Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Association announces Awards of Excellence recipients

Waterloo - The Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Association (WLUAA) established the Awards of Excellence program to honour Laurier alumni, faculty and staff who, through their actions and accomplishments, have made a difference in the Laurier community and the community at large.

The WLUAA is proud to announce this year’s recipients, who will be honoured at this year’s Awards of Excellence banquet on May 5.

Dr. Mark Baetz – Hoffmann-Little Award for Faculty
The Hoffman-Little Award recognizes teaching excellence at Laurier. This year’s recipient, Dr. Mark Baetz, has been a professor at Laurier since 1980 and his career is distinguished by innovative research and quality teaching. He is the driving force behind Laurier’s Academic Integrity initiative, leading the way for other universities and secondary schools throughout Canada to follow Laurier’s model. Fuelled by his passion for volunteerism, Baetz also serves as the associate director of Laurier’s Centre for Community Service-Learning. More than 1,000 students participate in this program each year, which undertakes national research on service-learning. Through his teaching and research projects, Baetz has inspired countless individuals to strive for academic excellence and integrity, and to engage in community service.

James Mason – Faculty Mentoring Award
James Mason is this year’s recipient of the Faculty Mentoring Award, which recognizes outstanding support and mentoring of Laurier students. One of the many talents in Laurier’s Faculty of Music, Mason has established a stellar reputation as one of Canada’s finest oboists. As a teacher, Mason has made an indelible impact on the lives of many young musicians, providing outstanding instruction and advice, and instilling a desire for excellence. As student Aimee Foster says, “Mr. Mason is generous with his resources, always willing to contribute more for the sake of learning. We see this not only on a material level, but also with the time he invests in each of his students. He cares about the entire person, not just the musician.” Along with providing countless professional performance opportunities for his students, Mason goes beyond the call of duty and offers a great deal of personal attention, infusing the confidence needed for a career in music.

Joan Leeson – Schaus Award for Staff
This award is presented in recognition of outstanding contributions to the university by a staff member. For 20 years, Joan Leeson has served Laurier’s Faculty of Social Work as practicum co-ordinator. In her role, she arranges practical learning experiences for nearly 300 students, connecting them with local and regional human services and health agencies. The success of these placements is crucial, as they allow the students to “experience the integration of theory with practice.” In an area where many universities see placements frequently break down, Leeson matches the students and agencies with precision and sensitivity, resulting in a very high success rate. Over the years, Leeson has maintained positive contact with the numerous agencies, enabling them to develop long-term partnerships with the faculty.

Ian Troop, ’81 – Alumnus of the Year
This award recognizes outstanding achievement by a Laurier alumnus. Since graduating from Laurier in 1981, Ian Troop has led multinational organizations and global brands in North America, Europe and Asia. In 2006 and 2007, he was recognized by the Financial Post as one of Canada’s Top 20 CEOs of the Future. However, Troop is not one to forget his alma mater, donating his time, expertise and financial resources for the betterment of Laurier. A passionate and continuous supporter of the University Stadium renewal project and the football program, he also inspires others to give back. Most recently, Troop served on the business advisory committee for the Department of Athletics and Recreation.

Joan Fisk – Honorary Alumna
The Honorary Alumna Award recognizes friends of Laurier whose contributions enhance the institution and its surrounding communities. This year’s recipient is Joan Fisk, an accomplished designer and marketing executive well known in Canada’s fashion industry for her time as president of Tiger Brand Knitting Company Ltd. She transformed the former textile manufacturer into a nationally-recognized brand of apparel. Fisk has served on Laurier’s Board of Governors for a decade and is currently a member of the Executive and Governance Committee, and the Pension Committee. She has also volunteered her time and expertise with several selection committees for Laurier’s senior administration. “Ms. Fisk’s outstanding contribution to Laurier and Waterloo Region has been pivotal in making our school and our community the envy of Canada,” says Ginny Dybenko, dean of Laurier’s School of Business & Economics. Fisk is currently the president and CEO of the Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.

Alyssa Mossey ’10 – Student Alumna of the Year
This award recognizes a Laurier student who has made outstanding contributions on the Laurier Student Alumni (LSA). Alyssa Mossey has played a vital role on the LSA for the past three years. As the vice-president: events she planned and executed the 2007 Parents' Day, bringing more than 200 parents to the Waterloo campus. This year, as president of the LSA, Mossey showed exceptional leadership and worked hard to ensure the LSA was a known and respected association on campus. In January 2009, she took the lead in bringing Sue Johanson to campus — the event sold over 800 tickets and raised $1,500 for Planned Parenthood Waterloo Region. Mossey will graduate in June 2010 with a BA.