The Awards of Excellence recognize individuals who bring honour to Wilfrid Laurier University through:
• professional accomplishment
• notable personal contributions in the community
• distinguished service to the University
The winner embodies the spirit of Laurier and through action and accomplishment is an inspiration to the alumni, faculty, staff and students who make up the Laurier community.
Registration for this event is now closed.
The University collects personal information under the authority of the Wilfrid Laurier University Act. Personal information collected by any part of the University may be used or disclosed by other units in order to execute the functions of the University and to administer the relationship between the University and its students, alumni, employees, clients, suppliers, partners and others.
Further information about how your personal information is collected, used and disclosed can be found in Laurier’s Notice of Collection, Use, and Disclosure of Personal Information.
Award Categories and Criteria
The Alumnus/Alumna of the Year Award is given to recognize outstanding achievement by a graduate of any Laurier program who has brought honour to Wilfrid Laurier University.
Award Recipients
2024 Michael Bartlett '00
2023 Priscilla Galvez '13
2022 Robin Stevenson '95
2021 Bob Armstrong '65
2020 Jeremy Auger '12
2018 Jennifer Smith '12
2017 Jeff R. Weyers '97
2016 Brad Katsuyama '01
2015 Andy Macaulay '80
2014 David Chilton '96, '06
2013 Tom Berczi '88, '93
2012 Peter Ansley '66
2011 Jane Archibald '99
2010 Ian McLean '98
2009 Ian Troop '81
2008 Sonny Kumpf '72
2007 Steve Wilkie '82, '89
2005 Tom Allen '67
2004 Not Awarded
2003 Paul Heinbecker '65, '93
2002 Beth Kidnie '78
2001 Dan Andreae '80
2000 Sandra Woolfrey '72, '74
1999 Noel Edison '85
1998 Paul Giannelia '70
1997 Robert Hamilton '71
1996 Dan Einwechter '77
1995 Michael Overduin '88
1994 Don Campbell '64
1993 Paul Markle '68
1992 Bruce Hodgins '53
1991 Not Awarded
1990 Eileen Mercier '68
1989 Marcia Powers-Dunlop '69, '76
1988 John Lauer '72
1987 Randy McGlynn '72
1986 Phillip Schaus '63
1985 Sally Jefferson '79, '83, '91
1984 Laurence Hewick '68
1983 Abe Wiebe '57
1982 Glenn Carroll '57
1981 Lloyd Schaus '30
1980 Herb Epp '61
1979 Sandy Baird '47
1977 Earle Shelley '28 (Alumnus of the Century)
1969 Lloyd Schaus '30 '37 '40
1968 Ward Kaiser '45
1967 Elmer Iseler '48 '85
1966 Reuben Baetz '47 '75
1965 Carl Klinck '27
1964 Walter Koerber '30
1963 Wilfrid Bean '34
The designation of Honorary Alumnus/Alumna is granted to individuals who have brought honour to Laurier and its community of alumni, students, faculty, and staff through significant, and often selfless, contributions to Laurier, and/or the local, provincial, national or international communities. The candidates cannot be regular alumni of Wilfrid Laurier University.
Award Recipients

2024 Shohini Ghose
2023 Micheàl Kelly
2022 Peter Baxter
2021 Glen Carruthers
2020 Manfred and Penny Conrad
2019 Mary Jo Fedy
2018 Bryce & Nancie Walker
2017 Dr. Max Blouw
2016 Jim Butler
2014 Daniel Lichti
2013 Alan Quarry
2012 Mike Hancock
2012 Chris Friel
2011 Not Awarded
2010 Luke Fusco
2009 Joan Fisk
2008 Mary D'Alton
2007 Dr. Robert Rosehart
2006 Gerry McGrath
2005 Jay Taylor
2004 Bob Byron
2003 Colleen Miller
2002 Not awarded
2001 Maureen Kuske
2000 Doug Ratchford
1999 Terry Reidel
1999 Joe Forwell
1998 Marion Schweitzer
1998 Joe McCrea
1998 Alex Doczi
1998 Doris Dixon
1998 Ross Dixon
1997 Lorna Marsden
1997 Margaret Evans
1997 Loren Calder
1996 William H. Timmis
1996 Dr. Gerald Noonan
1996 Dr. John Moffat
1995 Ethel Schaus
1995 Dr. Herman Overgaard
1995 George Granger
1994 Glen Wright
1994 Hubert Alleyne
1993 Betty Sims
1993 Hon. George Ferguson
1993 Dr. Robert Astley
1992 Dr. John Weir
1991 Dr. Sheldon Rahn
1991 Michal Manson
1990 George Woods
1990 Don Smith
1989 Dr. Gordon Greene
1989 Dr. Ralph Blackmore
1988 Marge Millar
1988 Mitzi Michael
1987 Ann Weir
1987 Eileen Stumpf
1987 Dorothy Elliot
1987 Sue Crowne
1987 John Baal
1986 Dr. Max Stewart
1986 Fred Nichols
1986 James Hertel
1985 Rich Newbrough
1985 Barry Lyon
1985 Margaret Lippert
1985 Horace Braden
1984 Donald Roberts
1984 Dr. Don Morgenson
1984 David "Tuffy" Knight
1983 Skeeter Budd
The Young Alumnus/Alumna of the Year Award is given to recognize outstanding achievement by a graduate of any Laurier program and who is 35 years of age or under who has brought honour to Wilfrid Laurier University.
To be eligible to receive the Young Alumnus/Alumna of the Year award, the nominee must by 35 years of age or less on June 30 of the year of awarding.
Past Recipients

2024 Marissa Vettoretti '20
2023 Amaryllis Jones '14, '20 & Oluwatobi Ajibolade '15
2022 Tarique Plummer '18
2021 Emin Nawaz '18
2020 Latif Murji '12
2019 Matt Allen '11
2018 Allan Lovett '04
2017 Nguyen (Nathan) Vo '10
2016 Michelle Gould '12
2015 Paul Maxwell '07
2014 Jason Shim '07
2013 Kandice Baptiste '11
2012 Kari Kokko '11
2011 Michael Morrice '08
2010 Christine McKinlay '07
This award, provided annually by the Alumni Association, acknowledges the outstanding achievements of a student forwarding the objectives of the Alumni Association.
Award Recipients
2024 Ayanfe Ayeni '24
2023 Not Awarded
2022 Not Awarded
2021 Teresa Bennett & Eric Sanderson
2020 Daniel Cryderman '20
2019 Julia Pereira
2018 Ashley Curcic '18
2017 Elaine Hui '17
2016 Chris Chung '16 & Shielarose Gandhi '16
2015 Victoria Gee '15
2014 Cameron Denham '15
2013 Cheyanne McGillicuddy-Richardson '13
2012 Sarah Hood '12
2011 Kristen Saunders '11
2010 Rosemary Quinlan '10
2009 Alyssa Mossey '10
2008 Leah Verouden '08
2007 Not Awarded
2006 Kevin Bull '08
2005 Jason Huth '05
2004 Michelle Gamble '04
2003 Andrea Harding '03
2002 Benjamin Seewald '01, '02
2001 Pamela Missere '01
2000 Steven Campbell '00
1999 Barry Wilding '99
1998 Jeff Anderson '98
1997 Michael Richardson '97
1996 Jennifer Porritt '96 & Erin Sargeant '96
The Award for Community Impact is given annually to honour outstanding achievement by a Laurier alumnus/alumna to foster a better world through local, national or international initiatives as a volunteer, advocate, or employee.
Award Recipients

2024 Eric Davis '01
2023 Heather McDonald '98
2022 Lynn Macaulay '94
2021 T'áncháy Redvers ’19
2020 Tracey Weiler '07
2019 TK Azaglo '11 & Nicola C. Horne '06
2018 Debora Ritchie ’78
The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award recognizes an alumnus/alumna from any faculty for their outstanding work as a business founder or entrepreneurial leader with a demonstrated ability to generate business growth (this may include, but is not limited to, revenue, profits, client base, employment, innovation, patents, etc.).
Award Recipients

2024 Darryl Julott '12
2023 Jeremy Hedges '11
2022 Jessica Chalk '11
2021 Matt Schnarr ’97 & Adam Deremo ’01
2020 David Ceolin '89
2019 Ryan Smolkin '95
2018 Bryan Bogensberger '91
The Forever Golden Hawk Award Recognizes an alumnus/alumna for their outstanding ongoing contribution to Laurier through their exceptional support, volunteerism, or service to the university.
Award Recipients

2024 Gary Jeffries '72 & Cec Joyal '86
2023 Jeff Henderson '89
2022 Jeyas Balaskanthan '16
2021 Jeff Gadway '07
2020 Peter Izzio '90
2019 Bill Webb '86
2018 Lynn Oldfield '84
male award winner giving speech
audience members attending awards
group of award winners holding awards
young alumnus of the year speech
group shot in front of laurier backdrop
audience watching video of David Chilton speaking