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Graduate Honoured for Excellence, Respect and Compassion
GeneralConvocationDuring this year’s convocation ceremonies, Nipissing University celebrated Maria Cristina Aguilera Valle, a Master of Science in Kinesiology student whose dedication to others has earned her the Chancellor’s Medal for Humanity. Established in 2025, the award honours a graduating student who demonstrates compassion, kindness, and service to others while making a meaningful impact within their communities. -
From Bus Stop Connections to Global Networks, First Generation Laker Builds Alumni Community
GeneralAlumniFrom as far back as he can remember, Nipissing University alumnus Steve Arsenault has carried a belief in the power of education. As a 2015 graduate of Nipissing University’s Bachelor of Education (Concurrent) program and Wilfrid Laurier University’s Bachelor of Arts in Society, Culture and Environment, Arsenault is proud to be the first in his family to attend university—a milestone shaped by the values his parents instilled early on. -
Nipissing alum appointed to Order of Canada
GeneralAlumniNipissing alumnus, John Willinsky was recently appointed to be a Member of the Order of Canada on December 31, 2025, by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, in recognition of his outstanding academic career devoted to fostering public access to research. -
NU Alumnus Tells Stories That Spark Curiosity
GeneralAlumniEnglish DepartmentFor children’s author, editor, and lifelong nature-observer Erin Alladin, every story begins with curiosity about language, landscape, and the overlooked details that make the world feel alive. But before she published acclaimed picture books or built a thriving freelance editing practice, she was a Nipissing University English student with an armful of classical-language textbooks, a deep attachment to Northern Ontario’s woods and water, and a growing fascination with how stories work from the inside out. -
Distinguished Nipissing alumnus Anna Pearson is shaping the minds of the “adults of tomorrow”
GeneralAlumniOn Anna Pearson’s first ever report card, her teacher wrote that one day, she would make an excellent teacher. That early insight has proven true. Today, Anna is a celebrated educator and the recipient of numerous teaching awards including the Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence (2024) from Nipissing University, the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence (2022) for her outstanding contributions to K-12 education, and most recently the Award for Future-Proofing Students from the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (2025). -
Rising Star Connor Lafortune is creating space for important and enriching discussions through activism and artistry
GeneralAlumniSelf-preservation, uplifting community, and standing up for what he believes in are all key lessons that artist, activist, and life promoter Connor Lafortune took from his time studying at Nipissing University.
Graduate Honoured for Excellence, Respect and Compassion
During this year’s convocation ceremonies, Nipissing University celebrated Maria Cristina Aguilera Valle, a Master of Science in Kinesiology student whose dedication to others has earned her the Chancellor’s Medal for Humanity. Established in 2025, the award honours a graduating student who demonstrates compassion, kindness, and service to others while making a meaningful impact within their communities.
