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Troy Reeb Receives Honourary Degree
Lethbridge College selected Troy Reeb to receive a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree at this year’s Convocation.
A 1988 graduate of the college’s Communication Arts – Broadcast Journalism program, Reeb has become one of the most successful media executives in Canada, recently being promoted to Executive Vice President, Broadcast Networks for Corus Entertainment.
It’s the latest role in a storied career that began as a small town radio reporter and included stops as a parliamentary reporter in Ottawa and then later as the Global Television’s Washington Bureau Chief on his way to the executive leadership team at Corus/Global. Reeb is a devoted alumnus who has sponsored a one-of-a-kind internship for Digital Communications and Media students for the past 13 years.
In his role with Corus, Reeb oversees Global Television and its 15 local stations, as well as 44 specialty television stations, 39 radio stations and all of Corus’ online platforms and apps. Under his leadership, Global News became the first Canadian network to ever win the Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence in journalism in 2013, and followed it up a year later with the award for Best Website, and two years after that with the first-ever Murrow Award for Innovation.
He is the 19th person to receive an honorary degree from Lethbridge College since the award was first given in 1986. “I have long been a strong believer in the unique blend of academic and practical education offered by Lethbridge College,” says Reeb. “From the first day I walked through its doors when I was 16, I knew it was a special place. To be invited to cross the convocation stage once again in 2019 is humbling and a tremendous honour.”
Distinguished Alumnus
Rick Lewchuk
Rick Lewchuk is this year’s Lethbridge College Distinguished Alumnus. During a 40-year broadcasting career, Lewchuk has worked his way from local television in Lethbridge all the way to CNN in Atlanta. He is currently Senior Vice President, Creative Marketing and Brand Standards for CNN Worldwide, overseeing brand and marketing for all CNN Worldwide businesses including CNN, CNN International, CNN Español, HLN, CNN Go, CNN Airport and CNN Digital. His team has been recognized as the Global Marketing Team of the Year for four years running by PromaxBDA and with the Emmy for Outstanding Promotional Announcement in both 2016 and 2017. Lewchuk maintains ties to Lethbridge College’s Digital Communications and Media program as a way of supporting future broadcast professionals.
Career Virtuoso
Dr. Sandra Davidson
Dr. Sandra Davidson is this year’s Career Virtuoso award recipient. Dr. Davidson was appointed as the University of Calgary’s Dean of the Faculty of Nursing in August 2018, following a previous role as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. At the U of A, she oversaw the largest portfolio within the faculty and co-led a Curriculum Renewal Project that resulted in a renewed undergraduate curriculum. She has served in a variety of positions in the United States, including Dean of Nursing and then Senior Director of Academic Affairs for Carrington College in Phoenix, Ariz., and as Director, Master of Healthcare Innovation Program at Arizona State University.
Community Leader
Jason VandenHoek
Jason VandenHoek is the recipient of this year’s Community Leader award. Currently the Executive Director of the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation, VandenHoek thrives on community involvement and relationship building. An active member of southern Alberta’s development community for over 13 years, he demonstrates the importance of philanthropy by supporting a variety of initiatives through the Chinook Regional Hospital, Lethbridge College, the University of Lethbridge, the Southern Alberta Art Gallery, the City of Lethbridge, Fundraising Professionals, Canadian Gift Planners and more. VandenHoek’s community involvement began at Lethbridge College, where he was President of the Lethbridge College Students’ Association. His passion and desire to affect change in his community has also been recognized through the Chamber of Commerce’s Top Forty under 40 campaign.
Rising Star
Quinn Ohler
Quinn Ohler is this year’s Rising Star award recipient. She has been a reporter and news anchor at Global Edmonton since 2011 and currently anchors the weekend editions of the Global News Hour at 6 and Global News at 11. Prior to moving to Edmonton, she worked at Global Lethbridge, starting as a videographer, then as News Hour co-anchor and producer. She grew up on a farm just outside of Stavely, Alta. Her agriculture background and a love of politics eventually led her to the Communications Arts program at Lethbridge College. During her time at the college, Ohler was honoured as the recipient of the Troy Reeb Internship, earning the opportunity to visit and learn from the teams at Global Toronto and Global National.
2017
Taylor Holtorf
Criminal Justice – Policing 2017
After graduation, Taylor started work as a community support worker, supporting people with a variety of mental and physical disabilities. “My role is to help my individuals live their best lives, and to support them to be successful members of the community,” Taylor told the Alumni office.
2016
Nevin D. Sereda
Digital Communications and Media 2016 The Alumni office recently received this update from Nevin: “It’s been a busy time for me since I finished my schooling at the college! Bouncing around to different stations until I found the right fit is what took up most of the time, including stops in Cranbrook, Medicine Hat and now Lethbridge.” Nevin currently works as a reporter at Country 95.5 in Lethbridge.
Nico Pasquotti
Engineering Design and Drafting Technology
Nico, a former member of the Lethbridge College Kodiaks men’s soccer team, signed to play with the Cavalry Football Club earlier this year. Nico, a winger/forward, made Calgary soccer history when he scored the winning goal during extra time of the 2018 Premier Development League championship game for Foothills FC last summer, and was subsequently named Man of the Match. “Nico is a really exciting player who adds exceptional pace and drive to our team.” said Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. in a club media release. “He’s someone who will excite the dans and inspire his teammates.”
2015
Michael Geuze
Conservation Enforcement 2015
Michael was featured in a November story in the Terrace Standard announcing his new appointment as a conservation officer in the Terrace detachment, which covers Terrace, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, up to the Meziadin and Kitwanga, B.C. “I just wanted to make a difference and do a job that I love,” Geuze said in the article. “I like using the resource and I want to protect it for future generations. Geuze was sworn in to the position last spring with 16 other new recruits, and then moved on to complete his training at the Western Conservation Law Enforcement Academy in Hinton, Alta.
Photo courtesy Brittany Gervais/Black Press Media
2014
Michelle R. Brink
Practical Nursing 2014
Michelle works for Alberta Health Services as a practical nurse.
Raiki Yago
Business Administration 2014, General Studies 2012
Raiki recently sent the Alumni office this update: “I entered Lethbridge College as an international student and finished General Studies in 2012 and Business Admin in 2014. I joined a Canadian recruitment firm in British Columbia and worked for one year. Then, I moved back to Japan and joined the Tokyo branch for the same recruitment company. I currently work as talent acquisition specialist at Syneos Health Japan. Syneos is an American healthcare service provider working with pharmaceutical and medical device companies to develop and commercialize therapies to be delivered to the world. My role here is not only to recruit talent but also to brand Syneos in Japan by working with various companies to increase brand awareness.”
2013
Christopher D. Unruh
Agriculture Sciences – Plant and Soil Science 2013 and Animal Science 2011 Christopher recently sent this update into the Alumni office: “After completing my diploma, I was unsure of what I wanted to do with my life. I took a couple different jobs in the year following graduation, but none were a career I was satisfied with for myself. That’s when I made the decision to go back to school and complete my plant and soil science diploma. After graduation, I took advantage of the post-diploma program with the University of Lethbridge and graduated in the spring of 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Studies. I then took a job with CHS and worked there until spring 2017, when I started my current position with Western Tractor: My job requires me to use the knowledge and skills I learned while at Lethbridge College, from irrigation management to soil sampling to weed identification, just to list a few."
Rianna Wilson
Business Administration – Management 2011
Rianna was featured in a March story on Lethbridge News Now, highlighting a new business that she and three friends created – Adaptive Technologies. The new facility provides prosthetics, orthotics and more, all of which are manufactured in house. After graduating from the college, Rianna earned her bachelor’s of Business Management in Australia. After returning home, she found a job doing business management in the orthotic/prosthetic industry, and enjoyed working in a job that allowed her to truly help people. She then decided it was a business she wanted to own and run. “It truly is the best job!” Rianna said in the article. “Just being able to change someone’s life, even in a tiny way, is really an awesome feeling.”
2009
Travis Dosser
Communication Arts – Broadcast Journalism 2009
Travis recently started working as a reporter at the Sherwood Park News. He hopes to take the lead on writing crime stories for the region as well as report on politics. He had previously worked at 630CHED and iNews880 in Edmonton, where he reported on everything from crime to politics to business, entertainment, technology and sports.
2009
Adam J. Wright
Environmental Assessment and Restoration 2005
After graduation, Adam earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, Sustainability and Environmental Planning from Trent University and a master’s degree in Planning from the University of Guelph. Adam had worked for more than two years as a special project officer for the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. He is currently a director on the Ontario Professional Planners Institute and recently started work as an environmental planner for Dillon Consulting Limited in Kitchener, Ont.
2008
Jana Van Kasteren
Massage Therapy 2008
“I’ve been running my own massage therapy business since the day I graduated,” Jana told the Alumni office. “It is thriving and better than I could have ever dreamed of. The longer I’m in the massage therapy world, the more I realize how amazing the program was for me at Lethbridge College. It truly is the BEST program for massage and I will stand by that forever!”
2006
Miranda R. Lynn
Office Administration 2006 Miranda recently told the Alumni office: “I treasure the years I spent at Lethbridge Community College. It prepared me well with a strong technical foundation for my career development, which university can’t provide. It opened up my horizons.”
2005
Cal Braid
Renewable Resource Management 2005
The Fort Macleod Gazette announced Cal’s appointment as the new youth coordinator of the Fort Macleod Community Aquaponic Greenhouse Society in January. Cal is building a small aquaponics system in W.A. Day School and other schools in Livingstone Range School Division. The project is the result of funding, through to 2020, from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s EcoAction Community Funding Program.
2005
Becky A. Daly
Criminal Justice
Rebecca works as a police officer with the RCMP.
2004
Justin W. Keutzer
Environmental Science 2004 Justin is a planning supervisor with West Fraser in Chetwynd, B.C., working with planning and developing forest resources. He had previously worked as a land referral officer with McLeod Lake Indian Band in northeast British Columbia, where he researched and developed consultation procedures for First Nations communities.
2003
Doane Crow Shoe
Business Administration 2003 Doane was re-elected as a councillor to the Piikani Nation Chief and Council in January. The contest drew 54 candidates.
2003
Dustin Molleken
Upgrading
Dustin signed a contract in November to pitch for the Québec Capitales of the Can-Am League. Dustin is a former PBA baseball player who was the college’s first-ever former student to play in the majors. He has played in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, and in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers. He has also competed for the Canadian national baseball team. This will be his 16th season in the pros.
2002
Janine Paly
Agriculture Technology 2002
Janine was elected to the director-at- large position with the Alberta Wheat Commission. She started her term at the end of January. "I am honoured that farmers have put their confidence in me to take on this important leadership role," she said. "As a farmer, I've watched the sheer strength of this organization grow and I'm excited to bring the unique perspectives I've gained throughout my career to continue building on that." Janine and her husband, along with their two young daughters, operate a 1,100 acre farm in Thorhild County, Alta.
1997
Margaret D. Plumtree
Business Administration
Margaret has been mayor of the town of Vauxhall since November 2013 and is currently the owner of Vauxhall Penalty Box Snack Bar. She had previously owned a dance studio for 15 years and was a community service and addiction instructor at the Academy of Learning Career College in Brooks.
1994
Curtis W. Dyck
Business Administration
Curtis is in his 17th year of work at North West Terminal Ltd., currently serving as a client relations manager.
1993
Penny A. Brauer
Professional Cooking
Penny sent the Alumni office this update: “After college, my career took me to work in educational camps, hospitals, nursing homes, and a bakery. I also took sugar work/cake decorating training from world-famous sugar artists from the United States and Australia, and I do cake decorating and make sugar flowers. My best friend from college, Scott Cook and I renewed our friendship in 2014 and we are now married. Our catering company, Cooks Catering S&P, has grown and we were awarded the food and beverage contract at the local golf course. We now have a restaurant, Cast Iron Grill, in Fernie, and we keep very busy with that.
Scott L. Cook
Professional Cooking
“I had spent some time teaching at the college in the Culinary program but had to leave for family reasons,” Scott recently told the Alumni office. “I started my catering company upon my move back to Fernie, obtained the food and beverage contract at the Fernie Golf Club in 2018 and now have a restaurant called the Cast Iron Grill. I married my best friend from the cooking program at the college, Penny Brauer in 2017 and we run the restaurant and our catering company Cooks Catering S&P. We cook from scratch and offer home-cooked meals to all our clients. We specialize in buffets for weddings, golf tournaments and Christmas parties.”
1991
Theodore Provost
Human and Community Development Worker 1991
Theodore was elected to his first term as a councillor to the Piikani Nation Chief and Council in January. The contest drew 54 candidates.
1983
Tim Isberg
Environmental Science 1983
Tim was featured in a February article in the Pembroke Observer on his evolution from soldier to singer and songwriter. The article describes how, during 32 years in the army, he learned to speak several languages and saw much of the world, including impossible-to-forget encounters in trouble spots across the Middle East and, as part of a UN Observer team, the genocide that took place in Rwanda in the mid-1990s. He launched his music career about 15 years ago, recording a demo album in 2004. He released his third album, Running on the Edge, earlier this year.
