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Greetings from the Alumni Association Chair
Kristan Ash |
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Dear Fellow Alumni,
Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed a restful holiday season and a chance to spend quality time with friends and family. Like most, you probably also took some time to reflect upon your accomplishments over the past 12 months and, perhaps, set some new goals for the year ahead.
However, what if -- like many of us -- you didn't actually accomplish every Big Hairy Audacious Goal you set for yourself in 2011? This realization can be disappointing, but the simple truth is we don't always reach our goals -- at least not within the original parameters we established.
Sometimes, there are factors beyond our control working against us or simply forcing us to change course. More times than not, however, the original plan surrounding the goal was, perhaps, a bit unrealistic in terms of timing and resources.
Take our university, for example. It started out in 1981 in a trailer campus located at 140th Street in Surrey. Sure, it was a humble start, but that's what successful people call "baby steps." Three decades later, we're about to celebrate Kwantlen's 30th anniversary and the fact that, step by step, it has grown into one of the most sought-after universities in Canada!
So, don't be deterred if you find yourself carrying over a 2011 goal into 2012. Think "baby steps" and remember: true success is about perseverance -- just ask these 7 Entrepreneurs Whose Perseverance Will Inspire You. As for fellow alumni, we have seven of our very own being nominated for this year's Distinguished Alumni Awards for their extraordinary achievements (see below).
All the best for the year ahead,
Kristan Ash
Chair, Kwantlen Polytechnic University Alumni Association
BBA, Class of 2003 |
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Kwantlen's 30th Anniversary Gala
Tickets on Sale Now for Kwantlen's 30th Anniversary Gala at the River Rock Show Theatre!
Whether you are Kwantlen College, Kwantlen University College or Kwantlen Polytechnic University graduate, you won't want to miss Kwantlen's 30th Anniversary Gala taking place Friday, March 2, 2012 at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond.
Hosted by KPUAA, this exciting event includes a presentation of the Distinguished Alumni Awards, plus an evening filled with food, wine, music and live entertainment. Come and help celebrate your alma mater's amazing journey!
Tickets are on sale now but they won't last long! Hurry and click here for more information! First 90 alumni to purchase tickets get a discounted price! | |
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Alumni Highlight of the Month
Meet Kwantlen's 7 Distinguished Alumni Award Finalists
Public and Community Category
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From left to right: Kim Baird, Stephanie Cadieux, Elizabeth Johnson, DJ Lam |
Business and Industry Category
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From left to right: Jack Fox, Gozde Hilmi, Shane King |
In this month's Kwantlen alumni highlight, KPUAA is proud to feature not one, but seven remarkable Kwantlen graduates! In fact, these fellow alumni have been judged so outstanding; they've made it into the final round of the Kwantlen Distinguished Alumni Awards competition!
In recognition of their outstanding career, public service, community service, athletic, arts and culture, or academic achievements, the following seven Kwantlen alumni have been named finalists in the 2012 Kwantlen Distinguished Alumni Awards.
"The purpose of these awards is to recognize Kwantlen Polytechnic University alumni who have enhanced the reputation of the university through their community service and professional achievements," said Kristan Ash, Chair of the KPUAA. "We are extremely proud of each of these graduates and commend them for their outstanding leadership." To learn more about the finalists, click here.
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The winner will be announced at Kwantlen's 30th Anniversary Gala on Friday, March 2, 2012 at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.kwantlen.ca/30th-anniversary-gala.html First 90 alumni to purchase tickets get a discounted price! |
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Tools for Success: Top 3 Tips to Help You Get a Handle on Your Inbox in 2012
Along with fitting in fitness, getting out of debt and making more time for friends and family, "getting organized" likely secured a spot on every 2012 Top 10 New Year's resolution list across the globe.
With a plethora of practical, as well as feel-good benefits, we all love the sense of calm and productivity that accompanies a well-organized system or space.
While there are likely many facets of our lives, homes and offices that could use a more systemized approach to orderliness, nothing could be more crucial than the efficient management of our electronic mail.
As professional organizer Linda Chu of Out of Chaos points out, an unkempt inbox is akin to leaving physical mail at the front door in a pile day after day, week after week, month after month and, in some cases, year after year.
"Imagine what it would feel like coming home to this mounting pile at your door every day?" Chu asks. "A bit overwhelming, isn't it?"
Many people face this scenario every day but instead of physical mail, says Chu, it's in the form of email, which is the first thing you look at when you start the work day and the last thing you look at when it's time to go home.
To increase productivity and alleviate feelings of stress, Chu suggests adopting three simple steps to help clear out email clutter and get a handle on important to-do items:
- Create sub-folders under your inbox to help sort incoming mail into categories.
- Create "rules" so that your email client can automatically divert incoming email into designated folders according to who sent them or other criteria appropriate to a specific project or subject. This option is especially handy for subscription e-newsletters that you want to keep in a folder to read later but not leave piling up in your inbox.
- Flag emails so that you do not forget to follow-up on time-sensitive actions. For extra peace of mind, add an electronic reminder.
For more information and tips on organizing everything from your computer station to your home, money, travel plans and more, visit www.outofchaos.ca.
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Career Services
Top 5 "Hot" new employment postings on Kwantlen Career Services Job Posting System:
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Job Title |
Company |
Closes | |
Mechanical Assembler/Technician/Accounting Clerk |
Endurance Wind Power |
1/19/2012 | |
Junior Account Coordinator |
RewardStream |
1/19/2012 | |
Graphic Designer |
STUDIOTHINK |
1/27/2012 | |
Facilities Civil Technologist |
Make a Future |
1/31/2012 | |
Coordinator, Surrey's Natural Areas Partnership |
Green Timbers Heritage Society |
2/8/2012 |
Check out more jobs at Kwantlen Career Services!
Need help with your job search?
Providing resume review, interview preparation and labour market research, Kwantlen Career Services coordinators are available at all four Kwantlen campuses to assist you with your job search. To request an appointment, visit Career Services or contact Shelley Vidal, Kwantlen Career Services Coordinator at 604.599.3401 or shelley.vidal@kwantlen.ca | |
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Business Corner
Triumph over New Year's Resolutions at Work
By: Nicholas Pavlich, B.Comm; Dip. PR, 1999 & 2006
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Nicholas Pavlich
KPUAA Director |
Lots of us start the New Year with all sorts of personal resolutions - losing weight, exercising more, going back to school, lowering stress levels, increasing time with family and friends. These are only some of the more typical resolutions. So why do so many resolutions fail? Indeed, what exactly are resolutions and what about resolutions affecting work and career?
Well, resolutions are essentially goals. And goals are specially identified with which the effort is directed. MORE
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News, Events, & Updates
Events
Kwantlen's 30th Anniversary Gala & Distinguished Alumni Awards
First 90 alumni to purchase tickets get a discounted price!
Friday, March 2, 2012 at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.kwantlen.ca/30th-anniversary-gala.html
XYBoom Conference - Registration closing soon!Act fast and register for the XY Boom Conference on Jan. 20, 2012. Connect with three generations to discuss youth unemployment and the baby boomer exit. This free event is open to youth (19-30) and is an opportunity for the three generations to collaborate and discuss how to take action on youth unemployment. Learn more at www.xyboom.ca.
How will you Make Your Mark- in your career, relationships, community, and world? 4th annual KPU Leadership Conference
Saturday January 28th (Kwantlen Surrey campus)
Limited tickets available online for only $20 - don't miss out!
More information and ticket purchase at www.kwantlen.ca/leadership
Keynotes, workshops, lunch and materials... skills, inspiration and networking too!
Career Day 2012
Connect with employers on Thursday, March 22, 2012 at Kwantlen Career Services' 7th Annual Career Day. To get the most out of the event and increase your chances of securing rewarding employment, book an appointment to review your resume/cover letter with a Surrey, Richmond, Langley or Cloverdale campus Career Services Coordinator today! For more information, visit Career Services.
News
Kwantlen Puts the Grey Cup to Work for a Good Cause
Each year the School of Business hosts a quiet holiday social to finish the end of the term and to collect unwrapped toys or canned goods for a worthy cause. This year's reception was unique as the guests had an opportunity to welcome the Grey Cup to Kwantlen and to contribute to the Dylan Reichelt Memorial Award. MORE
Kwantlen Announces Third Year of the Richmond Farm School
Kwantlen Polytechnic University and the Institute for Sustainable Horticulture, in cooperation with the Richmond Fruit Tree Sharing Project, the Richmond Food Security Society, City of Richmond and VanCity, are pleased to announce the third year of the Richmond Farm School. Commencing in February, classes run Thursday, Friday and Saturdays until November. MORE
To get the latest update on events, please check the KPUAA website closer to the events or get regular updates via twitter and facebook. | |
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Tweets of the Month
@MeetingBoy: Two wrongs don't make a right, but my boss is determined to
keep trying.
@newfylover1: A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one Year
and out the other.
@TheNardvark: I'm loving the new turtleneck I got for Christmas. Whenever
someone starts to ask me something I just retract my head. | |
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KPUAA's mission is to bring together Kwantlen alumni and help them build lifelong relationships with the university and the community, increasing the institution's reputation and the impact that graduates have on Kwantlen and the world. | |
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Alumni Professional Directory
Did you know KPUAA offers a free professional listing to all alumni, whether they are business owners, consultants or company employees? In addition to providing great networking opportunities, the alumni professional directory is a way for Kwantlen alumni to support one another and, in some cases, offer fellow alumni discounts on products and services. For more information, please View/Search the Kwantlen Alumni Professional Directory. | |
Kwantlen Polytechnic University Alumni Association
12666 72nd Avenue,
Surrey, BC V3W 2M8
alumni@kwantlen.ca KPUAA welcomes story ideas and alumni written material. To submit a story or share your ideas, please email alumni@kwantlen.ca. |
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