UNews - Shanda Webber

Brothers continue legacy of community building through creation of Labuhn Family Indigenous Impact Prize

trevor.kenney — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 15:26:14 +0000

Brothers Harvey (BMgt ’82) and Roland Labuhn (BMgt ’90) grew up witnessing their parents’ generosity and community-minded spirit, spurring a legacy of giving they are proud to continue through the creation of the Labuhn Family Indigenous Impact Prize.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumni are longtime supporters of their alma mater, contributing philanthropically through financial contributions, volunteerism, mentorship and relationship building. The latest contribution encapsulates their commitment to community building, education, reconciliation and allyship.

Harvey, left, and Roland Labuhn.

“Our parents were refugees who knew nobody, but created a community,” says Harvey, who worked 42 years in the accounting profession and is a retired partner at Avail LLP.

Their father, an immigrant from Ukraine, managed a concrete factory where he employed a diverse workforce, including individuals from the Blackfoot Nation.

“We saw how people embraced each other, and that formed our values,” he says. “Then, with our individual journeys towards university and understanding more broadly over time, southern Alberta and Indigenous issues, we felt like it was the right focus for this scholarship because that’s where we saw the greatest need and where we could have the biggest impact.”

The Labuhn Family Indigenous Impact Prize will award two, $2,000 prizes annually, with at least one award designated for a student of Indigenous ancestry. The second is open to any student — Indigenous or non-Indigenous — with the focus of the awards going to those who have shown a commitment to improving the lives of Indigenous communities in Canada.

“We want to support and recognize the journey of Indigenous students and help them rise up,” says Roland, a technology partner at Deloitte and founder of R8dius, an Indigenous-majority-owned services firm. “And we also want to celebrate those who contribute to Indigenous communities in various ways, whether through research, science or community engagement. Reconciliation is a shared responsibility.”

Naamoipiiksi (Hummingbird) Shanda Webber (BA ’05), director of Iniskim Indigenous Relations, says the award continues to advance Indigenization and reconciliation on campus, a key ULethbridge priority.

“Gifts like the Labuhn Family Indigenous Impact Prize provide pathways for our students to pursue their post-secondary education,” says Webber. “In addition to that, the Labuhns are showing true partnership in reconciliation. This award emphasizes building relationships based on trust, respect and understanding.”

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Board of Governors Matching Fund will also double the impact of the Labuhn family donation, meaning every dollar contributed to the fund will provide twice the support for Indigenous students.

For the Labuhns, the gift is not a one-way transaction, rather it further cements relationships and elevates the community for all.

“It’s relational, and it’s a gift to us,” says Harvey. “For those of us who have the means, it’s about what it gives back in terms of how it shapes our lives and the relationships we have with our community.”

Roland encourages fellow alumni and community members to find what inspires them to contribute.

“Lean in — all of us can have an impact,” he says. “Whether you think it’s small or not, you impact a broader circle, and when you connect with others and learn about them, that is the core of life. For me, that’s the biggest part of the journey.”

The deadline for applications for the Labuhn Family Indigenous Impact Prize is April 15, 2025, after which the first recipients will be announced. Their journeys, shaped by the support of the Labuhn family, are sure to reflect the values of leadership, allyship, and a commitment to reconciliation — ensuring that the Labuhn legacy continues to inspire.

“To whomever receives this scholarship — be that light that inspires others,” says Roland. “Whether as an Indigenous leader or an ally, keep up the momentum.”

For more, see this profile.

Dhillon School of Business 2025 Scholarship Dinner to honour Elders and support Indigenous students

trevor.kenney — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 16:40:02 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Dhillon School of Business 2025 Scholarship Dinner will honour Indigenous Elders — past, present and future — while supporting the education of Indigenous students. This special event will take place on Friday, Mar. 21, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre, in Lethbridge.

The evening will feature an Indigenous-inspired menu, Indigenous silent auction and cultural programming. This meaningful gathering celebrates the vital role Elders play in the vibrancy of campus life as they share their knowledge, wisdom and traditional practices while offering guidance, cultural teachings and spiritual mentoring to students, staff and faculty.

“Elders are the backbone to our Indigenous communities and are important knowledge keepers who serve as teachers, healers and advisors,” explains Naamoipiiksi (Hummingbird) Shanda Webber (BA ’05), Director Iniskim Indigenous Relations. “They are the guardians of wisdom and traditions who connect the past with the present and future. Here at Iniskim, we are truly blessed to have such a group of amazing Elders who are here to help guide our students who will be our future leaders and caregivers of tomorrow.”

This year’s event also recognizes 40 years of Indigenous business, governance and management programming offered by the university. In 1985, the Dhillon School of Business launched Canada’s first university program specifically focused on Indigenous economic development, governance and business management. In 2021, it became the first business school in Canada to include an Indigenous course requirement as part of a student’s core business degree.

“Our school’s history shows that we actively value Indigenous business perspectives,” says Kerry Godfrey, DSB dean. “We purposely and intentionally work to elevate our understanding of different perspectives, and provide our students with meaningful opportunities to see the world of business and management from a multiplicity of viewpoints.”

Proceeds from the event will be used to establish a scholarship fund supporting annual scholarships for Indigenous students in any discipline at ULethbridge. By attending the dinner, attendees honour tradition and community while helping to break down barriers, invest in the education of future generations, and support reconciliation through education, creating a lasting impact.

Seats are limited for the event, with tickets priced at $125 per individual or $1,000 per table (seats eight). Each ticket includes a charitable tax receipt. Tickets are available online at ulethbridge.ca/dhillon/scholarship-dinner.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Pronghorn Athletics embark on Blackfoot mark project, call for artists

trevor.kenney — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 16:42:10 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Pronghorn Athletics is launching an important initiative that promises to further strengthen the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s deep connection to Blackfoot culture.

The call is out for Blackfoot artists to submit designs for the creation of a new Blackfoot mark that will embody the themes of strength, resilience and unity, reflecting both Blackfoot heritage and the values of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community. It will be used across a range of applications, from Pronghorns jerseys and merchandise to digital media and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ branding — becoming a lasting symbol of connection to the land and people.

The new Blackfoot mark will embody the themes of strength, resilience and unity.

“We’re really excited to launch this project and put the call out to Blackfoot artists to help us create this new mark,” says Neil Langevin, executive director of Athletics and Recreation Services. “This collaborative initiative will bring together various partners, with guidance from Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, to ensure cultural integrity is maintained throughout the design process.”

This project is a meaningful step toward fostering deeper respect and inclusion, reflecting ULethbridge's commitment to honouring the land and its people.

“We are Iniskim and we are located on traditional Blackfoot territory. Our commitment to the relationship between the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Indigenous Peoples connects everything we do,” explains Naamoipiiksii (Hummingbird), Shanda Webber, director of Iniskim Indigenous Relations. “As a result, I was really excited when Neil approached the Office of Iniskim Indigenous Relations explaining their desire to incorporate Blackfoot language and symbols within Pronghorn Athletics.”

It is also an opportunity to acknowledge the historical and cultural significance of Blackfoot traditions, while also embracing the future, where education, collaboration and community-building are central.

“Pronghorn Athletics has already been intentional about building relationships with Indigenous communities and athletes, including developing the Saokiawakaasiks (Pronghorns) Scholarship for Indigenous athletes, as well as hosting an annual Indigenous Basketball Night,” continues Webber. “Incorporating this new mark, grounded in Blackfoot ways of knowing, will serve as a lasting symbol of the university's commitment to inclusion, cultural respect, community-building and its connection to the land and people it serves.”

Langevin adds that nurturing the historical bonds they have established is at the heart of all their initiatives.

“The relationships we have fostered with Indigenous communities in southern Alberta and specifically the Blackfoot people are extremely important,” adds Langevin. “We have continued to look for meaningful ways to recognize the significance of Blackfoot culture and heritage to Pronghorn Athletics and I’m thrilled we’re able to begin this process for creating an identifying mark.”

The chosen mark will serve as a cultural and visual representation of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s ongoing commitment to honouring Blackfoot traditions.

Submissions will be accepted until January 31, 2025. For more details and terms of reference, refer to the project brief at gohorns.ca/ulethbridge-blackfoot-logo.

In effort to reduce financial barriers, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ waives application fees for Indigenous students

trevor.kenney — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 20:28:45 +0000

Indigenous students applying to study at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will no longer have to pay an application fee as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has introduced new changes to remove financial barriers to participation in university education.

Effective immediately, graduate and undergraduate application fees for self-declared Canadian Indigenous students are waived. In a second policy update, self-identified members of Aamskapi Pikuni, the Blackfeet Nation in Montana, are now eligible to study at ULethbridge paying domestic tuition rates, rather than international tuition fee rates.

The changes represent the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s continued commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, specifically those calling for closing the education attainment, and income and employment disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada.

“Our goal is to remove barriers for Indigenous students so they can access this incredible world of education,” says Iikaisskini (Low Horn) Dr. Leroy Little Bear (BASc (BA) ’72, DASc ’04), vice-provost, Iniskim Indigenous Relations. “Too often we hear of potential students who are wanting to apply but must decide whether they take that chance and spend the money not knowing they will qualify or use that money for necessities in their life. We cannot let that be a barrier for what could be a life-changing opportunity.”

ULethbridge is committed to increasing Indigenous student enrolment and outlined this objective in its 2023-2026 Strategic Enrolment Management plan. The plan calls for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to realize an Indigenous student enrolment rate of 10 per cent of total enrolment by 2026. Currently, Indigenous students represent six per cent of total enrolment.

“It is an aspirational goal, and we believe it is also a very achievable goal,” says Naamoipiiksi (Hummingbird) Shanda Webber (BA ’05), director, Iniskim Indigenous Relations. “It is integral we find ways to work in partnership with the Blackfoot Confederacy and surrounding Indigenous organizations and communities to eliminate barriers for students to access the university and then find success once they are enrolled. These new changes will help us create more pathways for Indigenous student success.”

Information on how to apply can be found online: undergraduate students (ulethbridge.ca/future-student/indigenous-student-application); graduate students (ulethbridge.ca/future-student/graduate-studies/indigenous-student-application).

Blackfeet students in Montana have traditionally been welcomed at Iniskim but with international tuition fees in place, few have accessed a ULethbridge educational experience.

“There is no contrived international US-Canada border on the ancestral lands of the Sisksikaitsitapi, we are all part of the Blackfoot Confederacy and now our university recognizes this through this change that opens the door to Blackfeet students who may live in Montana,” adds Little Bear.

More information on the Blackfeet International Student tuition fee can be found online (ulethbridge.ca/sites/default/files/2024/09/blackfeet_waiver_pdf.pdf).

Shanda Webber named to new role as Director, Iniskim Indigenous Relations

trevor.kenney — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 19:29:59 +0000

An experienced administrator with a proven track record of developing new and innovative Indigenous cultural programming and supporting environments dedicated to truth and reconciliation, Naamoipiiksi (Hummingbird) Shanda Webber (BA ’05), has been named Director, Iniskim Indigenous Relations.

Shanda Webber brings over 18 years of experience with a focus on Indigenous education and support services.

The new position reports directly to the Vice-Provost Iniskim Indigenous Relations, Iikaisskini (Low Horn) Dr. Leroy Little Bear (BASc (BA) ’72, DASc ’04), and plays an integral role in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s commitment to advancing Indigenization, decolonization and reconciliation, supporting strategic leadership and providing operational leadership for institutional Indigenous strategic initiatives at Iniskim.

“The search and hiring process was extensive and we had many very worthy candidates. I’m excited to welcome Shanda to this very important role,” says Little Bear. “Shanda brings over 18 years of experience within the post-secondary environment with a focus on Indigenous education and support services. Her experience from both Lethbridge Polytechnic and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, recently including her leadership with the Mastercard Foundation EleV partnership, will be especially valuable.”

Webber earned a ULethbridge Bachelor of Arts in 2005, graduating with Great Distinction and earning a spot on the Dean’s List. Her honour’s thesis: What is “Indian”, Anyways? was an analytical analysis of the construction of First Nations peoples’ identity and how this image is differently perceived and projected in various contexts and circumstances.

She began her professional career at the then Lethbridge College (now Polytechnic) as an Aboriginal Educational Liaison Officer in 2006, and advanced her career in numerous positions concluding in the role of Manager, Indigenous Services before leaving to join ULethbridge in 2021. During her time on campus, Webber has been a key contributor in developing Indigenous learning and was most recently working as Director, Strategic Indigenous Learning Initiatives.

As the strategic lead for the MasterCard Foundation EleV Project, Webber collaborated with internal and community partners in the enhancement of existing programming and the development of new programming to equip, support and enable Indigenous youth to access and be successful in attaining a post-secondary education. In addition, Webber has worked closely with executive level management in the development of institutional key performance indicators, goals and measures; developed Indigenous learning strategies, including the design, delivery and deployment of creative learning opportunities; analyzed and evaluated current operational processes and performances; and contributed to ULethbridge’s short-term and long-term operational plans across campus to identify Indigenous students’ learning and support needs — making Indigenization a priority on campus.

Webber was inducted into the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Honour Society in 2018. She considers herself a very humble Indigenous woman who is continuing to learn her Ojibway history and culture, of which her father is from the Brokenhead First Nation, located in Treaty 1 territory near Winnipeg, Manitoba, and her mother is of settler origin.

“I am truly honoured to have been chosen for this important role,” explains Webber. “As a guest to Blackfoot territory where I have made my home for the last 23 years, it is my commitment to continue to be an ally, working in partnership with the Blackfoot Confederacy and surrounding Indigenous organizations and communities to build relations in a good way and to continue to make Indigenous education a priority by increasing access to education and meaningful employment for all First Nations, Métis and Inuit students.”

“This position will work out of the Iniskim Indigenous Relations Office and most extensively with both the Blackfoot Confederacy and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge leadership, faculty, staff, Elders and community members to co-create pathways for Indigenous student success,” adds Little Bear. “I am very much looking forward to working with Shanda in this new position.”

Webber will begin her role in October.

Moving forward in a good way, EleV Navigator Team given Blackfoot name

trevor.kenney — Tue, 10 May 2022 21:07:28 +0000

The EleV Navigator Team earned a significant honour Tuesday at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, helping set the stage for the important work they will soon begin in the Blackfoot communities of Kainai, Piikani and Siksika.

Seeking to set the paths of the EleV Navigators forward in “a good way”, Blackfoot Elders Francis First Charger and Cathy Hunt advised for the EleV Navigator Team to receive a Blackfoot name as a true honour to welcome them into their roles as community liaisons. On Tuesday, First Charger bestowed the name Iiksitawapa Akakatsiyiwa (Going All Out Society) on the EleV Navigator Team.

During the ceremony, First Charger described how they arrived upon the name and how impressed he was with the navigator team.

“When we talked with them, I could see they have a lot of enthusiasm, their hearts are in the right place, and they are a very diverse group. Now that the six of them are working together they are like a family. The name is hard to translate but when I look at this group, I see they have a lot of fire in them and I see them going all out.”

Shanda Webber, ULethbridge manager of strategic Indigenous learning initiatives, says the ceremony carries great significance in Blackfoot culture.

“Receiving a Blackfoot name is a great honour, and also bears a great responsibility,” says Webber. “Every name has a meaning. Every name has a story. And once bestowed that name, it is now the individual or group who carry that name to hold true to the meaning and story of the name. I know the navigator team will hold our new name in high regard and honour our role in community.”

The EleV Navigator Team receives its Blackfoot name.

Established in late 2019, EleV is an innovative partnership between the Blackfoot Confederacy, ULethbridge and the Mastercard Foundation established to create educational opportunities for Indigenous youth and bolster supports to ensure their success.

The EleV Navigator Team consists of six dedicated navigators, of which one education and one employment navigator is dedicated to each of the respective Blackfoot Communities of Kainai, Piikani and Siksika. The primary focus of the EleV Navigator Team is to enhance opportunities for authentic relationship building and provide in-community supportive services and communication to guide Indigenous learners along their education and career pathways.

“Grounded in our Indigenous teachings and ways of knowing, our navigator team understands that everyone in the community plays an important role in assisting youth to navigate their way to post-secondary and beyond,” adds Webber. “Navigators are the community liaisons, the advisors and co-creators who will be working with community to make sure their voices and priorities are heard. They will help forge a path where we can work together for the success of our students.”

The Tuesday naming ceremony featured an offer of prayers with pipe, followed by the giving of the Blackfoot name, a praise song from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Special Advisor to the President, Dr. Leroy Little Bear (BASc (BA) ’72, DASc ’04), and a celebratory feast.

Dr. Mike Mahon, ULethbridge president and vice-chancellor, says as we move out of the pandemic there is significant momentum behind the EleV partnership as it reengages with the Blackfoot communities.

“From the outset, EleV was designed to work in partnership with the Blackfoot Nations to ensure the program continues to meet the unique needs of Blackfoot youth and communities,” says Mahon. “The navigators play a crucial role in this process of relationship building and it’s exciting from my perspective to see this team beginning to fully immerse into community to assist students as they further their education. Their work is also supporting the creation of employment and economic development opportunities through the sharing of connections and resources with the Blackfoot Confederacy.”

The navigators will begin their work in the Blackfoot communities through a series of meet-and-greet sessions beginning next week and continuing into June, buoyed by a new name that aptly captures their significant place in the EleV program.

Upcoming Sessions include:

Meet the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge EleV Team
Building Community Connections within the Blackfoot Confederacy

Kainai Nation Event

Wednesday, May 18, 2022
5 p.m. (Doors open at 4:30)
Multi-Purpose Building

For more information, please contact:
Jill Chief Calf, jill.chiefcalf@uleth.ca or
Trent Frank, trent.frank@uleth.ca

Piikani Nation Event

Thursday, May 19, 2022
5 p.m. (Doors open at 4:30)
Piikani Secondary School

For more information, please contact:
Deserae Yellow Horn, d.yellowhorn@uleth.ca or
Verona White Cow, verona.whitecow@uleth.ca

Siksika Nation Event

Coming in June, details to be announced

For more information, please contact:
Leroy Wolf Collar, leroy.wolfcollar@uleth.ca
Ek-Kanakii Mekaisto, kanakii.mekaisto@uleth.ca

New partnership with Influence Mentoring creates innovative mentoring program for Indigenous students

trevor.kenney — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 17:36:26 +0000

Indigenous students at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will have the opportunity to connect with Indigenous and non-Indigenous professionals across a range of career paths thanks to a new partnership between ULethbridge and the Influence Mentoring Society.

The program is an online initiative that pairs interested Indigenous students who are committed to achieving their career goals with professionals in a protégé/mentor relationship. In addition, the mentoring partnerships are integrated with strategies and projects including workshops and bootcamp-style and other experiential learning sessions that are safe, inclusive and culturally aware.

“We are truly excited to launch this new partnership with Influence Mentoring,” explains Shanda Webber, manager of Strategic Indigenous Learning Initiatives for the EleV Project at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. “This innovative program will allow Indigenous students from ULethbridge the opportunity to build genuine relationships with dedicated mentors in the field of their study that will ultimately lead to building capacity, talent and enhancing future career opportunities. As well, the partnership will contribute to a foundation of knowledge and mutual respect between industry and Indigenous students, thus helping to create a more equitable and inclusive work environment.”

The vision of Influence Mentoring is to work collaboratively, across cultures, to create better opportunities for Indigenous post-secondary students throughout their post-secondary careers, and to create measurable opportunities for reciprocal mentoring, in the spirit of reconciliation, to increase awareness of Indigenous culture, history and issues.

“Traditionally, mentorship has played an important role in the Indigenous community,” says Influence Mentoring Society Chairperson, Colby Delorme. “Culture, traditions, spirituality, teachings, and stories have all been shared and best understood through the Elder and protégé relationship. This transference of knowledge has been integral to Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Influence Mentoring is built on this foundation.”

Since the receipt of seed funding from actors and philanthropists Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively as well as additional support from RBC and a family foundation, the Influence Mentoring program has been successful in collaborating with several notable and national organizations to provide one-on-one and group mentorship to post-secondary Indigenous youth in a variety of industries and sectors.

This national program will match a mentor with an Indigenous student for one academic year, with the opportunity for the student to match with the same or other mentors in the same industry for each year of their educational journey.

“With the mentorship program occurring simultaneously over the full academic year, Indigenous students will have extra supports and guidance to assist them in achieving success,” adds Webber. “The approach is also holistic in nature, ensuring our next generation of leaders has access to the tools and resources necessary for a successful life of community service, family-building and personal fulfillment.”

When EleV was established in 2019, programs such as these were at the heart of its mandate.

“The Influence Mentoring program is a prime example of what the EleV project is all about — creating opportunities for Indigenous learners to be full partners in their education and journey to meaningful work,” says Webber.

A virtual information session for ULethbridge Indigenous students took place today, with future Influence Mentoring information workshops to be announced shortly. Indigenous students who are interested in becoming a protégé are encouraged to apply online at Protégé Application: influencementoring.com.

About Influence Mentoring

Influence Mentoring is an Alberta society governed by a volunteer Board of Directors with substantial experience working with Indigenous communities and across the not-for-profit and corporate sectors.

Influence is a collaborative organization whose goals are to create better opportunities for Indigenous post-secondary students, and to create opportunities for mentors to raise their awareness of Indigenous issues, culture, and history. The Influence Mentoring program itself is a new initiative aimed at building capacity, talent, and career opportunities for eligible Indigenous students, who are committed to achieving their career goals. This innovative program is delivered through an online platform thereby allowing protégés and mentors to participate in the mentoring program from anywhere in Canada.

About EleV

Established in late 2019, EleV is an innovative partnership between the Blackfoot Confederacy, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and the Mastercard Foundation established to create educational opportunities for Indigenous youth and bolster supports to ensure their success.

The tri-partnership includes four overarching objectives:

Build pathways and enhance access to post-secondary education for prospective indigenous students
Enhance supports to increase indigenous student success at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge
Leverage current academic and research programming, and infrastructure to build connections between education and economic opportunity linked employment
Support the development of employment and economic development opportunities through the sharing of connections and resources to balance the principles and visions of the Blackfoot confederacy, and aspirations of the individual nations and aspirations of the individuals

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association inducts six into Alumni Honour Society

trevor.kenney — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 14:14:09 +0000

From passionate songwriters to dedicated educators and more, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association (ULAA) is pleased to induct six new members into the Alumni Honour Society.

“Our six inductees this year represent a wide range of skills but they are united in that they are all passionate about their roles and have all made an immeasurable difference in their communities,” says Matthew McHugh, Chair of the ULAA Recognition Committee. “We’re proud of their accomplishments and how they have built off their U of L educations and given back to their communities in such substantial ways.”

Introduced in honour of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s 35th Anniversary in 2002, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association established the Alumni Honour Society to recognize the achievements of a select group of alumni each year. The individuals honoured serve as role models through success in their vocation, outstanding community service or superior accomplishment in their avocation.

Like those before them, the 2018 inductees are outstanding examples of U of L alumni. Each of the individuals used the knowledge they gained at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to achieve their personal and professional goals, and through these achievements has left a lasting impact on the people, organizations and communities with which they are involved.

The group will be inducted into the Alumni Honour Society and celebrated at Let There Be Light Night, on Friday, October 12, 2018.

2018 Alumni Honour Society Inductees

Trevor Clark |BMgt ’99

Trevor Clark has built a career helping others by providing compassionate leadership in emergency situations. After graduating from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Management in International Management, he went on to complete his Master of Arts in International Conflict Analysis. He now works for the United Nations leading humanitarian and development responses in some of the most fragile countries on the planet. He is well-respected as an exceptional program manager with the ability to bring teams together to provide sound resolutions for both individuals and the organizations they serve.

Dinah Davis | BSc ’02

Bringing education, passion and enthusiasm to all she does, Dinah Davis is recognized as a leader in the field of Information Technology. After graduating from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, she continued her education by completing a Master of Mathematics Degree in Cryptography, the practice of secure digital communication. She is currently the Vice-President of Research and Development at Arctic Wolf Networks, a cybersecurity start-up. In addition to her professional responsibilities, she is a passionate advocate for young women in technology-related fields and founded codelikeagirl.io to actively empower women to become leaders in the industry. Davis is an inspirational mentor, an exceptional role model to women worldwide, and a strong advocate for gender equality.

John Wort Hannam | BA/BEd ’96

Recognized internationally for his melodies and moving lyrics, John Wort Hannam is an award-winning singer/songwriter based in Lethbridge. His music is deeply rooted in the people, images and landscapes of southern Alberta. Frequently called upon to perform at community events and fundraisers, he lends his talent and support to various charitable and social causes. In 2017, his song Let It Shine On was commissioned to celebrate the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s 50th anniversary.

Kristina Larkin | BA/BEd ’12

Kristina Larkin is passionate about education and community involvement. She is an active volunteer and community organizer, and currently supports over 400 immigrant and refugee children and youth through her role as Manager of Youth Settlement Services at Lethbridge Family Services. Larkin is committed to using her education to affect change in her community and has been involved with many organizations, including the Westminster Neighbourhood Association, the Rotary Club of Lethbridge Urban Spirits, Womanspace Resource Centre, and the Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group. Larkin is recognized as a role model with the ability to empower individuals through community education, igniting a spark for social justice unlike any other.

Dale Ptycia | BASc (BA) ’85

Dale Ptycia was the first of his family to pursue post-secondary education and credits his time at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as the foundation to his success in the business of sport. Centering around his deep love for hockey, Dale began his career with Hockey Canada as a coach and instructor. Over his 30 years with the organization, he has excelled and evolved from Program Manager to the Senior Manager of Licensing and Merchandising. Ptycia maintains a strong commitment to giving back to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ that enabled him to align his career with his passion.

Shanda Webber (née Venier) | BA ’05

Shanda Webber (née Venier) has become a role model in the Indigenous community for both her research and volunteer work. As a student, she was an advocate for increasing access and enhancing resources to assist First Nations, Métis and Inuit students build connections, encouraging success among her peers. Professionally, her work focuses on assisting prospective students transition to the post-secondary environment as well as, developing and enhancing academic and cultural support services for Indigenous learners. She is currently the Manager of Recruitment and Indigenous Services at Lethbridge College.

UNews - Shanda Webber

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