2017-2018

News Release

REF NO.: 74

SUBJECT: Memorial University looking for heroes in the community

DATE: May 30, 2018

Do you know a faculty or staff member at Memorial University who is a hero in their community? Consider nominating them for the President’s Award for Exceptional Community Service.

This award recognizes a faculty or staff member who helps in the community by sharing scientific and scholarly expertise, working with and supporting grassroots organizations or volunteering her or his time to worthy causes, among other things. For more information and the nomination package, please visit online

2017 recipient

Last year’s recipient was Lori Pike, the director of the Budgets Office, Administration and Finance, at Memorial. When Ms. Pike's son was diagnosed with cancer at the age of five, she became involved with the Candlelighters.

Established in 1982, the Candlelighters provides support, education, encouragement, advocacy and hope to children and their families affected by childhood cancer. 

Now, with her son 10 years cancer-free, Ms. Pike is still a busy mom with all the other pressures, but still finds time to be deeply involved in the Candlelighters organization.

“I tell people my evenings are spent working, with the Candlelighters or doing laundry,” she said with a smile.

Nominate faculty

Having a cause as personal as Ms. Pike’s is not essential to be considered for this prestigious president’s award.

Faculty members whose volunteer work is connected to their professional activities are also prime candidates for the President’s Award for Exceptional Community Service.

Dr. April Manuel in the School of Nursing was honoured with the award in 2015. Her community service activities focus on helping organizations that help her patients, primarily in the area of her nursing expertise, cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Manuel helped develop the Heart and Stroke Foundation subchapter in 2011, one of the first student-led subchapters of a community-based organization at the school and the first of its kind in Canada.

The President’s Award for Exceptional Community Service comes with a personalized scroll and a monetary award of $1,000.

Anyone can nominate a community hero

Nominations can come from any member of the university community or the general public.

Full details are online. The deadline for nominations is June 22, 2018.

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