Many students come to NorQuest College to not only make a difference in their lives but to make a difference in their communities. They are driven by the relentless pursuit to help others, empower change, and contribute to transforming lives for the better.
Our Alumni Awards celebrate these achievements and recognize alumni who are making true, lasting impact in their communities, province, and beyond.
Creating our Alumni Awards
When creating our Alumni Awards, intentionality was one of our main priorities. We wanted to create a process and event that was focused on NorQuest’s brand pillars: inclusion, diversity, community, and creating a place of belonging.
While many Alumni Awards place an emphasis on impressive achievements and accolades, we wanted to do something a bit different. We wanted to celebrate not only the final accomplishments but also the journey. We know our alumni often experience barriers to pursuing their dreams and careers, and we wanted to capture their inspiring resilience, commitment, and compassion.
Josie Tan, NorQuest’s Alumni Relations Office, started planning the Alumni Awards over a year ago. Here is what she has to say about creating the awards: “These awards have been on my mind since the first day I started at NorQuest in 2021. Every time I meet a NorQuest graduate, I am blown away by their stories, achievements and passion they have for their communities.”
Josie continues with, “I wanted to find a way to celebrate all the amazing things our alumni are doing, in a way that felt like a celebration of the person, and not just their resume. To show the world who NorQuest graduates are, celebrate them, and inspire current and future learners to follow their dreams. There is so much power in storytelling, and I am so excited to share our winners' stories."
Nominations process and success
In October 2023, we launched our first call for nominations for our upcoming Alumni Awards, and we were amazed by the number of thoughtful and inspiring stories that came our way. It was truly a remarkable moment of witnessing the incredible journeys and accomplishments our alumni have achieved.
We received 49 nominations across three award categories. The Alumni Committee, consisting of 11 members, selected the winners based on a fair and equitable numbering system.
When reviewing the submissions, Kassey Koumarelas, NorQuest Alumni and Chair of the NorQuest Alumni Advisory Committee, was amazed by the responses and says, “The review process for the Alumni Award nominees was SO awesome! It was seamless and such a great set-up, but even beyond that, it was such a great experience to go through something like this. At the end of it, I felt honored, honestly, to have been part of the review and to learn about these people's stories. They were all incredible individuals.”
While we are waiting for the official ceremony to announce the winners, we are beyond excited for you to hear their stories of impact, resilience, and contribution. During the award ceremony, guests will have the chance to listen to our winners' stories and witness them accepting their awards.
Award categories
Our Alumni Awards are divided into three categories:
Community Leader Award
The Community Leader Award recognizes and celebrates NorQuest alumni who, regardless of title, are leading important changes in their community. This recipient demonstrates strong leadership skills and is committed to providing positive service to others.
Transformation Award
The Transformation Award recognizes and celebrates alumni who have exhibited incredible resilience on their educational, career, and personal journey. They have not only transformed their own lives, but they are also committed to transforming the lives of others within their communities and workplaces.
Difference Maker Award
The Difference Maker Award recognizes and celebrates alumni who are now NorQuest staff members and committed to creating a place of belonging at the college. They live out NorQuest’s values and touchstones while making a difference in the lives of students, staff, and partners.
The future of Alumni Awards at NorQuest
Already, our Alumni Awards have been a success. As we look to the future and what’s to come, Josie has this to say, “I was so overwhelmed with the response we received in our first year. The nominations were more than we could have ever hoped for, and it reaffirmed to me that not only were these awards needed, but that they will offer an opportunity to celebrate our alumni for years to come. As the college grows, and our program grows, I know that these awards and our event will be a key pillar of an engaging and thriving alumni community for NorQuest.”
Learn more and purchase tickets
If you’d like to learn more about our Alumni Awards ceremony on April 25, 2024, please visit our event page. You’ll find information on the event, frequently asked questions, and how to purchase your tickets. Each ticket is $20, and attendees can bring up to one guest.