By Sandy Richards
Three outstanding graduates who are aspiring professionals will learn college and university advancement skills thanks to the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) partnership with Meloche Monnex and TD Bank Financial Group.
Established in 1998, the Meloche Monnex Fellowships awards $25,000 to each winner to work at a Canadian college or university in the areas of alumni relations, development, communications and student recruitment. The 2003-2004 winners are: Joseph Teft, Trent University; Alyson Saunders, Bishop’s University; and Whitney Lowden, Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School.
JOSEPH TEFT graduated from Trent University this spring with a joint major in anthropology and history. A notable athlete, he has won many awards including the university’s Athletic Award and the David Glassco Award presented to a graduating student who displays great sportsmanship. A gregarious student, Teft looked for various opportunities to become involved in campus life. He spoke many times at the university’s open houses, served on a committee that dealt with curriculum issues for the history department and worked part-time with the university’s alumni affairs office.
At the alumni office, Teft began developing the skills necessary to excel in the areas of student recruitment, athletics and alumni relations. It was during his time with the alumni affairs group that Tony Storey, director of alumni affairs, encouraged him to apply for the Meloche Monnex Fellowship. “I wanted to learn as much as I could about communications and development and get better insight into how these areas work together,” Teft says. An extrovert, he immediately pursued the opportunity, which offered him the chance to meet new people while at the same time giving back to the university.
Originally from Sarnia, Ontario, Teft has made Peterborough his home away from home by establishing roots in the local community. A great music lover, he plays the guitar, bass, dobro and mandolin with a local band. He also finds time to compete with a Frisbee club team. He has high hopes for his year as a Meloche Monnex Fellow. “The Trent community means a lot to me,” he says. “I want to experience as much as I can with this great opportunity.”
ALYSON SAUNDERS recently graduated from Bishop’s University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a business minor in human resource management. Bishop’s has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember as both of her parents are Bishop’s alumni. In fact, her older brother – who graduated in 2000 and her twin sister, entering her final year in September – have also followed the Bishop’s path. “I found that the friendships I have made here and my academic achievements have overshadowed the few challenges every undergraduate experiences,” says Saunders.
Her keen interest in Bishop’s University inspired Saunders to get involved in a variety of campus and community life activities from the very beginning. During her first year, she was involved in the Student Alumni Association (SAAB), which gave her the opportunity to work with other students who shared her unique background of having both parents as Bishop’s alumni. As co-presidents of SAAB, Saunders and her sister were involved in planning and organizing homecoming and other social events as well as career conferences. Her enthusiasm has also involved her in various community outreach programs since her second year. The Big Buddy program gave her the extraordinary experience of mentoring a six-year-old girl. Saunders also became involved in her “buddy’s” extracurricular activities such as swimming and apple picking. Being connected to the Bishop’s student population is very important to her and she hopes she will become more involved in the university’s student recruitment initiatives as a Meloche Monnex Fellow. “I want to broadcast Bishop’s exceptional academic setting and close family atmosphere. I feel honored to have been selected as one of the three fellows,” she says.
WHITNEY LOWDEN completed a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of Western Ontario in 2000 and has recently completed her bachelor of applied communications in public relations from Mount Royal College. At Western she helped organize a student council representative campaign, joined a sorority and participated in various campus activities including fundraising and community events. At Mount Royal College, Lowden volunteered on various projects including a team that conducted an extensive survey on campus recreation. “I love outdoor activities. In the winter I ski and in the summer I hike, horseback ride and backpack,” she says.
A Calgary native, Lowden is very involved in her local community and volunteers extensively with the Mustard Seed Street Ministry where she serves dinners weekly to the less fortunate. She also works with the Red Cross in annual fundraising event and writes for the Centre Street Church newsletter. She has organized fundraising events for the World Wildlife Fund and the Calgary Stampede Foundation. With her love of adventure, she has helped build houses with Habitat for Humanity in Hungary. Her skills in communication have also kept her very busy with communication audits and strategic planning for Calgary organizations including Camp Horizon, the Banded Peak Challenge and Sonshine Community Services.
As a Meloche Monnex Fellow, Lowden is looking forward to utilizing her skills and experience to enhance Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (STS). A graduate of STS herself, Lowden hopes to have a positive impact on the lives of the young students. “I am excited about being a part of a number of development initiatives, writing for the newsletter and annual report and stewardship – thanks to the Meloche Monnex Fellowship,” she says.
The 2002 winners of the Meloche Monnex Fellowship – Katie Mahon, Bob Afflect and Caroline Tremblay, have completed three-quarters of their fellowship with St. Francis Xavier University, Queen’s University and University of Ottawa, respectively.
Mahon has fond memories of her experience as a fellow. “It has been a wonderful experience and I'm sorry that the fellowship is only a year long. The work really is done in a yearly cycle and a one-year position only gives a taste for each aspect of advancement. But it has whet my appetite to learn more and to seek a position either at StFX or another university where I can strengthen the skills and knowledge I have developed,” she says.
Afflect says that his opportunity was very rewarding and allowed him to broaden his perspective on how advancement helps students enjoy a quality education. “Those that attempt to make the university great day after day make one appreciate how special the institution is,” he says.
Tremblay says that the fellowship really helped her to gain maturity, autonomy and to move forward in her career. “In fact, I will continue on my journey at the University of Ottawa next year as a communications officer, thanks to the Meloche Monnex Fellowship program. I wish best of luck to this year’s fellows,” she says.