Skookum Archive
UFV Top 40 Alumni: Jennifer Owen — Physics offered her
Dr. Jennifer Owen (nee Godfrey) has been part of scientific history, working at the Large Hadron Collider particle accelerator at the CERN particle physics laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland. She visited and/or worked at the CERN facilities continuously over six years as part of her graduate studies at Simon Fraser University, and was there when the…UFV Top 40: Rob O’Brennan — College was the school
Rob O’Brennan recently retired as CEO of the Fraser Valley Regional Library, but in 1976 he was a first-year student in one of Fraser Valley College’s early years of existence. He recalled that his semester’s tuition was just $120 for a full course load, and that there were no wait lists for classes. “We held…UFV Top 40: Sherry Mumford — The courage to come
Sherry Mumford had the honour of being the first recipient of UFV’s Distinguished Alumni award in 2003, and she added a feather to her cap by being named one of UFV’s Top 40 alumni. Now Fraser Health’s Director, Substance Use Services, Mental Health and Substance Use program, Sherry’s experience working in the substance use field…UFV Top 40: Kathleen McIntosh — Curiosity and communication help
British Columbia has had a number of notorious, extremely complicated, and lengthy criminal cases go before the courts in the past decade. Two of them stand out for the particularly nefarious nature of the purported crimes: the trial of serial killer Robert (Willy) Pickton, and the recent Surrey Six proceedings, in which several young men…Social justice champion Shirzad Ahmed receives honorary degree from UFV
Effectively fighting for the rights of refugees and immigrants from 144 countries takes 12-hours a day, seven days a week. And Shirzad Ahmed wouldn’t have it any other way. For his dedication to human rights, Shirzad will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of the Fraser Valley at 10 a.m. on…UFV Top 40: Alex McAulay — Young executive with entrepreneurial
Alex McAulay is no stranger to well-deserved praise. His hardworking, multi-tasking qualities were recognized when UFV presented the then-28-year-old with its inaugural Young Distinguished Alumni award in 2012. Alex was so honoured that he delayed his honeymoon with new wife Kaila just to receive the award. Presented to a UFV graduate under the age of…UFV Top 40: Patti MacAhonic — A leader in many
Patti MacAhonic’s life has taken some unexpected turns. Married young and widowed young in 1988, she was inspired into activism by injustices she encountered after her husband’s death following a severe workplace injury. Currently executive director at Ann Davis Transition Society in Chilliwack. Patti has applied her skills and talents in many volunteer and paid…UFV Top 40: Jason Lum — Student of everything finds
Jason Lum adhered to the “follow your interests” school of education when he was a UCFV student in the late 1990s and early 2000s. While enrolled he took a little of everything, from theatre and sociology to First Nations studies, anthropology, and medieval history. He initially planned to be a teacher, so took a wide…UFV Top 40: Dave Lanphear — Local boy makes good…
David Lanphear loves a good run, whether along the streets near his Eagle Mountain home in Abbotsford, or down Whistler’s winding slopes. But when it comes to work, his feet dig in until the job’s complete and clients are exceptionally satisfied. As Vice-President, Banking and Insurance Services, Dave is responsible for the financial performance, leadership…UFV Top 40 Alumni: Matt Loewen — Applying management skills
Matt Loewen applied the management skills he acquired by taking a UFV Bachelor of Business Administration degree (with a human resources focus) to humanitarian work in Africa. Matt was hired by the King’s Foundation in 2005 to initiate and provide a permanent presence for the organization in Botswana. Starting from a modest presence in…UFV Top 40 Alumni: Amar Kingra — Criminal justice is
Abbotsford Police Staff Sgt. Amar Kingra’s family has a very close relationship with two major Fraser Valley organizations. One is the Abbotsford Police Department, which Amar joined in 1981. His nephew, Constable Charn Kingra (also a UFV alumnus and a sessional criminology instructor), followed him into the force in 1996. And just last year, his…Scholarship inspired by excellent nursing care at Abbotsford Regional Hospital
Dr. Malwinder Singh Dhami is one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the University of the Fraser Valley. Dhami, a dentist with a long-established practice in Abbotsford, has been connected to the university for many years. He has been a member of the UFV Abbotsford Community Council , and played a key role in fundraising…UFV Top 40 Alumni: Tanya Jonker — A memorable career
Tanya Jonker will never forget her years at UFV. 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 was the UFV Young Distinguished Alumni award winner…Special edition of Skookum magazine highlights Top 40 Alumni
The latest edition of Skookum, UFV’s magazine, has hit the mailboxes of alumni and donors and is being distributed throughout our campuses and to our communities. This edition continues to celebrate our 40th anniversary and highlights the achievements of our Top 40 alumni. You can see a PDF version of the magazine here, or pick…Top 40 Alumni: Brad Jalbert — Confidence to pursue passion
Roses are a hobby that flourished for Brad Jalbert. But if it weren’t for a chance encounter with an ad for the Fraser Valley College Agriculture program, he may never have reached his full potential. Today he is considered a leading hybridizer of roses and his Select Roses varieties are recognized world-wide for their unique…UFV Top 40 Alumni: Adam Simpson — Humanitarian brings project
Adam Simpson is a project management advisor for development and peacebuilding initiatives. He has worked extensively in conflict and post-conflict zones including the Congo, South Sudan, Myanmar, and Afghanistan, and currently oversees the Europe and Middle East regional portfolios of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). Adam is also experienced in strategic program…UFV Top 40 Alumni: Terry-Lynn Stone — A way with
“University changed my life!” That’s how Terry-Lynn Stone summarizes the effect that her time at UFV (then UCFV) had on her. She was a stay-at-home mother with four children with 20-year-old credentials when family circumstances influenced her to seek a return to the workforce. She planned to start with childcare courses, and came home in…UFV Top 40 Alumni: Myrtle-Anne Rempel — Artist found inspiration
“Studying art opened my world!” So says Myrtle-Anne Rempel, a successful businesswoman and artist who took Fine Arts courses in the early days of Fraser Valley College and one of UFV’s Top 40 alumni. She earned her diploma, but enjoyed her studies so much that she took more courses than was required and spent four…UFV Top 40 Alumni: Bonnie Reilly Schmidt — RCMP veteran
Bonnie Reilly Schmidt graduated from UFV with a BA (with a double major in history and English) in 2004. She came to UFV as a mature student after a career with the RCMP. She went on to complete an MA and PhD in history at Simon Fraser. Throughout her graduate studies, she received various fellowships…UFV Top 40 Alumni: Jackie Rea — From upgrading to
Jaclyn Rea has truly climbed the educational ladder of success. She started out at what was then Fraser Valley College as an upgrading student hoping to build a better life for herself and her son. Upon completing her Grade 12 equivalency, she enrolled in the Office Careers program, which led to a position as an…UFV Top 40 Alumni: Barry Penner — Youthful politician rose
Barry Penner entered politics at the relatively young age of 29 when he surprised observers by successfully challenging a sitting Member of the Legislature for his party's nomination. He went on to be elected for the first time at age 30 and was a seasoned veteran by his mid-40s. Barry’s first full-time career was as…UFV Top 40 Alumni: Darren Penner — thirst for knowledge
Darren Penner has always been the inquisitive sort. This inclination serves him well in his career as a lawyer, and it was fostered during his time studying history at UFV. “I really started looking into what makes things work when I was seven years old, but once I got to UFV I further developed a…UFV Top 40: Chris Woods — Mix of realism and
From a young boy obsessed with popular culture and possessed with extreme artistic talent, to an established artist with multiple exhibitions to his name, Chris Woods has lived an artist’s dream. “I have been very lucky to be able to pursue my chosen profession, and UFV played no small part in my success,” he says.…UFV Top 40: Shawn Neumann — Digital marketing trendsetter finds
Shawn Neumann is an entrepreneur, public speaker, and tech leader who has built Domain 7 digital agency from a one-man shop in backroom of his parents’ Abbotsford home to a 40-employee company with offices in Abbotsford, Vancouver, Seattle, and Washington, DC. Shawn started his post-secondary journey at his local university college (then called UCFV), in…UFV Top 40 Alumni: Jennifer Owen — Physics offered her
Dr. Jennifer Owen (nee Godfrey) has been part of scientific history, working at the Large Hadron Collider particle accelerator at the CERN particle physics laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland. She visited and/or worked at the CERN facilities continuously over six years as part of her graduate studies at Simon Fraser University, and was there when the…UFV Top 40: Rob O’Brennan — College was the school
Rob O’Brennan recently retired as CEO of the Fraser Valley Regional Library, but in 1976 he was a first-year student in one of Fraser Valley College’s early years of existence. He recalled that his semester’s tuition was just $120 for a full course load, and that there were no wait lists for classes. “We held…UFV Top 40: Sherry Mumford — The courage to come
Sherry Mumford had the honour of being the first recipient of UFV’s Distinguished Alumni award in 2003, and she added a feather to her cap by being named one of UFV’s Top 40 alumni. Now Fraser Health’s Director, Substance Use Services, Mental Health and Substance Use program, Sherry’s experience working in the substance use field…