They're the Tops!

By Jayne Dietrich

Fine art student Rebecca Wood, left, and Department of Athletics staff member Pat Richards are this year's recipients of the R.P. Gilmor Student Life Award.
Photo by Barbara Chance

Student leaders were honoured for their contributions to U of G, student life and the Guelph community during a special "Last Lecture" and at an awards banquet April 2.

The Brian D. Sullivan Student Leadership Award, established in honour of Brian Sullivan, who served as associate vice-president (student affairs) from 1988 to 1999, was presented to graduating political science student Rich Appiah.

This award recognizes a graduating student who has made significant contributions to student leadership through her or his involvement as an elected or appointed student representative at U of G. Appiah, a President's Scholar, serves on Senate, is a member of the Senate Executive Committee, is chair of the Judicial Committee, has served as both president and chair of Interhall Council and has been a member of the Central Student Association board of directors.

The award was presented during the "Last Lecture," a first-time event that Appiah organized as an opportunity for graduating students to celebrate and reflect on their experiences at Guelph. A student, a faculty member and a U of G graduate spoke at the event.

At the following awards banquet, the Andre Auger Citizenship Award, named for Andre Auger, who served as director of the Counselling and Student Resource Centre from 1973 to 2000, was presented to Paula Richardson, who will graduate this summer with a BA in international development studies. This award recognizes an undergraduate or graduate student who has consistently demonstrated through volunteer efforts a sense of personal responsibility and commitment toward community.

The Student Leadership Rookie Award, presented to a student who, during her or his first year of active involvement in campus life, has made invaluable contributions to a club or organization at the University, went to first-year student Annie Benko.

The awards banquet also marked the presentation of the R.P. Gilmor Student Life Award, which recognizes individuals or groups who have contributed to the betterment of student life at U of G. It is named for Paul Gilmor, provost and director of student services from 1967 to 1987.

This year's recipients are Pat Richards, lifestyle and fitness co-ordinator in the Department of Athletics, and graduating fine art student Rebecca Wood.

The lifestyle and fitness team headed by Richards, who joined U of G in 1985, provides a range of employment opportunities for students and offers a unique opportunity for students, staff and faculty to interact. Wood is president of the Fine Art Network, won first prize in the school's 2002 Juried Art Exhibition and was development officer for the recent Montreal conference on "Globalization and Post-Colonialism II: Intimate and Interactive."

Brenda Whiteside, associate vice-president (student affairs), lauds the accomplishments of all the 2002 award recipients.
"This annual recognition event is always special for me because it's a time when we realize more than ever the kind of quality students we have at U of G and the outstanding contributions they make to this university," she says.