News Archives: GPRC Awards Recognize Community
Tuesday, February 21st, 2017
GRANDE PRAIRIE– The annual Grande Prairie Regional College President’s Awards Luncheon today recognized several members of the community for contributions to excellence in education. The event was established in 2004 and honours volunteers, alumni and community builders and are the most prestigious awards presented by GPRC.
The Distinguished Volunteer Award is in recognition of exceptional contributions of time and energy dedicated to the advancement of GPRC and was presented to Gail Sherman. Sherman is a tireless volunteer whose efforts have made a huge difference at GPRC and throughout the community. Sherman has dedicated 30 years of working to recruit and teach GPRC students about the significance of volunteering at events in our community ranging from College fundraising events such as the President’s Ball and community events such as the Arctic Winter Games, Canada Games, World Women Curling Championships, and many more.
The Steps to the Greater Alumni Award recognizes the outstanding achievements of GPRC alumni early in their careers. Veterinarian Leisa Floreani is this year’s recipient. Floreani works at the Fairview Veterinary Clinic in Fairview, Alberta and credits beginning her education with GPRC’s Bachelor of Science program to her success. After GPRC she attended the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan graduating with Distinction as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
Alumni Award of Excellence recognize specific, recent accomplishments of Alumni. This year’s recipient is Gerald Auger. The Canadian actor, of Woodland Cree descent, has left his mark on the community as a producer, writer, entrepreneur and motivational speaker. Auger has a long list of Hollywood acting credits and recently collaborated with a group of local GPRC alumni to produce the independent film Bohemian Blood which has been screened internationally at festivals. Auger has been filming internationally with films from Russia, Italy and Australia that have been winning multiple awards and film festivals. Receiving his Marketing Management diploma and Small Business Management certificate from GPRC, Auger also served as president of the Students’ Association, Student Society for Alberta Vocational College and the Circle of Aboriginal Students while at the college. Auger also received the Charles S. Noble Student Leadership Award from the Department of Advanced Education and the Province of Alberta.
The Distinguished Alumni Award was established to recognize GPRC alumni for outstanding accomplishments in their professions, and/or in service to their community, society or GPRC.
GPRC honoured alumnus, The Honourable Brian R. Hougestol with the award.
Hougestol graduated from GPRC in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts University Transfer. He later attained a Law Degree from the University of Calgary and served as a lawyer for 25-years in Grande Prairie. In 2008, Judge Hougestol was appointed to the bench serving Grande Prairie Provincial Court.
The Board of Governors Award of Distinction is the College’s highest tribute to individuals or groups within our community. This award has been established to honour individuals whose actions have made exceptional contributions to our community and to the advancement of higher education. Vincent Vavrek is the 2017 Award of Distinction recipient.
Vavrek served as a member of the GPRC Board of Governors starting in 2006 and became board chair in 2011 and has been dedicated to strengthening the College on behalf of the region since he was a student. Vavrek has also been very active in the college community serving on advisory committees, as alumni association director, past chairman of the College Foundation, volunteering with GPRC’s Students’ Association and director and past president of the Wolf Pac Booster Club.
The event also inducts new members to the GPRC President’s Council, which consists of individuals who have completed service to GPRC on the Board of Governors or Alumni/Foundation Board of Directors, have volunteered as Chair of a major fundraising event, have made a planned gift to the College, or have received a distinguished award at GPRC. At this year’s event 13 new members were inducted.
Over 120 guests from GPRC and the community were present for the ceremonies, held today, February 21, 2017 in the Douglas J. Cardinal Performing Arts Centre.
View all photos from the 2017 President's Award Luncheon here.
GPRC is a comprehensive community institution, publicly supported to provide opportunities in post-secondary education in northwestern Alberta. Established in 1966 in Grande Prairie, GPRC now includes campuses in Fairview and Grande Prairie, and learning centres in Edson, Grande Cache, Hinton and Jasper. GPRC offers a wide variety of career certificates and diplomas, pre-employment and apprenticeship trades, university transfer studies, and several opportunities for on-campus degree completion at baccalaureate and master levels through collaborations with four-year universities. For more information visit gprc.ab.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Mark Evans
GPRC
Corporate Communications
Phone: 780-539-2951