Previous Recipients

Scott Guenthner is a rodeo star like his father, but he took his own path to get there. Among many other accolades, that journey landed him on the international stage at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas four times.

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:

• CPRA Steer Wrestling Champion (2018, 2019, 2022, 2023)
• 2022 CPRA Cowboy of the Year
• 2023 Calgary Stampede Steer Wrestling Champion
• National Finals Rodeo (NFR) Qualifier (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021)
• Canadian Finals Rodeo Qualifier (2014-2019, 2022, 2023)

“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.

When Marilyn Young learned she’d been selected as Lakeland College’s 2023 Distinguished Alumna, she thought there had been a mistake.

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.

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’ 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 first year as CEO, Hawes implemented the first Lloyd Co-op Staff Summit, broke ground on a fourth gas bar in Lloydminster and celebrated Lloyd Co-op’s 42nd placement on Saskatchewan Business Magazine’s Top 100 SK Business List, among other achievements.

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.
“It’s about team success, not individual success.”

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.

 

Garrett Hawgood was attracted to Lakeland because the college’s values of community and innovation spoke to him.

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.

Not only is Garrett saving lives with his firefighter training, he is teaching others to do the same, and putting the live-saving device they need in their hands. That’s how Operation Heart Heal was born. He and Kris Magnifico, co-owner of Aim for Life, work together to donate an AED to each building they teach first aid in. If that building already has an AED, then that AED is donated to a community in need. Through Operation Heart Heal, he is partnering with Métis and Indigenous communities to fill them with life-saving AEDs.

“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.

 

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. 

He enrolled in the Rehabilitation Services program at the Lloydminster campus. While at Lakeland he played golf for the Rustlers, a sport he started playing only two years before his accident.

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.”

 

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 team, Chris Cederstrand believes in the power of sports.

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.”

 

Dr. Sean Lessard is an Indigenous education champion. He’s dedicated his life’s work to improving the lives and experiences of Indigenous youth.

Sean was born on the Montreal Lake Cree Nation and later adopted by a family in North Battleford, Sask. He graduated from Lakeland’s Rehabilitation Services program in 1994 and was a member of the Rustlers men’s volleyball program.

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).

 

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. He was the president of the Vermilion Agricultural Society from 1983-85, as well as a committee head of the society’s machinery display. Gary was a regional director on the provincial board of the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies and received the award for Outstanding Supporter of Agriculture in 2015. Gary was president of the Western Canada Fairs Association in 1985, and received an honorary life membership in 2000.

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.

 

Experiences and opportunities, faced head-on, have shaped Scott Musgrave’s professional life and his career.

When Scott Musgrave enrolled in Lakeland College’s Business Administration diploma program in the mid-1980s, his goal was to develop skills in marketing, sales and accounting. He did just that at Lakeland, but more importantly, his experience fostered in him a passion for learning and a desire to find ways to continually grow and improve.

Scott Musgrave was the first Lakeland student to successfully transfer his business diploma credits to a university program. He earned Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Management degrees at the University of Lethbridge and a Master of Business Administration degree at the University of Saskatchewan.

After working as an instructor at Lethbridge College, Scott Musgrave returned to Lloydminster in 1995 to manage Musgrave Agencies Ltd. His leadership style and belief in finding and creating opportunities has helped the family-oriented business expand and diversify its holdings.

Today Scott Musgrave is an executive and shareholder within the Musgrave group of companies, primarily a real estate and development company. In addition to this core business, the Musgrave group of companies has ownership and provides managerial involvement for a diversified group of businesses throughout Western Canada.

Throughout his career, Scott Musgrave has been involved in various industry boards including the Saskatchewan Information Services Corporation and Saskatchewan Real Estate Association. Locally he’s volunteered with the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce and the Lloydminster Real Estate Board. An IFR rated high altitude professional pilot, Scott Musgrave is also a member of the Lloydminster Flying Club.

 

 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.

Following in his father’s footsteps (Jack Kotelko, Class of 1938), Mike Kotelko attended Lakeland and graduated as class valedictorian from the Ag Systems Technician program in 1982 – a few years after he, his father, and brother Bern, diversified their Vegreville grain and purebred cattle farm to include a feedlot operation. He helped expand the family farm – which was settled by their Ukrainian ancestors in 1918 – into a large integrated crop and beef cattle operation. In 2013, Mike and his wife Denise purchased full ownership of the operation, which now includes 7,000 acres of cropland, a 36,000 head feedlot, and a 3,000 head cow-calf operation.

With an unwavering focus on environmental stewardship and sustainable agriculture practices, Mike Kotelko helped develop technologies that transform waste into energy. He is the co-inventor of Integrated Manure Utilisation System, a biogas digester technology used at Highland, and co-founder of Himark Biogas, a waste-to-energy technology and engineering services company.

In 1995, Highland was recognized as one of the “Fastest Growing Companies in Canada” by Profit magazine. In 1997, Highland received Alberta Cattle Commission’s Environmental Stewardship Award. Mike Kotelko was awarded the ATB Financial Growing Alberta Leadership Award along with the Emerald Award as a co-inventor of GPADS technology.

Mike Kotelko has been involved with many community and industry organizations including Vegreville Kinsmen, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Alberta Beef Producers and Alberta BioProducts Association. He served two terms on Lakeland’s Board of Governors.

 

Lakeland College proved to be the starting point for academic excellence and innovative research for Laryssa Whittaker. 

Originally from Marwayne, Alta., Laryssa enrolled in Lakeland’s university transfer program and was among the first students to study at the new Lloydminster campus, which officially opened in 1990. She then completed a bachelor’s degree in church music at the Canadian Bible College before she obtained a bachelor of arts and a master’s degree in ethnomusicology at the University of Alberta.

As she worked towards a PhD at Royal Holloway, University of London, Laryssa undertook research in South Africa at the meeting point of two of the discipline's subfields: medical ethnomusicology and economic ethnomusicology. She researched music outreach programs for youth that aim to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities by intervening musically and practically to reduce South Africa’s profound socioeconomic inequality.

Royal Holloway awarded Laryssa with a PhD in 2015 – a culmination of four years of research, travel, analysis and writing. Her work was also recognized by the Society for Ethnomusicology, an American-based international academic society, in 2014, when she was awarded the Charles Seeger Prize for the best student paper at the previous year's conference. Laryssa now shares her expertise as a teaching fellow and visiting lecturer at Royal Holloway.

“I am glad that there are places like Lakeland in smaller communities because it makes higher education accessible. And it can be the start of finding those new vistas, those new points of view that you might not have come across otherwise,” says Laryssa.

 

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.

Edmund started his career working as a seed inspector with Agriculture Canada for two years before purchasing the family farm near Viking. For almost 50 years, Edmund and his wife Ellen have worked together to expand their farm to 5,000 acres and several companies, including Lefsrud Seed and Processors Ltd., and 6 King Genetics. As an accredited seed grower, Edmund provides clean certified seed to farmers and companies across Alberta, across Canada and even around the world.

For more than 30 years, Edmund has dedicated his time to the Alberta and Canadian Seed Growers’ Associations and he has held several roles on these boards including the presidency for both the Alberta Seed Growers’ Association and the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association. For his significant and dedicated service, Edmund has received several awards including the Canadian Seed Growers’ Robertson Associate Award, the Long Service Award and the Outstanding Service Award. 

From 4-H to the local Lions Club, Edmund is a committed volunteer for numerous organizations. Lefsrud Seed and Processors donates to fundraisers and supports research for the development of a new oilseed pea product and has sponsored youth to attend leadership courses. He’s also a proud member of Lakeland College’s Alumni Association.

In 2003, the Lefsrud family farm became a century farm, with Edmund’s son, Kevin, being the fourth generation to work the land. As an active member of the farming community, Edmund continues to share and teach the value of agriculture.

“I believe that being a farmer and a seed grower has truly allowed me to contribute to my community. I believe in seeing the next generation of farmers develop and grow into this honourable profession,” says Edmund. “That’s what we’re doing – feeding the world with the best knowledge, best education and best product that we can.”

 

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.

After finishing high school in Marwayne, Alta., Wendy Plandowski enrolled in university courses at Lakeland College. She was one of 438 students who attended classes at the Lloydminster campus during its first full year of operations. She also worked part-time as a student ambassador. Today she is still one of the college’s most enthusiastic supporters. 

Wendy Plandowski earned a Bachelor of Arts (English) degree at the University of Alberta in 1993 then returned to Lakeland College where she worked until 1996 and again from 2004 to 2013. During her years at Lakeland College she successfully served in many different roles including director of alumni and corporate development, Lloydminster campus principal, dean of human services, and director of community relations. She led the successful fundraising campaign for the Bill Kondro Wing expansion at the Lloydminster campus, created enrolment specialist positions which helped increase student numbers, and enhanced Lakeland’s engagement with alumni, school jurisdictions and adult learning councils throughout the region.

In 2013 Wendy Plandowski joined the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation as its chief executive officer. In the community, Wendy Plandowski’s long history of service includes volunteering with the Lloydminster Interval Home, Kiwanis Music Festival, Vic Juba Community Theatre, and Lloydminster Theatre Foundation and helping with various community events including chairing the 2008 Saskatchewan Summer Games in Lloydminster. She’s also a charter member of the Border City Rotary Club, and past president of the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce. In 2014 she received a Difference Maker Award from the Rick Hansen Foundation.

It is with great honour that Lakeland College inducts Wendy Plandowski, Class of ’91, to the Alumni Wall of Distinction. 

 

At the heart of Albert Miller’s success as an avid farmer and accomplished businessman, is his strong sense of community and service.

After completing Grade 11, Albert Miller enrolled in the Vermilion School of Agriculture and graduated in 1949. According to the college’s ‘49 yearbook, it was Albert Miller’s ambition to one day own a farm in the Westlock, Alta. district. His hard work and innovation paid off. Albert Miller continues to farm near Westlock today – 66 years after he graduated from college. 

In addition to farming, Albert Miller owned a successful John Deere dealership in Westlock for 29 years. In that time Albert Miller’s entrepreneurial success was recognized on several occasions when his dealership was lauded as one of Canada’s Top 15 Dealerships. His Chrysler dealership and service centre store in Barrhead, Alta. also reaped the rewards of his strong business acumen.

Through his volunteerism with the Rotary Club of Westlock, Albert Miller was instrumental in creating positive change in his community. As a charter member of the club, he served as president for two years. Local projects he championed include the Rotary walking trails in Westlock and several capital projects such as the local tractor museum and community theatre. With Rotary, Albert Miller also served as the district governor leading 59 clubs in Alberta, as well as parts of British Columbia and Saskatchewan. 

In honour of his community service and accomplishments, Albert Miller was presented with the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005. The medal recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to society.

Giving back to students is a priority for Albert Miller. He does so by fostering an interest in agriculture and mechanics through scholarships. “I have been pretty lucky in my life. I have had good people working with me and I think it’s our duty to support as many others as you can in turn,” he says.

It is with great honour that Lakeland College inducts Albert Miller, Class of ’49, to the Alumni Wall of Distinction. 

 

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. 

In the early 1980s, he was one of the first students to take the Heavy Oil Operations Technician program at Lakeland College. He later took 4th and 3rd class power engineering through the college. 
Rob Saunders worked his way up in the oilfield sector, working for companies such as Husky Energy, Murphy Oil, Amoco, Corlac and National Oilwell. He also owned oilfield contracting and business management companies. 

Recognizing the importance of community involvement, he joined the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce in the early 1990s. Since then he has served in many of the executive positions and is still involved with the organization. He has also been directly involved in a number of economic development initiatives in the Lloydminster area. 

Rob Saunders was elected to Lloydminster City Council in 2003. In November 2012 he became deputy mayor and in the fall of 2013 he was elected mayor. 

Higher education is important to Rob Saunders and he believes the relationship Lakeland College has with industry in this region is a successful formula that has helped the community and region thrive. 

It is with great honour that Lakeland College inducts Rob Saunders, Class of ’83, to the Alumni Wall of Distinction. 

 

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. 

After graduating from the Vermilion School of Agriculture in 1949, Allan Shenfield returned to his family’s dairy farm north of Spruce Grove, Alta. Like his father, he had a desire to volunteer his time for the betterment of the community. “My father was very active in the community and I thought I should get involved too,” he says. 

In 1949 Allan Shenfield became the leader of the Spruce Grove 4-H Grain Club. Later he would serve on regional and provincial 4-H advisory councils and help establish the 4-H Foundation of Alberta, a non-profit organization that built and now operates the Alberta 4-H Centre at Battle Lake. During his tenure as president of Northlands, he spearheaded the development of the Agricom, which is now known as the Edmonton EXPO Centre. 

In his hometown of Spruce Grove, few capital projects took place without Allan Shenfield’s involvement, including agricultural and recreational facilities and a seniors’ centre. His extensive involvement helped make the city what it is today. Among his many awards and honours, he received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the City of Spruce Grove named the Shenfield Civic Centre in his honour. 

Allan Shenfield modestly says that he received more from his volunteer efforts than he gave. “Being a volunteer is very rewarding. You don’t do this for the recognition; you do this to help others.” 

It is with great honour that Lakeland College inducts Allan Shenfield, Class of ’49, to the Alumni Wall of Distinction. 

 

 Lakeland College’s Ever to Excel motto could be used as a mantra for many of Margaret Page’s clients.

Dr. Arthur (Bud) McGinnis knows first-hand the value of student awards. 

During the graduation ceremony for the Vermilion School of Agriculture’s Class of 1941, Dr. Arthur McGinnis received several awards including a $100 Wheat Board Scholarship. 

The scholarship made it possible for him to attend the University of Alberta where he received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. He later earned a Master in Entomology and a Doctorate in Biochemistry. 

Dr. Arthur McGinnis worked for Agriculture Canada for 35 years of which 25 were spent conducting research into the physiology and nutrition of agricultural pests such as grasshoppers, cutworms, and the wheat stem sawfly. 

Following his retirement in 1980, he led a team of ten Canadians in establishing and managing a Rainfed Agricultural Research and Development project in Pakistan. 

Dr. Arthur McGinnis says winning a scholarship made his successful career in agricultural research and research management possible. “I will be forever grateful to the Vermilion School of Agriculture and the Wheat Board for granting me that scholarship.” 

Recognizing the importance of student awards, Dr. Arthur McGinnis and his wife Gladys made a substantial donation to the Lakeland College Centennial Campaign in 2012 to create an endowment fund for student awards. The Dr. Arthur and Gladys McGinnis Future of Agriculture Award is presented annually to a second year Lakeland College Agricultural Sciences student who intends to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. 

It is with great honour that Lakeland College inducts Dr. Arthur McGinnis, Class of 1941, to the Alumni Wall of Distinction.

 

 Brent Baier has proven that a ground-breaking invention doesn’t have to come from a major city or research centre.

 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).

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. 

Well-known for his business acumen, Holtby leads the Canadian investment banking group Raymond James Ltd. He is also a member of the Equity Capital Markets Executive Committee which is responsible for the direction and stewardship of the Capital Markets Business in Canada.
 
Throughout his career with Raymond James Ltd., Holtby has been involved in major transactions that involve multiple sectors and range in value from $10 million to $3.5 billion. He has been active in mergers and acquisitions, public and private financings, trust conversions, corporate restructurings, valuation and fairness opinion mandates in the oil and gas sector and industrial sectors. 

Holtby began his career as an accountant at Dunwoody and Company before becoming the chief financial officer at Inter-Tech Drilling Solutions. He has been at Raymond James Ltd. since 1998 where he serves as the senior managing director and head of investment banking. 

After completing the Business (accounting major) program at Lakeland College in 1990, Holtby added an MBA and a CGA designation to his credentials.

 

Most people know John Morris as one of Canada’s most accomplished curlers. 

As a member of Team Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, John Morris threw third stones for the Edmonton-based team of Kevin Martin, Marc Kennedy and Ben Hebert as they thrilled Canadian curling fans by winning the gold medal on home ice.
 
In addition to being an Olympic champion, Morris is a 2008 World champion, a two-time Canadian Brier champion, and a three-time Alberta provincial champion.
 
As passionate as Morris is about curling, he is also passionate about firefighting. He completed his firefighter training in 2006 at Lakeland College’s Emergency Training Centre at the Vermilion campus. He’s since taken additional courses and instructor’s training to advance his expertise in the field. 

Morris also believes in giving back. As an alumnus, he is a champion of Lakeland College’s emergency services training programs and courses. As a firefighter with the Rockyview Fire Services in Chestermere, Alta., he speaks to youth at local schools about fire prevention and the importance of health and fitness.  Morris can also be found supporting various charitable organizations and community events.

 

Derek Dedman’s dedication to excellence personifies what it takes to be successful in business and in life—and the numbers speak for themselves. 

On a 2009 adjudication of the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) exam, business graduate Derek Dedman scored among the top 10 financial planners from across Canada who challenged the exam. 

The result is a remarkable achievement. Only 409 of the 1,029 people who wrote the national professional exam passed. Dedman’s score makes him the first Lakeland College graduate ever to place in the exam’s top 10 rankings. He is also the first Lakeland graduate to make the CFP’s President’s List. 

Dedman’s pursuit of excellence began long before he began his career in the financial sector. As a business student at Lakeland, his academic achievements included a spot on the Dean’s List in 2008 with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. As a member of the Rustlers men’s volleyball team, he earned an academic award from the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference in 2007. 

Dedman’s ability to work with others and his in-depth business expertise have benefited his clients and others who know him. He is an excellent role model and a strong believer in continuous education to maintain high industry standards.

 

Robert McLeod’s sense of social responsibility drives him to make people’s lives better.
 
A former carpenter turned government cabinet minister, his ongoing work has improved social programs for people in Canada’s North. As a resident of the Northwest Territories, McLeod began working with the Aklavik Housing Association and the Inuvik Housing Authority to improve local housing needs.
 
Wanting to serve on a larger scale, McLeod launched his political career in 1983 and was elected as an Aklavik municipal councillor. In 1987, he was elected mayor. 

In 2004, he was elected to represent Inuvik Twin Lakes as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. He was re-elected in 2007. 

In office, he is a constant advocate of social programs and community development. He has served on standing committees for social programs and is the minister responsible for youth, housing corporation, workers safety and compensation, and municipal and community affairs. 

In the community, McLeod gives his time to support many community sports teams and clubs. He is a recipient of the NWT Volunteer Award and the Good Neighbour Award. In 2010, he was Lakeland College’s nominee for the Provincial Awards Celebrating Excellence program. 

A graduate of Lakeland College’s carpentry program in 1989, McLeod is a builder of brighter futures.

 

Bill Fox graduated from the Vermilion School of Agriculture in 1958 with a diploma in Agriculture and has been breaking new ground ever since. 

Fox is truly a steward of the land. He willingly shares his knowledge and passion for the environment with others locally, provincial and nationally. His belief that man, domestic livestock and wildlife can live together in partnership on the land has been the basis of his farming practices for over 40 years. 

Fox has been an active member of several organizations including the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance, whose purpose is to protect and improve water quality and ecosystem functioning in the North Saskatchewan water system. The Alberta Beef Producers as well as other provincial boards and groups have benefited from his work, knowledge and experience. 

In 2007, Fox received a Countryside Canada Stewardship Recognition Award in appreciation of his work and commitment to sustainable agriculture, watershed protection and healthy ecosystem maintenance. 

As the need continues to increase for everyone to do their part for conservation and environmental management, Fox certainly leads the way.

 

Farming is no small potatoes for Jack Lewis. 

Together with his family, Lewis has grown his father’s original 320-acre farm dating back to 1932 to an operation that includes 800 acres of seed potatoes, 3,000 acres of grain and 800 head of purebred Simmental and Angus cattle. 

Lewis, the patriarch of Lewis Farms, is a leader in the agricultural field. His willingness to embrace innovation and new technology has set a standard for excellence in an ever-changing industry. His support for the involvement of youth in agriculture has helped develop the next generation of young cattlemen and cattlewomen. A former 4-H member himself, Lewis remains actively involved with 4-H and the Young Canadian Simmental Association. 

Lewis is a supporter of further education and producer collaboration. After graduating from the Vermilion School of Agriculture in 1951, he attended the University of Alberta. Since 1960, he has been involved with the Edmonton Potato Growers, a farmer-owned cooperative, and the Potato Growers of Alberta. As an alumnus, Lewis strongly supports Lakeland College and frequently attends Homecoming. 

In 2006, he was Lakeland College’s nominee for the Provincial Awards Celebrating Excellence program. Fostering a spirit of innovation, cooperation and teamwork, Lewis is well-respected in the agricultural industry.