2023 Mohawk Awards of Excellence
Congratulations to this year’s recipients.
The Mohawk Award of Excellence is the highest honour for recognizing individual employees at the college. Three Awards of Excellence are presented annually to an outstanding employee from the faculty, support and administrative employee groups. This year's awards were presented at the President's Breakfast on August 31.
Congratulations to this year's recipients:
Greg Gagnon
ALS Technician, Accessible Learning Services
Greg is the 2023 Award of Excellence recipient in the Support Staff category. Greg's colleagues describe him as the backbone of the Accessible Learning Services team because he works tirelessly to meet the needs of students and colleagues. On any given day, Greg can be found in the Accessible Learning Lab working with students to support assistive technology needs, or creating alternate format versions of materials for students so that they can access course content. Without this his help, many students who are blind or who have severe Learning Disabilities would not be able to access course content. His expertise combined with his kind, caring and compassionate approach to students make him a highly respected member the Accessibility team and all who work with him. He truly exemplifies what it means to be an accessibility professional. He is also a leader, having served as the president of local Support Staff union at the college. Congratulations, Greg.
Tara-Lyn Dinyer
Professor, School of Health and Community Services
Tara-Lyn is this year’s recipient of the Mohawk Award of Excellence in the Faculty category. Tara-Lyn's ability to embrace creative and interactive ways to deliver teaching material and student learning is at the heart of how she supports students and inspires others to follow her lead. She has developed innovative solutions and created unique partnership opportunities with the Health, Wellness and Fitness industry that benefit both students and employers. She is actively engaged in applied research and for several years has coordinated the annual Fit-to-Pitch capstone project for students in the Health, Wellness and Fitness program. These and other examples show Tara-Lybn's commitment to developing experiential learning opportunities and her valuable connections with the local fitness community. She always goes above and beyond, whether it’s helping a colleague or volunteering at open houses and other college events. Congratulations Tara-Lyn.
Pearl Mendonca
Manager, Career and Student Success Advising
Student Services
Pearl is this year’s recipient of the Mohawk Award of Excellence in the Administrative Staff category. Pearl is the definition of what it means to be student-focused. She considers every scenario, every issue and concern, and looks at it from the lens of a student. She questions the impact of decisions on students, and identifies ways to help students navigate their academic journey more easily. Pearl is always available – to her teams, to her colleagues and to students. And she always makes time to ensure everyone she works with is set up to succeed and understand the process, timeline and the outcomes. Pearl's passion for students extends far beyond the halls of Mohawk College where she serves with the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services. She is routinely sought out for her expertise on advising models, career and employment and everything in between. She is mindful and thoughtful in all she does, and we are grateful to have her as part of the Mohawk family. Congratulations, Pearl.
About the Awards of Excellence
All full-time and part-time employees who have worked at Mohawk for at least one year are eligible. Along with being recognized with a Mohawk Award of Excellence, the three recipients will also be nominated for the Colleges and Institutes Canada national awards of excellence.
To be considered for the award, nominees must meet the following criteria:
· They have had a positive and verifiable impact on the college and the communities it serves.
· They enhance the image and reputation of their program, department, or the college.
· There is evidence of sustained contribution over an extended period.
· They demonstrate leadership or serve as a role model for others.
· They exemplify the values of the college.
· They help to advance the strategic priorities of the college.
For more information visit: https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/employees/employee-recognition/mohawk-awards-of-excellence.
Nominations for the 2023 awards will open in March.