ACCC Leadership Awards for RDC
Dr. Gerry Paradis and Steven Kwasny Awarded with ACCC Leadership Awards
Red Deer, June 9, 2011 – The role leadership plays at Red Deer College has been recognized by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) in awards bestowed upon Dr. Gerry Paradis and Steven Kwasny. The pair accepted their awards earlier this week at an annual conference for ACCC in Edmonton.
Dr. Gerry Paradis received the ACCC Leadership Excellence Silver Award. Gerry embodies the leadership principles of leading by example, making a difference, work to coach and inspire, stay true to your values, continually learn, and most importantly, empower and rely on your team. Over the past 36 years, Gerry has contributed to the success of RDC in many capacities. He has been an instructor, an academic dean in various divisions, acting Vice President, Education; Associate Vice President, Strategic Planning and Research; and acting Associate Vice President, Student Services.
His leadership and work in preparation for degree-granting status has positioned RDC for its future and will have a lasting impact on the institution, while his understanding and development of a strategic planning process for RDC is a model often used by other institutions. Gerry has been involved with a variety of local and provincial educational committees and partners and has assisted in the development of the Alberta Rural Development Network helping rural communities grow through learning. Gerry believes in sharing knowledge and expertise and has assisted local organizations in everything from strategic planning to governance.
Steven Kwasny, past President for the Students’ Association at RDC (2009-2011), and university transfer student in the Bachelor of Arts, Political Science program, was awarded the ACCC Student Leadership Excellence Gold Award. As SA President, Steven has raised the profile of the Students’ Association and the needs of students represented within RDC, the City and the province. Steven is articulate and passionate about learning and believes in the importance of providing the opportunity to individuals who wish to further their education. Steven has been an ambassador for students on campus and provincially in regards to financial assistance and academic opportunities, to name just a couple of examples. Throughout his two years as SA President at RDC, Steven spent time mentoring high school student leaders, attending town halls, and volunteering in the community.
“RDC is proud of the accomplishments of all our faculty and staff and we are delighted with the recognition Steven and Gerry received at the national conference of Canadian Community Colleges. To be recognized nationally by their peers demonstrates the calibre of the students who study here, and the support given them by our faculty, staff and administration,” says Joel Ward, RDC President.
The Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) is a national, voluntary membership organization created in 1972 to represent colleges and technical institutes to government, business and industry, both in Canada and internationally.
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About RDC: Red Deer College has served the needs of students and the community for more than 45 years. With greater than 75 programs to choose from, we pride ourselves on providing a practical education, in a genuine and sustainable learning environment. Our 7,800 full-time and part-time credit students and more than 13,000 continuing education students are at the core of everything we do. RDC – when you get here you understand.
For more information on RDC, please visit our website: www.rdc.ab.ca
For additional information, contact:
Joel Ward, President
RDC
403.343.3233