International leader Johnson named Distinguished Alumnus of the Year

trevor.kenney — Wed, 14 May 2014 16:27:36 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association presents a special lecture by Lawrence Johnson - Nuclear Waste, What is the Solution? - at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014 at the Dr. Foster James Penny Building

Considered an international leader in the development of fuel waste technology, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumnus Lawrence Johnson (BASc (BSc) ’78) has been named the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association’s 2014 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year.

Lawrence Johnson’s clear and innovative approach to fuel waste technology has established his position as an international leader in his field.

“We’re very excited to recognize Lawrence’s contributions to his industry with the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year honour,” says Grant Adamson, president of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association. “Lawrence is at the top of his field, and he exemplifies the spirit and values of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge through work that makes a real difference in the world.”

Johnson’s clear and innovative approach to fuel waste technology has established his position as an international leader in the field.

After graduating from the U of L in 1978, Johnson took advantage of the growing opportunities in the nuclear industry at that time and started his career at Atomic Energy of Canada. During his time with the company, he led Canadian studies for the development of engineered barriers for nuclear waste disposal that played a central role in the Canadian Environmental Assessment and Review Process conducted from 1994-97.

Currently working for the National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste in Switzerland, Johnson coordinates planning of research on repositories for radioactive waste, manages studies on spent nuclear fuel under disposal conditions and is responsible for developing design concepts for disposal canisters.

He is the author of more than 120 journals, reports and conference papers and acts as a consultant to numerous international waste disposal organizations.

“Our alumni, now numbering more than 37,000, are recognized as leaders in a variety of fields throughout the world,” says Maureen Schwartz, director of Alumni Relations at the U of L. “We’re pleased to recognize Lawrence with this honour and mindful of the many alumni who contribute to bettering their communities on a daily basis.”

Lawrence Johnson will be recognized for his outstanding professional accomplishments at the Fall 2014 convocation ceremony.

Distinguished alumnus, Manyfingers, passes away

trevor.kenney — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 21:51:50 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge community offers its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Helen Manyfingers (BEd, ‘78, LLD ’92), who passed away January 1, 2014.

A graduate of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Education, Manyfingers was the first alumnus to be granted an honorary degree from the U of L, and in 1999, she became the first alumnus to be appointed to the Order of Canada.

“Helen Manyfingers made profound positive contributions for the benefit of southern Albertans and beyond,” says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President Dr. Mike Mahon. “Her passion for education, and the work she undertook to ensure opportunities for First Nations people undoubtedly improved the lives of many individuals and families.

“We are very proud of the fact that Dr. Manyfingers was an alumna of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Her life’s work exemplifies our purpose as a university, and we are extremely proud to be tied to her legacy.”

In 2007, Manyfingers was inducted into the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Alumni Honour Society and in 2013, in recognition of her continued community service, she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Manyfingers graduated from Grade 9 at St. Mary’s Indian High School on the Blood Reserve in 1937. Later in life, as a mature student with children, she decided to further her education. After earning Teacher’s Assistant Certificates NO. 1 and 2 from Mount Royal College in 1969 and 1970, Helen enrolled at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge where she graduated with a Bachelor of Education, majoring in music and early childhood education.

For two years, Manyfingers worked as a Lethbridge Community College instructor for the basic skills program on the Blood Reserve while also working as a school maintenance supervisor at the reserve’s Lavern School. From 1969 to 1973 she taught in the Lavern and Stand Off kindergarten programs. She then became an education counsellor for the Blood/Peigan District in 1976, a role in which she served for 11 years for Blood and Peigan students on the reserve and in Lethbridge’s separate and public school systems.

Manyfingers also lent her expertise to the Lethbridge Community College Native Advisory Committee in 1975 and 1976 and to the Alberta Native Advisory Board for Southern Alberta from 1985 to 1987.

After retiring from her role as an educator, Manyfingers served as a member of the Blood Band Council, bringing a sincere dedication to making fair and equitable decisions. Further, Manyfingers served as a member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association and as the alumni’s representative on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Senate from 1985 to 1988.

Manyfingers also supported U of L students through the scholarship named in her honour – the Dr. Helen Manyfingers Alumni Association Education Award.

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International leader Johnson named Distinguished Alumnus of the Year

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Distinguished alumnus, Manyfingers, passes away

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