inbrief

Seeking top Memorial alumni

Among last year’s winners is the leader of the NATO forces in Afghanistan (Rick Hillier, right); the young man gallantly warming the mayor’s chair in Mount Pearl; a senior statesman and lawyer who now wears a 2003 Order-of-Canada pin; a remarkable woman who is the manager and chief surgeon at a hospital in rural Zimbabwe; and a partner in one of the larger law firms in the province.

They were the winners of last year’s Alumni Tribute Awards.

Now is your opportunity to nominate someone who you feel deserves the same recognition – a co-worker, colleague, mentor, protegé, friend or family member, or someone you’ve observed from afar. The only criterion for eligibility is that he or she be a graduate of either Memorial College or Memorial University. You can nominate him or her for one of five awards including lifetime achievement, achievement age 35 and under, professional achievement, service to the community, and volunteer service to Memorial University.

All submissions that make the June 1 timeline will be evaluated this summer. The awards will be presented at a gala awards dinner in the fall.

For details on the process and for nomination forms, and to learn about last year’s winners, visit www.mun.ca/munalum and click on Alumni Tribute Awards or call 737-4354 and ask for the Alumni Tribute Awards nomination form.

Funding extended for Labrador centre
Memorial University will extend its funding support for the Labrador West Centre for Interactive Learning until Sept. 30, 2004. The centre was originally scheduled to cease operation in September 2003 after its initial funding, provided by the Iron Ore Company of Canada, ended. At that time, the decision was made to keep the centre open for a further six months to allow time to fully examine the mandate of the centre and to consider alternative arrangements.

“The first step will be a study of the post-secondary educational needs of the region,” said Dr. Michael Collins, acting vice-president (academic). “Work on this study is ongoing, and a report is expected by the end of May. Once the report is complete, the university will work with the community to develop alternatives for the centre, assess their feasibility, and to identify potential sources of external funding that would allow the centre to continue operations,” he said.

The centre will be administered by the Labrador Institute of Memorial University, headquartered in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, as a decision has been made on its long-term viability.

The centre was established in 1997 with the financial support of the Iron Ore Company of Canada. Its mandate is to provide educational programs and services for the personal and professional development of non-traditional learners in Labrador West.

Sea~Hawks success

The School of Human Kinetics and Recreation held its annual presentation of awards April 8, and honoured some of its finest student-athletes. Six of Memorial’s graduating players were inducted into the Athletic Honour Society, which recognizes graduating student-athletes that have made an outstanding contribution to the athletic program at Memorial University. This year’s inductees were Tevin Olivier-Job, soccer, Kerri Green volleyball, Kate Flynn, basketball, George Colbert, swimming, Joanne McNeil, basketball, and Nigel Pennie, basketball.

The recipients of the Edward P. Browne Trophy, presented annually to the outstanding male and female inter-university basketball players, were Jenine Browne (pictured above), basketball, and co-winners Justin Halleran and Jeff Saxby, basketball.

Awards also went to Kate Flynn, basketball, Joanne McNeil, basketball, Tanya Bennett, track and field, and varsity swimmer George Colbert.