Five distinguished graduates from Thompson Rivers University will be receiving awards this year for their outstanding community contributions and professional achievements.
Over the past 14 years, 49 graduates have been selected to receive these prestigious awards presented at the Thompson Rivers University Distinguished Alumni Awards dinner will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2008. This event has become the signature event for the Alumni Association showcasing the accomplishments of TRU’s graduates, students and faculty.
This year’s award winners are:
Sharon Simpson RN ” TRU Nursing Faculty ’83-’08
Honourary Distinguished Alumni
Sharon has inspired, developed, implemented and impacted all aspects of the nursing and wellness professions. Sharon will retire this year after 35 years of teaching and policy and program development not only at TRU but regionally, provincially and nationally.
Jo Berry “Bachelor of Social Work, 2000
Grace Chronister TRU BSW Distinguished Alumni Award
Jo is being recognized for educating people for personal change and growth and developing community wellness at all ages. Jo pushes our BSW professional ideals out of the box and is a fabulous alumni and advocate for TRU. As a founder of the Kamloops Runclub and co-founder of the Daily News Boogie the Bridge.
Dr. Katherine Sutherland, ’81
Distinguished Alumni
Dr. Katherine Sutherland, Associate Dean of Arts at TRU has taught at TRU for 17 years. Although the much of her teaching and publishing have been focused around Postcolonial and Gender Studies. for the past 10 years she has also researched and taught in the field of Sports Culture, focussing on hockey, motorcycle racing, soccer.
Craig Jones ” Open Learning ’95
Distinguished Alumni
Craig completed law school at both UBC and Harvard and is currently Supervising Counsel of the Constitutional and Administrative Law Group of the Ministry of the Attorney General.
Dr. Nikita Vizniak ” BSC Animal Biology ’98
Distinguished Young Alumni
After graduating from TRU in 1998 with a B.Sc. in Animal Biology, Dr. Nikita has become not only an excellent chiropractic physician but also a world renowned author. His texts are required reading at numerous colleges and universities around the world. and his international reputation, significant achievements and contributions to his medical profession.
Contact:Arlene Olynyk, TRU Alumni, (p)250-828-5498
