Alumni News
Alumni eNews
Issue: 22March 2012

Greetings from the Alumni Association Chair 

Kristan Ash
Kristan Ash
Kristan Ash
  

Dear Fellow Alumni,

 

Happy first day of spring! For many, including myself, the impending explosion of pink cherry blossoms and slowly rising temperatures are cause for some serious celebration. In fact, it seems this whole month has offered plenty of opportunities for us to 'whoop it up.'

 

As you know, we celebrated our alma mater's 30th anniversary and 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award winners at the River Rock Casino Resort on March 2. The event, which featured Vancouver's favourite house band, Dr. Strangelove, marked a pivotal milestone in the history of Kwantlen. Over 300 guests including alumni, staff, students and community partners attended the celebration and I would personally like to thank each one of them - along with our generous sponsors, prize donors and hard working staff members who helped make this event a huge success.

 

Most importantly, of course, I would like to congratulate this year's very deserving Distinguished Alumni Award winners: Shane King and Chief Kim Baird! Each are making incredibly important contributions to our society and make all of us proud to be graduates of Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Congratulations to you and the rest of the remarkable nominees!

 

Sincerely,

 Kristan Signature

Kristan Ash

Chair, Kwantlen Polytechnic University Alumni Association

BBA, Class of 2003

 

P.S. Photos from the gala celebration can be found on KPUAA's Facebook page.

Alumni Highlight of the Month

Proud Kwantlen Grads Recognized at Gala Celebration

shane_highlight photo
Shane King (right) receives Kwantlen's 2012 Business and Industry Distinguished Alumni Award from HSBC's Richard J Cottell, Senior Vice President, Head of Commercial Banking, BC.

 

Kwantlen's newest Distinguished Alumni Award winners were announced at the university's 30th Anniversary Gala held March 2, 2012 at the River Rock Show Theatre in Richmond.

Kim_highlight photo
Kristan Ash, KPUAA Chair, presents Chief Kim Baird (left) with the 2012 Public and Community Distinguished Alumni Award.

 

Shane King, a 1992 business alumnus and incorporated partner with KNV Chartered Accountants LLP, was recognized for outstanding achievements in his profession and for giving back to both the business and Kwantlen communities. View his nominee video HERE!  

 

 

Tsawwassen First Nation Chief Kim Baird, a 1992, Associate of Arts graduate, was recognized in the Community and Public Service category for her work and leadership in the First Nation community, and for setting a sustainability standard for other First Nation communities both provincially and nationally. View her nominee video HERE!  

 

 

Special thanks to 30th Anniversary Gala Prize Donors!

 

KPUAA would like to thank everyone who helped make the gala a success! The event featured a raffle prize draw which was only possible through prize donations from generous individuals and businesses in the community. A list of all prize donors can be found here.

 

surrey.comWe would also like to acknowledge Surrey.com for providing their preferred card to all 300 raffle prize purchasers at no cost. Surrey.com's preferred card offers discounts at local business in the cities of Surrey, Langley, Cloverdale, White Rock and Delta. Surrey.com is a local initiative started by two Kwantlen alumni who are now extending their preferred card exclusive offer to their fellow alumni.

 

Take advantage of this offer by applying for your free preferred card online and use the code to get the card at no cost. Support fellow alumni and use the power of Kwantlen Alumni numbers to get more rewards and discounts.  For more information about the preferred card or to sign up visit www.surrey.com/preferredprogram Discount code: PreferredAlumni

Tools for Success: 7 Questions To Finding Your True Passion

Part 2 of 2 in KPUAA Love Your Career Series

Written by Fredrik Premji, www.ineedmotivation.com

 

According to a recent survey, about 75 percent of the population do not know what their true passion is. Clearly, almost everyone seems to not be doing what they were meant to do. This is an eye-opener because doing what we really love is absolutely necessary if we want to be fully happy. Perhaps this is why there is so much unhappiness going on in our society - people just aren't doing what they are meant here on Earth to do.

 

Finding your true passion isn't as simple as it may seem, however. For some, yes, it does come naturally, but most of the time, you have to ask yourself some questions to pinpoint exactly what you were born to do. Here are my 7 questions that can guide you to finding your ultimate passion: MORE

Career Services

 

Check it out: 7 "Hot" new employment postings on Kwantlen Career Services Job Posting System:

 

Job Title

Company

Computer Service Technician     

Blue Edge Technology Solutions Inc.    

Data Entry Assistant                                   

Blue Ruby Jewellery

Mental Health Nurse                      

Calian Psychiatric

Payroll/Benefits Administrator      

Century Group Lands Corp.         

Quality Service Analyst (temp.)    

Community Living BC       

Designer/Product Development & 3D

Visualization Corporate Images   

PR & Promotions Coordinator

Doteasy Technology Inc.   

 

Don't Forget: March 22 is Career Connection Career Day!

Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Centre for Co-operative Education and Career Services invites alumni to connect with nearly 40 employers at our upcoming Career Connection Day on March 22, 2012 in the Surrey campus atrium. To view the exhibitor list or to learn more, please visit Career Services. 

 

Need help with your resume, cover letter or job search? Kwantlen Career Services coordinators are available at all four Kwantlen campuses to assist you. Contact Shelley Vidal, Kwantlen Career Services Coordinator at 604.599.3401 or shelley.vidal@kwantlen.ca

 

 

 

Business Corner: Top Six Tax-SavingTips for Individuals

By: Shane King,CA, Partner, KNV Chartered Accountants LLP
Shane King
Alumnus 1992

 

This month's Business Corner is a special feature written by our 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award winner in the Business and Industry area. Shane King shares his top six tax saving tips just in time for tax season!

 

To minimize the amount you spend on personal income tax and to undertake planning in keeping with your personal, investing, and estate planning objectives, consider tax planning strategies that make sense in your own situation. Rather than waiting until 2013, take some time now to plan and implement a few simple tax planning techniques which could result in a pleasant surprise in the form of a tax refund when you go to file your 2012 tax return. Read More>>>  

 

 

News, Events, & Updates

 

Events

 

PAT's 2nd Annual Scholarship Fundraiser

The President's Ambassadorial Team (PAT) invites alumni to its 2nd Annual Scholarship Endowment Fundraiser featuring a night of exhilarating live horse races and fabulous auction items up for bid on March 23 at Fraser Downs Racetrack & Casino! The goal of the event is to raise $10,000 in order to establish an annual bursary for current and future Kwantlen students who excel academically and contribute to the university and community.Time: 6:00pm-9:30pm (dinner from 6:30-8:30). Ticket Price: $35.00. Call (778) 828-2997 or email mchechang@gmail.com.

 

Open House

Share you Kwantlen experience with prospective Kwantlen students! The open house offers future Kwantlen students a chance to find out about programs, engage with faculty, staff,  alumni, ask questions, and tour the campus. Come out and stop by the Alumni Table on March 31st from 11 am - 3 pm at the Surrey Campus.

 

The KPUAA will be giving away swag at the event and a $500.00 tuition credit to a lucky draw winner. For more information about this event, visit www.kwantlen.ca/openhouse.html .

 

If you are interested in volunteering at the alumni booth and share your Kwantlen experience with attendees, please email alumni@kwantlen.ca .

 

Celebration 2012 - Register here

Research Invite
Click on the image to enlarge

 

News

 

Rotary Offering Young Professionals a Round Trip to New Zealand

Rotary International District 5050 is seeking applications for its Group Study Exchange (GSE) Program, a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women between the ages of 25 and 40. The four to six week program includes a round trip airline ticket to New Zealand, accommodations with host Rotarians, meals and group transportation. For applications and more information, visit www.district5050.org .

 

Citytv's Breakfast Television's Host Talks With Fashion Student Earl Luigi

Earl Luigi is still a student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, yet last fall his designs were photographed for Elle Canada. This young fashion designer joins us in the studio with his story and some of his hit designs. Watch the video here.

 

Kwantlen instructor Lisa Monchalin becomes first Aboriginal woman in Canada with a PhD in Criminology

She's an instructor, a speaker, an active member of the community and now Lisa Monchalin is the first Aboriginal woman in Canada to hold a Ph.D. The Kwantlen Polytechnic University instructor completed her Ph.D in Criminology in December 2011 at the University of Ottawa. MORE

 

Kwantlen Eagles win national bronze

Two athletes from Kwantlen Polytechnic University's varsity badminton team returned from the 2012 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Championships with the University's third medal in three consecutive championships. Willis Kwee (Richmond, BC) and Andy Wong (Vancouver, BC) won a bronze medal in men's doubles. 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. 

Tweets of the Month

 

@kellysdf If you want a successful relationship, find someone who likes the same thermostat setting you do. 

 

@NOT_A_ZEPPELIN No one makes a bigger deal about driving to work than firetrucks.

 

@unflux Remember when we were kids and all we had to play with was '"outside?"

 

@kellysdf I spent an hour explaining how WiFi works to my dad and my dog. The dog gets it.

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.

 

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.

In This Issue
Greetings
Special thanks
Tools for Success
Career Services
Business Corner with Shane King
News, Events, & Updates
Tweets of the Month
Alumni Professional Directory

Alumni Links
Kwantlen Links