Previous Recipients
Scott Guenthner, Class of 2011 - 2024 inductee |
Scott, from Provost, Alta., played hockey and volleyball in high school. He only got involved in rodeo when he began studying livestock production at Lakeland College in 2009. He started out in calf roping, team roping and steer wrestling, and in his first year, made it to the Canadian National College Finals Rodeo. He was also recognized as the 2011 Canadian National College Rodeo Association Cowboy of the Year. He joined the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) in 2012 and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 2013. His career highlights include:
“It’s a dream-come-true career,” Scott says. “There are many things I didn’t think I’d ever accomplish in rodeo that I did. I was fortunate I got to make that dream come true. I wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps and I got lucky.” Scott stays busy beyond his rodeo career with a cow-calf operation near Provost. He and his wife Becky have three sons. In 2022, he made the decision to cut back on rodeoing to stay closer to his family and his ranch, sticking to the Canadian circuit. It is with great honour that Lakeland College inducts Scott Guenthner, Class of 2011, to the Alumni Wall of Distinction. |
Marilyn Young, Class of 1997 - 2023 inductee |
She was assured there was no mistake, as her contributions and accomplishments have been instrumental to building the Lloydminster community. The Class of 1997 business administration alumna was born in Red Deer, Alta., and moved to Vermilion as a child. Marilyn Young taught in Edmonton before meeting Gary Young, who would become her husband and business partner. The couple eventually settled in Lloydminster. Their business ventures included Smitty’s restaurant at the Lloyd Mall from 1975 to 2007, and the Holiday Inn and Hampton Inn with external business partners. She and Gary were also partners in establishing the Three Trees Tap & Kitchen. Along the way, Marilyn Young realized there were some aspects of running a business that could not be learned on the job. She decided to attend Lakeland College to further develop her business skills. Gary passed away in 2020. Marilyn Young remains active in her business relationships. Alongside her business ventures, Marilyn Young has been deeply involved in her community. She served on the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation board of directors for nearly a decade, helping to launch the fundraising gala for local health care needs. She is also a member of the United Church, heavily involved in volunteering and part of the outreach program for people dealing with food insecurity. “I’ve always believed you have to be part of things if it’s something you really believe in,” she explains. “How else are things going to happen?” It’s with great honour that Lakeland College inducts Marilyn Young, Class of 1997, to the Alumni Wall of Distinction. |
Roy Kubica, Class of 1966 - 2022 inductee |
Farming, community and education are three of Roy Kubica’s passions. While farming with his brother Rick near Thorhild, Alta., Roy Kubica was an active volunteer in the community. The Thorhild Community Association, Thorhild Co-op and Thorhild County Library Board are among the organizations he has served as a volunteer. When he retired from a successful farming career Roy Kubica turned his attention to his alma mater. A champion of work-integrated learning, Roy Kubica is a longstanding donor to Lakeland College who invests in new opportunities for students to excel in agricultural sciences. In 2019, Roy Kubica’s gifted $500,000 to Lakeland to help purchase land to expand the Student-Managed Farm – Powered by New Holland to increase student-led agricultural sciences learning opportunities and research activities. In 2021, he supported the crop technology students by funding their proposal for a new grain cart that would improve farm operations. Over the years, Roy Kubica’s connection with Lakeland has only grown stronger. He stays in touch with fellow alumni by attending Alumni Weekend celebrations in June, as well as other alumni socials. To help students fund their education, he created the Roy J. Kubica Agriculture Scholarship in 2013 and the Roy J. Kubica Agriculture Bursary in 2020. “Lakeland’s agricultural sciences programming is essential for future generations of farmers and other agricultural professionals. I have the opportunity to help a lot of students and I am proud to do so.” It’s with great honour that Lakeland College inducts Roy Kubica, Class of 1966, to the Alumni Wall of Distinction. |
Leanne Hawes, Class of 2007 - 2020 Lloydminster campus |
![]() Leanne Hawes’ drive, compassion and integrity are what make her a reputable leader and an all-in community builder. Not only is Hawes the first female chief executive officer (CEO) with the Lloydminster and District Co-op (Lloyd Co-op), but the first across the Co-operative Retailing System (CRS) in western Canada. Hawes operates Lloyd Co-op with a people-first mentality and inspires others to personal and professional excellence.
During her tenure as vice president of operations, she managed construction projects valued at over $30 million, oversaw the grocery and gas bar divisions, and supported sales growth from $80 million annually to over $154 million for the fiscal year ending January 2019. Leading without a title is a way of life for Hawes, whether personally with her husband and two daughters, or professionally with over 220 Lloyd Co-op employees and 20,000-plus member-owners. At Lakeland, Hawes was an exceptional student. Graduating with honours in 2007 from the business management program, she flourished in various roles including finance, business development, marketing, and finally operations through her position with Lloyd Co-op. She co-established the Phil Allen Memorial Scholarship in memory of her late professor. She was instrumental in creating the Lloydminster and District Co-op Business Club Concession on the Lloydminster campus. She also sits on the board of Lloydminster Sexual Assault Services and is actively involved in Lloydminster Ukrainian Cultural Association.
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Garrett Hawgood, Class of 2011 - 2020 Vermilion campus |
![]() He, too, believes in finding innovative ways to meet your community’s needs. It was those values that inspired his philanthropic endeavors. Both of his parents worked in emergency services and Garrett had been working as a paramedic for three years when he decided to pursue further education to become a firefighter paramedic. Lakeland was an accessible choice, and after he graduated in 2011, he returned home to Niverville, Man., where he became a volunteer firefighter. He was hired by Winnipeg’s Fire Paramedic Service a few years later and also teaches first aid and CPR through his business, Aim for Life. ![]() When Garrett learned that some of the remote communities he was teaching first aid and CPR services in didn’t even have basic 911 services, he was inspired to do more to make life-saving equipment accessible.
“Lakeland taught me to be there for my community and to be innovative when there is a need,” he says. “There is a need for AEDs in these communities and this is a way to meet that need.” Photos - Left: Garrett Hawgood speaking at the 2020 Donors Appreciation Celebration in Vermilion. Right: With his daughter.
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Bob MacDermott, Class of '91 - 2019 Lloydminster campus |
Life is meant to be a struggle. What matters most is how you overcome those struggles, says Robert “Bob” MacDermott. His left leg was amputated below the knee and his left arm below the elbow after he was electrocuted in a farm accident in 1987. The former oilfield consultant realized he needed to retrain for a new career to support his young family.
After graduating with honours in 1991, MacDermott moved to Edmonton and joined the Government of Alberta as a rehab practitioner. He advanced through the ranks from supervisor to director to manager. He was senior manager for Persons with Developmental Disabilities when he retired in 2015. As for golf, MacDermott is one of the top amputee golfers in the world, competing in Australia, Ireland, Japan, South Africa and the United States. He also shot a course record 65 at Belvedere Golf & Country Club in Edmonton. MacDermott shares his love of golf by hosting golf clinics for amputees. He’s also involved with Wounded Warriors and serves on the Alberta Amputee Sport and Recreation Association. He was inducted into the Alberta Sport Hall of Fame in 2007. “Like everyone, I’ve had challenges. My Lakeland education helped open new doors for me. Determination, hard work and the support of my family helped me move forward in my career and golf.”
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Chris Cederstrand, Class of 2004 - 2019 Vermilion campus |
Giving the gift of sport to others is what Chris Cederstrand excels at. The Class of 2004 firefighter alumnus is an avid sports enthusiast both on and off the ice. From playing hockey for the Red Deer Rebels and Swift Current Broncos in the WHL to joining the national sledge hockey Sport is what helped Chris Cederstrand move forward after his leg was amputated above the knee because of a workplace accident. He discovered sledge hockey and his love of sport led him to win silver with Team Canada at the World Championships in 2015. Cederstrand successfully pursued his dream of working on the front lines by becoming the first above-the-knee amputee firefighter in North America. Today, he supports children who face physical barriers to play sports thanks to the Cederstrand Foundation. By partnering with PX3 AMP, they’ve established a free hockey school in Calgary, Alta., for children. Cederstrand coaches Alberta’s provincial sledge hockey team and he also mentors several survivors of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash. As a KidSport Ambassador, Chris Cederstrand was named one of Shaw’s 50 Outstanding Canadians. “I get to teach kids to be part of a team and work together to overcome obstacles. When you teach them these core values and see how they transfer it into their everyday life, it’s very rewarding.”
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Sean Lessard, Class of '94 - 2018 Lloydminster campus |
Dr. Sean Lessard is an Indigenous education champion. He’s dedicated his life’s work to improving the lives and experiences of Indigenous youth.
He later studied at the University of Alberta, earning a Bachelor of Education in 2000, a Master of Educational Psychology in 2009, and a Doctorate of Elementary Education and Teaching in 2012. Outside of his education, he focused on the education and wellness of Indigenous youth. Sean worked as a respite worker, social worker, teacher, counsellor and consultant focusing on Indigenous education. He’s also had faculty positions at the University of Regina in Education and the University of Alberta in Teacher Education. While at the U of R, Sean helped establish the Growing Young Movers After-School program, an award-winning intergenerational wellness program for Indigenous youth. While Sean shares his love of learning as a professor in the U of A’s Faculty of Education’s Department of Secondary Education presently, his passion for Indigenous youth takes him across the country for research, speaking engagements and program development. He’s also the CEO of his own company – Name to Place Educational and Community Consulting. Sean’s commitment to Indigenous youth has earned him the Canadian Education Association’s Pat Clifford Award and the Myer Horowitz Outstanding Dissertation Award. He co-authored Engaging in Narrative Inquiries with Children and Youth (2016), and The Relational Ethics of Narrative Inquiry (2018).
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Gary Moses, Class of '64 - 2018 Vermilion campus |
For Gary Moses, Class of ‘67, the limelight was never something he sought. “To me, good leadership is achieved by working hard, behind-the-scenes, on any given project.” When Gary wasn’t running an 8,000 acre family farm in the Vermilion area, he was making an impact in the community. In 2005, he was one of 8,000 Albertans to receive the Alberta Centennial Medal. Gary was also a UFA delegate, and served a term as Exalted Ruler of the Elks. The agriculture technology-farm management major alumnus also has a longstanding history with Lakeland. The Moses family has been neighbours with Lakeland for over 100 years. Gary was vice-chair for Lakeland’s Board of Governors from 2011-17. He was also a member of the crop technology program’s advisory committee and was involved in the founding of the Student-Managed Farm – Powered by New Holland. Being a part of the advisory committee, he says, is one of his biggest accomplishments. Gary was considered the go-to person for almost anything. If someone were to describe Gary, they would say he works hard and doesn't give up. |
Scott Musgrave, Class of '87 - 2017 Lloydminster Campus |
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Mike Kotelko Class of '82 - 2017 Vermilion campus |
Mike Kotelko is the operational mastermind behind Highland Feeders Ltd.’s growth from a small mixed farming operation into the sixth largest feedlot in Canada and one of Alberta’s leading agribusinesses.
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Laryssa Whittaker, Class of '91 - 2016 Lloydminster Campus |
Lakeland College proved to be the starting point for academic excellence and innovative research for Laryssa Whittaker.
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Edmund Lefsrud, Class of ‘65 - 2016 Vermilion Campus |
Since graduating from the Vermilion Agricultural and Vocational College (now Lakeland College) in 1965, Edmund Lefsrud has been dedicated to the agriculture industry. He credits his college education and former principal, Bill Baranyk, with providing a strong foundation for a successful career in agriculture.
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Wendy Plandowski, Class of '91 - 2015 Lloydminster Campus |
Since completing Lakeland College’s University Transfer program in 1991, Wendy Plandowski’s can-do attitude, commitment to excellence, and passion for her community have made Lakeland College and the midwest better.
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Albert Miller, Class of '49 - 2015 Vermilion Campus |
At the heart of Albert Miller’s success as an avid farmer and accomplished businessman, is his strong sense of community and service.
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Rob Saunders, Class of '83 - 2014 Lloydminster Campus |
Rob Saunders’ leadership and community service as well as his extensive involvement in the oil and gas industry have helped make Lloydminster a better place to live, work and do business.
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Allan Shenfield, Class of '49 - 2014 Vermilion Campus |
From helping establish the 4-H Foundation of Alberta to playing a lead role in the development of the Agricom at Northlands in Edmonton, Allan Shenfield has made an extraordinary difference in his community and in Alberta through volunteer work.
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Margaret Page, Class of '96 & '97 - 2013 Lloydminster Campus |
Lakeland College’s Ever to Excel motto could be used as a mantra for many of Margaret Page’s clients.
![]() For over 20 years, she has worked with thousands of people, groups and organizations from around the world to help them create clarity, creativity and confidence.
Margaret Page’s journey to becoming a personal development guru has evolved over time. After completing advanced training in personal and business coaching, neuro-linguistic programming, and corporate etiquette and international protocol, she launched her businesses. Beyond the Page and Etiquette Page help people find focus, build efficiency and eliminate factors that can cause overwhelm. Margaret Page is a published author and a popular radio, television, and social media personality. In 2008, she was nominated for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Trailblazer Award. She is also very active in Toastmasters International. In 2012-2013, she served as District 21 Governor in British Columbia where she was responsible for 6,000 members, 295 clubs and a district leadership team of 110 people. At the 2012 Toastmasters convention, she was selected to carry the Canadian flag. Margaret Page studied business at Lakeland College’s Lloydminster campus. She was also a student award recipient. It is with great honour that Lakeland College inducts Margaret Page, Class of 1996 & 1997, to the Alumni Wall of Distinction. |
Dr. Arthur (Bud) McGinnis, Class of '41 - 2013 Vermilion Campus |
Dr. Arthur (Bud) McGinnis knows first-hand the value of student awards.
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Brent Baier, Class of '06 - 2012 Lloydminster Campus |
Brent Baier has proven that a ground-breaking invention doesn’t have to come from a major city or research centre.![]() He’s also proof that dreams come true, especially if you put a lot of hard work into them. That was the essence of his message to the Class of 2012 at Lakeland College’s Lloydminster campus. A message he delivered after being named to the college’s Alumni Wall of Distinction. Fresh from his computer systems technology diploma in 2005, Baier began working on his inspiration: a new kind of gaming technology glove. From the humble beginnings of a basement apartment and a package of golf gloves came the Peregrine Glove (www.theperegrine.com), a high-tech product sold worldwide for multiple uses. Unlike its speedy namesake, the glove’s development was slow. However Baier’s passion for and commitment to his invention carried him through all the steps required to go from idea to successful product. Along the way he refined prototypes through thousands of engineering and testing hours, started his company (Iron Will Innovations Canada Inc.) and secured more than $5 million in financing for his keyboard-in-your-hand concept. Unveiled at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in 2009, the Peregrine’s first commercial success was with gamers, in particular, pro-gamers. But the technology isn’t limited to entertainment. Baier’s vision includes medical, educational and military uses. He hopes the Peregrine might someday be one of the computer accessories found in every household. Original from Macklin, Sask., Baier maintains Iron Will’s head office in Lloydminster. The business also has offices in the US. Baier was also Lakeland College’s 2012 Outstanding Alumnus PACE nominee. The Alberta Association of Colleges & Technical Institutes (AACTI) recognize distinguished and outstanding alumni every two years with Provincial Awards Celebrating Excellence (PACE). See photos of Baier at convocation on Flickr.
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Brian Keating, Class of '76 - 2012 Vermilion Campus |
As part of his address to the Class of 2012, Brian Keating recalled he didn’t really like school until he came to Lakeland and studied his passion. ![]() For Keating, a Class of ’76 wildlife and fisheries grad, that passion was wildlife and landscapes. As a boy, Keating was a bird watcher. As a young man he pursued an education that would keep him in touch with nature. From Lakeland, he moved on to Brandon University and an environmental sciences degree. His path would lead him to become a world-renowned naturalist, author, adventurer, conservationist, media personality, acclaimed speaker, wilderness explorer and champion of biodiversity. It also brought him recognition as the 2012 Vermilion campus Distinguished Alumni. Attitude, he says, makes a difference about how you do in life. During a skiing lesson his instructor informed him that there was no bad snow, only a bad attitude. It’s an object lesson that can be used in many life situations. Keating’s zeal and zest eventually brought him to the Calgary Zoo. From 1982 to 1996, Keating was the Calgary Zoological Society’s curator of education. He then served as head of conservation outreach until his retirement in 2011. He’s still an honorary conservation advisor for the zoo and the fund named in his honour. Early in his tenure he started the zoo’s nature-based travel program. His responsibility for external conservation projects led to the founding of the Wechiau Hippo Sancutary in Ghana and an honorary chief title from a nearby village. During his 29-years at the Calgary Zoo, he became a recognizable media personality on CBC Radio and the Discovery Channel, and began writing a series of children’s books. Since 1998 he has been an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Calgary teaching an introductory anthropology course on primates. A sought after international presenter, Keating has shared his passion about wildlife and spaces as well as his observations and video footage from extensive world-wide travel, 50 countries and counting on all 7 continents. A pilot, scuba diver and mountaineer, Keating is always joined on his adventures by his wife Dee. Although retired from his long-time job, he is far from retired from his role as educator and conservationist. His focus now is his company, Going Wild (www.goingwild.org), where he is head naturalist. The business includes media production, guide/travel and speaking endeavors. Keating was also Lakeland College’s 2012 Distinguished Achievement PACE nominee. The Alberta Association of Colleges & Technical Institutes (AACTI) recognize distinguished and outstanding alumni every two years with Provincial Awards Celebrating Excellence (PACE). See photos of Keating at convocation on Flickr.
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Jason Holtby, Class of '90 - 2011 Lloydminster Campus |
Jason Holtby’s accomplished career has taken him from an accounting firm to the oil and gas industry, and on to become a key player in Canada’s investment banking field.
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John Morris, Class of '06 - 2011 Vermilion Campus |
Most people know John Morris as one of Canada’s most accomplished curlers.
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Derek Dedman, Class of '09 - 2010 Distinguished Alumni - Lloydminster Campus |
Derek Dedman’s dedication to excellence personifies what it takes to be successful in business and in life—and the numbers speak for themselves.
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Robert McLeod, Class of '89 - 2010 Distinguished Alumni - Vermilion Campus |
Robert McLeod’s sense of social responsibility drives him to make people’s lives better.
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Bill Fox, Class of '58 - PACE Nominee 2008 |
Bill Fox graduated from the Vermilion School of Agriculture in 1958 with a diploma in Agriculture and has been breaking new ground ever since.
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Jack Lewis, Class of '51 - PACE Nominee 2006 |
Farming is no small potatoes for Jack Lewis.
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