On Thursday, November 19th, Saint Mary’s University hosted the Alumni Awards. The Alumni Association honoured alumni who have made remarkable contributions to the university and in their communities.
Although this year’s event was held online due to COVID-19, the gala brought alumni, faculty, staff and friends together to honour their accomplishments and celebrate the Santamarian spirit of community engagement and volunteerism.
Congratulations to the 2020 Alumni Award Recipients:
Distinguished Community Service Award
The Honourable Wilfred P. Moore, QC BComm’64 LLD’07 is the recipient of the Distinguished Community Service Award. After a 21-year career as a Senator representing South Shore Nova Scotia, he continues to give back to his community as a volunteer and arts supporter.
Paul Lynch Volunteer of the Year Award
John Bishop BComm’74 BEd’76 is one of this year’s recipients of the Paul Lynch Volunteer of the Year Award. John is a familiar face and voice to many at Saint Mary’s. He currently serves as the “Voice of the Huskies” in his role as stadium and arena announcer at the home football and hockey games. He served two terms as Alumni President and represented the Alumni on the Board of Governors for two terms. John also volunteers for St. Agnes Church Parish Council and the IWK.
Sarah Ferguson BComm’09 is one of the recipients of the Paul Lynch Alumni Volunteer of the Year Award. She served 10 years on Alumni Council in various roles, including President and Board of Governors representative, and was recognized with the Halifax Volunteer Award in 2014.
Young Alumni of the Year Award
Ying (Wendy) Wang BComm’16 is one of the recipients of our Young Alumni of the Year Award. Wendy came to SMU as an International student and was an active volunteer with the Sobey School of Business Commerce, Enactus, and SAGA. She has served as a Co-Chair of the Young Alumni Committee since 2018, and is an active volunteer for many organizations in Halifax.
Dave Culligan BComm'16 is one of the recipients of the Young Alumni of the Year Award. He founded his own creative agency, “threesixfive”, which has allowed him to support a number of different organizations through pro bono services & consulting.
Associate Alumni of the Year Award
Rakesh Jain, FCPA is the recipient of the Associate Alumni Award. He has dedicated much of his time and support to Saint Mary’s University over the years. In addition to teaching at SMU, Rakesh has also served on the Board of Governors and was part of several Committees over the years. Rakesh continues to be involved with Saint Mary’s as a strategic advisor.
Father Stewart Medal for Excellence in Teaching
Dr. Ethan Pancer of the Sobey School of Business is the recipient of the Father William A. Stewart, SJ Medal for Excellence in Teaching. He’s an active member in university committees and has been recognized with multiple teaching awards from his students in the past. Dr. Pancer is deeply committed to giving students the chance to make real impact on our community.
“Congratulations to each of our award recipients on being recognized for the impact you are making in the community and the world,” said Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “You all exemplify the Santamarian spirit. Thank you for your continued dedication to our university.”
Learn more about these exceptional alumni by visiting the alumni awards page