodating schedule changes and timetable issues, even when it has to be changed last minute. When faced with a conflict she always seems to have a “let’s see what we can do about it” attitude and has the ability to find solutions that are in the best interests of the students groups and the curriculum delivery. It is a pleasure to work with people at the College like Sheri Lynn.Because of her willingness to help above and beyond what is required, as well as her expertise, our students had very successful experiences. She is an integral part of our workplace and is very deserving based on her dedication to student (and colleague) success.
Nominated by: Gordon Wilcox and Kyle Scott
Presented on: January 23, 2017