Alumni Relations Archive
UFV celebrates giving at annual Changing Lives awards ceremony
In what was described as a cross between a blind date and speed dating, UFV benefactors and the recipients of their generosity got together recently to meet, greet, thank, and celebrate philanthropy. The university held its annual Changing Lives awards ceremony at the Ramada Inn recently. The casual meet-and-greet format groups donors and recipients together,…Aluminations — Keeping in Touch
Congratulations to Durga Dhaliwal, Dip ’09, for his Keeping in Touch submission to the Fall issue of Skookum. You too can enter to win, simply by contacting us and letting us know what you’ve been up to since graduation. Submit your short update for the next issue and be entered to win! Dana Boogerd, BA…Marching forth together: Debbie and Trevor Greene have been to
Once upon a time in the early-2000s, a beautiful young accountant met a handsome, gregarious, athletic, intelligent military man. They fell in love fairly quickly, and knew they wanted to build a life together. Before too long, that life included sharing a home, welcoming a baby daughter, and making plans to marry. But first, the…Changes in the UFV Development office
After nearly six years as director of development for UFV, Lindsay Follett will step down from her role as of April 30. Lindsay is the mother of two young boys, and made the decision in March to spend more time with them. “This was a very hard decision to make,” says Lindsay. “UFV has been…Annual Alumni Evening of Theatre
UFV alumni and guests gathered for the annual Alumni Evening of Theatre on Friday, March 16. This year, the UFV Alumni Association was pleased again partner with the UFV Theatre department to invite UFV alumni and their guest to attend the much anticipated Shakespeare production As You Like It. The evening included a wine and…UFV now has two awards for distinguished alumni — nominate
The University of the Fraser Valley now has thousands of alumni living and working locally and around the world. Once again, it’s time recognize alumni of distinction by nominating them for a Distinguished Alumni award. New this year is a category for young alumni. “As we are still a fairly young university, many of our…UFV involved in community celebrations for would-be scientists of all
Do you want to learn more about biology, geography, mathematics, physics, chemistry or perhaps agriculture and computer information systems? These are just a few of the UFV’s science-related activities and displays featured at the upcoming 2012 Community Science Celebration and Careers in Science events. UFV’s Faculty of Science and the UFV Alumni Association are…UFV Distinguished Alumni winner Shirzad Ahmed recognized for human rights
Shirzad Ahmed knows what it’s like to be a refugee — stateless and far away from family and friends. At the age of 18 he was a political exile from Kurdistan, an area of northeast Iraq that suffered great oppression under the regime of Saddam Hussein and continues to be mired in poverty today. He…Donors thanked at UFV Changing Lives awards ceremony soiree
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” If you were an eavesdropper at the University of the Fraser Valley Changing Lives awards ceremony on Sept 20, you would have heard those words repeated over and over again. This year, the UFV development office, which coordinates all fundraising initiatives at UFV, tried a new cocktail party-style format…UFV nursing alumni invited to first-ever reunion Oct 21/22
Calling all nurses! Do you remember when UFV was UCFV or even FVC? Getting your diploma or degree back when you still had to wear your ‘whites’ to class? Doing your clinicals at the old MSA hospital? When you took your training beside the carpenters at the old Portage Avenue campus? Come back and relive…Dhats benefited from UFV education and are now giving back
Dave Dhat is not the easiest guy with whom to schedule an interview. Busy doing his obstetrics/gynecology rotation as a third-year medical student at McMaster University, he’s constantly being called out to hone his delivery skills. We finally connect by phone after three baby deliveries in one day on his part, and although he’s tired,…UFV Top 40 Alumni: Kelly Chahal — Abbotsford councillor earned
Kelly Chahal liked UFV so much, she stayed for three credentials with UFV's School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. First she earned her Criminal Justice diploma in 1993, then joined one of the first cohorts of the Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree, graduating in 1994. When UFV added a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice,…UFV Top 40 alumni: Shelley Besse — from teller to
From part-time teller to president of Envision Financial, Shelley Besse’s success follows a simple recipe: work hard, believe in yourself, and invest in the people around you. A UFV Top 40 Alumni and highly respected leader with extensive knowledge in financial services, Shelley’s focus throughout her career has been facilitating excellent member experiences. That passion…UFV Top 40 Alumni: Luke Armstrong — Bringing security to
Luke Armstrong is one of those people who willingly travels to danger zones from which others flee. A security advisor by profession and one of UFV’s Top 40 Alumni, he recently returned from Liberia, where he managed the security needs of medical professionals responding to the Ebola outbreak. The work is challenging, to say the…UFV Top 40 Alumni: Shirzad Ahmed — Human rights lawyer
Caring, competent, and charismatic, Shirzad Ahmed was an obvious choice for UFV’s Top 40 Alumni list. Winner of UFV’s Distinguished Alumni award in 2011, his tireless fight for oppressed and vulnerable people is partially inspired by his own trials and tribulations. At the age of 18 he was a political exile from Kurdistan. He knocked…UFV Alumni Association launches Chandigarh chapter
UFV Alumni Association news release Yesterday evening at the annual awards ceremony for UFV Chandigarh, Justin P. Goodrich, Board Chair of the UFV Alumni Association, announced to a crowd of nearly 500 guests – including students and their parents – the official establishment of the association’s first international chapter. The evening, which was attended by…UFV chooses Top 40 alumni as part of 40th anniversary
The list is out! In celebration of its 40th anniversary, the University of the Fraser Valley and the UFV Alumni Association have chosen UFV’s Top 40 Alumni. It wasn’t easy to select only 40 outstanding alumni. UFV has welcomed many students into its classrooms and labs over the past 40 years. Thousands of them have…Academic career is memorable for UFV Young Distinguished Alumni winner
Tanya Jonker will never forget her years at the University of the Fraser Valley. They helped launch her into an exciting academic career researching the mechanisms of memory retrieval. Now a PhD candidate at the University of Waterloo, Jonker graduated from UFV in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. She has been chosen…UFV Distinguished Alumni winner Patti MacAhonic a leader in many
Patti MacAhonic’s life has taken some unexpected turns. Married young and widowed young, she was inspired into activism by injustices she encountered after her husband’s death following a severe workplace injury. MacAhonic (BA Ad Ed ’02), the 2014 winner of the Distinguished Alumni Award at the University of the Fraser Valley, is currently executive director…New logo, new look, new board for UFV Alumni Association
A new logo, look, awards, and board membership were unveiled when the UFV Alumni Association held its annual general meeting on Sept. 24. In partnership with UFV University Relations, the association introduced UFV’s renovated Alumni Hall near the entrance of Building B on the Abbotsford campus. The revamped hall now celebrates alumni success from floor…Top 40 alumni — last week to nominate
Who’s in your top 40? As part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, the University of the Fraser Valley is seeking nominations for its Top 40 alumni, and organizers want your help. The campaign is into its final two weeks for nominations. “In this anniversary year we want to shine a bright light on our alumni…UFV Alumni Association appoints chair, vice-chair, and directors
The UFV Alumni Association has had a change in leadership. Jason Barnes (BSc ’04), who had been elected chair of the association in October, has accepted a job in Calgary that will prevent him from carrying out his leadership duties. Barnes will continue to serve as chair emeritus, a newly created (ex-officio) position to help…UFV Alumni Association elects new directors
There was a changing of the guards on the board of directors of the UFV Alumni Association at its recent annual general meeting as Tony Luck completed his term as board chair and a new executive was voted in. Jason Barnes (BSc ’04) was elected as chair, to serve a one-year term. Justin P. Goodrich…