NU celebrates Alumni with awards

Nipissing University is celebrating the achievements of three outstanding graduates and will bestow honorary alumni status to one exceptional individual for the 2016 Alumni Awards.Dr. Peter Bush receives the Dr. James Jamieson Influential Alumni Award. Dr. Bush graduated Nipissing with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Geography in 1991. In the past quarter century, he has made outstanding contributions in biogeographic knowledge to all major sectors of society including government, industry, academia and non-government organizations. Robert Shaw receives the Rising Star Alumni Award. Shaw graduated from Nipissing with a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education in 2014 and has continued his education in pursuit of a PhD in Kinesiology at McMaster University. Shaw is the 2015 Canadian National Wheelchair Tennis Champion and will be competing internationally as a member of Team Canada. Sylvie Vannier receives the Distinguished Alumni Achievement. She graduated from Nipissing University in 1999 with a Bachelor of Education. Vanier has worked as a high school English and Co-op teacher, a Student Success Leader, a Vice-Principal and a Nipissing University Additional Basic Qualifications English instructor for Bachelor of Education graduates. She also worked for the Ministry of Education and chaired an International Certifying Board in Washington DC. Edward Salai will be presented the Honorary Alumni status. At 91 years young, he has an insatiable desire to learn and make a significant contribution to his community. Salai began his career as a telegrapher at the age of 17. A life-long learner he enrolled at Nipissing’s Muskoka Campus in 1998 to attain his undergraduate degree in Child and Family Studies from Nipissing. The awards will be presented on Tuesday, May 10, in a special ceremony at The Miner’s Son. For a list of all alumni award winners past and present,click here.