U of G Community Members Among Top '40 Under 40'
June 27, 2008 - Campus Bulletin
Five people from the U of G campus are among a group recognized today for their personal successes and contributions to the community.
Profs. Diane Nalini de Kerckhove, Department of Physics, and Robin Milhausen, Department of Family relations and Applied Nutrition; Cyndy McLean, director of the Health and Performance Centre; and students Drew Doughty and Mitchell Gillespie are featured in a "40 Under 40" special supplement published today by the Guelph Mercury. In addition, seven U of G alumni made the list.
Phil Andrews, the newspaper's managing editor, says he came up with the idea for the new feature after presenting an award at the 2006 YMCA-YWCA of Guelph Women of Distinction. He realized the newspaper could and should do more to recognize the efforts of outstanding people who are making a difference in Guelph.
"We don't pause enough to recognize those who quietly, humbly, are doing great things," he says.
Andrews says reducing a large pool of nominees to 40 was "a miserable task." Two of the 40 awards are presented to couples, which boosted the final tally to 42.
"This is a deep and rich group of 42," Andrews says. Winners range in ages from 11 to 39 and include Olympic hopefuls, a first-round NHL draft pick, musicians, environmental leaders, teachers, urban designers, fund raisers, politicians and performers.
Prof. de Kerckhove was recognized for her research (she's building Canada's first one-micron proton microprobe); her work as a jazz singer and songwriter; and for being a role model to girls and young women.
Milhausen was co-host of the television show Sex, Toys and Chocolate. She was honoured for using her expertise to legitimize discussions of sex, relationships and health-related issues, as well as for helping her students develop and conduct research.
McLean was recognized for being a positive role model for athletes with disabilities (she is a member of the provincial wheelchair tennis team) and for bringing the annual Wheels in Motion fundraising event to Guelph. Andrews said it was the Women of Distinction Award he presented to McLean in 2006 that inspired him to create the "40 under 40."
U of G student Doughty was recognized for being the highest-ever drafted Guelph Storm player, going to the Los Angeles Kings. He also helped Canada capture gold at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships and was named top defenceman at the tournament.
Fellow U of G student Gillespie was recognized for volunteering and working in Vietnam last summer, and using the experience to help further his education in computing and information science. He is now considering graduate work on the 'digital divide' between industrialized and developing countries.
Alumni Chantalle Asselin, BA '99; Jason Castellan, BSc.'93; Michael Fox, BA '97; Audrey Jamal, BA '98; Les Patterson, BA '95; Mark Rodford, BSc.'92; Rafaella Tardioli, BA 06 are also among the honourees.
