Dear Fellow Alumni,

May is one of my favourite months. No matter what stage you're at in life, for some reason, the excitement and anticipation of the upcoming summer break never seems to go away.

As a student, I looked forward to a new summer job; meeting new friends; long, sunny days at the beach and late nights - with nary a textbook or yellow highlighter to be found! Today, my family and I plan our summer holidays, extra-long visits with friends and, of course, a double feature at Langley's Twilight Drive-In. We register for camps, buy pool noodles and simply relish the idea of a break from life's regular routines.

While reminiscing about the excitement of summer holidays, it always gets me to thinking that "then" and "now" are very different - yet, at the core, the same. And that's the feeling I get as I walk through the halls at Kwantlen. Having opened our doors in 1981, we are now into our 30th year of operation! Many things (including my hair style!) have evolved considerably throughout the years. One only has to visit the newly renovated Langley campus or stop by the Kwantlen yoga studio or Aboriginal Gathering Place to see the magnificent environment that is being created for students.

What hasn't changed, however, is the focus on quality, hands-on education and the value placed on the important relationships that are built at Kwantlen. With the evolution of our university, today, people are spending more time on campus. They are developing more friendships, creating deeper connections and experiencing a sense of community that is sure to benefit them throughout their lifetime.

I also envision this for the alumni association. Whether you attended Kwantlen College, Kwantlen University College or Kwantlen Polytechnic University, we are a community. Old, new, then, now - we're one in the same and together I know we can create a strong association that benefits all of us, including those that follow in our footsteps.

All the best,

Kristan Ash

Chair, Kwantlen Polytechnic University Alumni Association

BBA, Class of 2003

Alumni Highlight: Kwantlen Grads: Nursing You Back...To the Future

In the spirit of "then and now," this month KPUAA is proud to highlight two (one early and one soon-to-be) nursing alumni: Louise Benoit and Ken McDonald. Click here to check out their recent Q&A on inspiration and life at Kwantlen and beyond. 

Brand New

Did you know that, since becoming a university, Kwantlen has been working on developing a new brand to best represent its new status, while still recognizing its history? It is now in the final stages of the exercise and has been presenting the proposed new brand and visuals to a variety of test groups to determine whether the "new look" expresses what Kwantlen represents. The intention of the re-branding is to provide a more aggressive and "edgy" view of Kwantlen as a modern, new university. Watch for the new brand to roll out this fall.

Business Corner - If 'then was now': What would you do differently in the business world?   - By Marc Bains, BBA

Exciting Faculty Updates

ACP Faculty Members on Leave to Complete PhDs KPUAA and the department of Academic and Career Advancement (ACP) sends best wishes to ACP faculty members Val Innes and Terry Berg, who are currently on educational leave to complete their PhD degrees. To read a summation of their exciting work, click here.

Kwantlen Chancellor Reappointed for Three Years

After serving as Chancellor of Kwantlen Polytechnic University for the last three years, Arvinder Singh Bubber has been reappointed for an additional three years as the head of the university. MORE>  

Kwantlen Polytechnic University Appoints New Provost and VP Academic

Kwantlen Polytechnic University announces the appointment of Dr. Anne Lavack as Provost and Vice President Academic. Dr Lavack, the current Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration at the University of Regina will join Kwantlen on July 1, 2011. MORE> 

Kwantlen Polytechnic University Appoints New Associate Vice President, Academic

Kwantlen Polytechnic University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jane Fee as Associate Vice President, Academic. Dr. Fee is currently the Associate Dean of Arts and Social Sciences at Simon Fraser University and will join Kwantlen on September 1, 2011. MORE>

Kwantlen Beats All Other Canadian Teams in Prestigious Global Business Competition

Kwantlen Polytechnic University had its best finish ever at this year's APEX Business IT Competition in Singapore. The competition, which took place between April 25 and 29, pitted Kwantlen business students Mike Harrison, Erin Spiller and Amanda Ovenden against 27 other teams from 15 countries and five continents. MORE>    

Local Student Wrestles His Way To The Top!

Kwantlen horticulture student, Chanmit Phulka, is headed to the junior world wrestling championships. Recent victories at the national level in March mean Phulka will represent Canada in Romania this July. MORE>