Posted on April 2: Students recognized for outstanding contributions

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BY Michelle Ball

April 2, 2003

Nearly 250 people attended the McMaster Students Union's 23rd annual Student Recognition Night Monday at the CIBC Banquet Hall. The event held special significance, as it was the first time Student Recognition Night took place at the McMaster University Student Centre.

This event recognizes the contributions of outstanding students to the McMaster community.

“At this time of year there are a number of award ceremonies held on campus. The recent MSU teaching awards and the athletic awards are just two of many,” said McMaster President Peter George. “But the Honour M Awards stand out. They are one of the most significant honours for McMaster students and recognize the outstanding accomplishments they make to their fellow students, the community and the University.”

This year's Honour M Award winners were Adam Spence and Joanna Ranieri. The Honour M Award is presented to students who show commitment to extra curricular activities both within the McMaster community and have rendered outstanding and valuable service to the Hamilton community and/or the McMaster community by any or all of the following: university government, student government, residence government, departments, clubs, societies, and/or university athletics.

Adam Spence's contributions during his time at McMaster have included developing the Horizons leadership conference for incoming McMaster students, restructuring of the MSU Community Relations Committee and the MSU Environment Committee into services, serving as president of the Social Sciences Society, hosting the Social Sciences Education Symposium and starting the social sciences newspaper. Spence was this year's MSU vice-president education.

Spence was also the recipient of the Rudy Heinzl Award of Excellence for his outstanding one-year achievement improving the lives of McMaster students as MSU vice-president education. Click here for Spence's citation.

Joanna Ranieri has shown an outstanding commitment to the environment during her years at McMaster. Aside from chairing the MSU environment committee, she has worked to develop environmental policies for McMaster University. Ranieri has also co-chaired the Tupperware Challenge and organized cleanups of campus and Cootes Paradise. She also has worked closely with the City of Hamilton and on the development of the city's solid waste management strategy. Click here for Ranieri's citation.

Sean Park was awarded the MSU Merit Scholarship. This is awarded to a student who has exhibited outstanding and valuable service to the McMaster community by any or all of the following: university government, student government, residence student leadership, academic departments, clubs, faculty societies, charity work, volunteer service and/or university athletics. Park was instrumental in developing student government representation for the Bachelor of Health Sciences program. He is also a co-creator of the Mac Cycle Co-op and a member of the MSU Educational Affairs committee.

The Student/Alumni Relations Award was given to Kara Schnarr. Schnarr has been involved in the Emergency First Response Team. She organized a reunion of McMaster EFRT responders that was attended by more than 70 people. In addition, she organized a national conference that showcased McMaster's role in developing emergency response services.

The annual MSU Alumni Association Lifetime Award of Leadership was presented to Lachlan MacLachlan, MSU president in 1966-67 and current ombudsman of the CIBC. MacLachlan has held several positions at CIBC including vice-president, Commercial Banking, and assistant to the president of the Personal and Commercial Bank, CIBC. MacLachlan is also governor of the Kingsway College School and a director of the Canadian Platform Tennis Association.

The J. Lynn Watson award for charitable service by a residence was awarded to Wallingford Hall with a special mention of their work raising funds for Cystic Fibrosis.

The Canadian Blood Services Blood Vessel Award was awarded to the Faculty of Engineering for the faculty or group that contributed the most units of blood this year.

Recipients of awards from other ceremonies were also recognized for their contributions including GSA Teaching Assistant Excellence award winners, major athletics award winners and MSU Teaching Awards.