Previous Alumni Award Winners

Homecoming 2013 Alumni Awards
Homecoming 2013
Alumni Awards

Previous Winners

The Alumni Awards celebrate the achievements, dedication, and contributions of our remarkable alumni and University champions.

Individuals are recognized in one of five award categories:

Dr. James Jamieson Influential Alumni Award
Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
Rising Star Alumni Award
Honorary Alumni Award
Philanthropy Award

Dr. James Jamieson Influential Alumni Award

Presented to a graduate whose dedication and leadership has influenced significant change and prosperity within their community. The recipient may be an alumnus of one of the following institutions: North Bay Normal School, Teacher's College, Nipissing University College or Nipissing University.

The award is named after Dr. James Jamieson, who was made an honorary member of the Nipissing University Alumni Association in the early 1980s. He was one of the founding members of the Alumni Association and served as its first President from 1973–1975. He served as a member of the Board of Governors from 1975–1986. In 1981, he, along with Dr. George Zytaruk, was instrumental in setting up the Office of Alumni Affairs.

The award is presented during a yearly event (the date is determined each year).

Past Recipients of the Dr. James Jamieson Influential Alumni Award

  • 2025 Sabah Khan
  • 2024 Dr. Joyce Helmer
  • 2023 Dr. Jonathan Pitt
  • 2022 Gemma Victor
  • 2021 Emily Gillespie
  • 2020 Hariett Madigan
  • 2019 Julio Viskovich
  • 2018 Jennifer Conley
  • 2017 David K. Bell
  • 2016 Dr. Peter Bush
  • 2014 Erin Dokis
  • 2012 Marianne Berube
  • 2011*
    Alexandra Archibald, Tina Benevides, Kim Boechler, Gerry Brennan, Jennifer Burgoyne, Naomi Cheechoo, Cameron Culbert, Anthony D'Agostino, Marianne den Haan, Ian Desjardins, Anna Fitzsimmons, Barbara Groves, Alison Herst, Yves Kalala, Matthew McKean, Paula Murphy, Michelann Parr, Julie Pennell, Andrew Perrin, Trina Prince, Doug Rogers, Kevin Salzman, Virginia Schonhoffer, Andrzej Schreyer, Fred Watkin, Ann Marie Welsh, Alan Williams, Rosie Zinn, & JoAnn Zytaruk

*The Dr. James Jamieson Influential Alumni Award was introduced in 2011 and was presented to a multitude of exceptional alumni.

Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award

Presented to an alumnus/ae whose achievement and excellence in their endeavours have distinguished themselves as a valued leader. The recipient will have demonstrated positive influence through their professional pursuits. As a result of their actions, the alumnus will have made a strong contribution to the prestige and reputation of Nipissing University. The recipient may be an alumnus of one of the following institutions: North Bay Normal School, Teacher’s College, Nipissing University College or Nipissing University.

*Please note that this award was previously known as the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Past Recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award:

  • 2025 Anna Pearson
  • 2024 Mabel Plourde-Doran
  • 2023 Maggie Horsfield
  • 2022 Stacie Fiddler
  • 2021 Dillon Richardson
  • 2020 Dr. Thomsen D'Hont
  • 2019 Alicia Gal
  • 2017 Aengus Finnan
  • 2015 Sylvie Vannier
  • 2013 Kristopher Stevens and Rob Graham
  • 2012 ​Paul Heinrich and Dr. Glynn Sharpe
  • 2011 ​Ted Weltz
  • 2010 Kimberly Burley and Judy Derick 
  • 2007 Philomena Bonis
  • 2006 Jamie Lim 
  • 2004 Dr. Jeff Kleim
  • 2003 Dr. Cecile Somme
  • 2002 Dr. Laverne Smith and Dr. John R. McCarthy
  • 2000 Professor Jack Jones
  • 1999 Dr. Elizabeth Thorn​​​​​

Rising Star Alumni Award

Presented to a recent graduate of Nipissing University who has demonstrated significant achievements on a professional, community and/or volunteer basis or has displayed promise of significant future accomplishments. Restricted to alumni up to and including their fifth year of graduation.

*Please note that the Rising Star Alumni Award was previously known as the Alumni Achievement Award. 

Past Recipients of the Rising Star and Alumni Achievement Award:

  • 2025 Connor Lafortune
  • 2024 Nakissa Koomalsingh
  • 2023 Megan Odd
  • 2022 Avery Beall
  • 2021 Alexander Maycock
  • 2020 Cameron Ghent
  • 2019 Alysha Young
  • 2018 Annie Sumi
  • 2017 Timothy Brazeau
  • 2016 Robert Shaw
  • 2014 Matthew Adamson
  • 2013 ​Jaymie Lathem and Shannon Palmer
  • 2012 Leah Symington
  • 2011 ​Ashley Brown
  • 2010 Alex Kappos
  • 2009 Gordon Kerr
  • 2008 Ms. Kimberly Blacker
  • 2007 Mr. William Ferguson
  • 2006 Ms. Krista Lariviere
  • 2004 Mrs. Marilyn Orieux-Tignanelli
  • 2003 Mr. Theo Margaritis
  • 2002 Ms. Lotje Hives and Ms. Gay Smylie

Honorary Alumni Award​

Presented to an individual who is not a graduate of the University, but whose actions and dedication have had a positive impact on the Nipissing University experience. This honour recognizes friends of Nipissing University for outstanding service, commitment and contribution, past or present, to the University.

Past recipients of the Honorary Alumni Award:

Philanthropy Alumni Award

Awarded to an alumnus or champion of Nipissing University who is making significant contributions to improve their community through their generosity, dedication, commitment and service. The ideal candidate is passionate about an important social cause, freely gives their time, exemplifies great leadership qualities and has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving the social challenge related to his or her cause. This can include attempting to break down biases, change perceptions and alleviate issues impeding progress, working toward conquering a problem and/or responding to a need in a tangible way. An individual that graduated from one of the following institutions is considered an alumnus: North Bay Normal School, Teacher’s College, Nipissing University College or Nipissing University.

Past recipients of the Philanthropy Alumni Award: