KPU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
ABOUT THE KPU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
The KPU Alumni Association (KPUAA) became a registered society in 2008. Founders and directors are KPU alumni who volunteer and support the growth of KPU by creating engagement opportunities for our alumni. The KPUAA board of directors follows a governance model and is responsible for providing the strategic vision to achieve our mission and mandate of engaging a population of 73,000 KPU alumni.
MISSON
The Kwantlen Polytechnic University Alumni Association will bring together Kwantlen alumni and help them build lifelong relationships with the university and the community, increasing the institution’s reputation and the impact that graduates have on Kwantlen and the world.
Enhance engagement within our alumni community
Enhance the value of being KPU alumni
Enhance KPU’s reputation by fully integrating the Alumni Association into the life of KPU, and elevating KPU’s public profile
More about the board of directors can be viewed on our website at alumni.kpu.ca/kpuaa 1 2 3
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
I’m pleased to report that your Alumni Association (KPUAA) continued to make progress this past year.
Our $50,000 endowment continues to grow with the fulfillment of our annual pledge of $5,000 to the KPU Foundation and from gifts made from alumni to the endowment in the form of sponsorships and donations through Giving Tuesday. As of March 31, 2024 the endowment is $60,057.00.
During this reporting period (2023) we conferred the Distinguished Alumni Award upon Amy Robinson and Jeremy Senko and the Outstanding Young Alumni Award on Tate Tham, all three are exceptional people. We also added to our Affinity partnerships and Alumni Perks offerings in 2023. The seamless, accessible mobile app and microsite called Alumni Perks has allowed us to continue to grow our offerings. Also in 2023 we produced the 7th issue of the KPU Alumni Magazine featuring 12 alumni who are doing remarkable things.
Our Alumni Chapters also made progress introducing the new Creative Writing Alumni Chapter and research was undertaken to determine the feasibility of creating a Psychology Alumni Chapter. More details on our Chapters developments and activities can be found in this report.
During the 2023/24 year the KPUAA board was pleased to welcome Taylor Todd, Damanpreet Garcha, Colby Davidson and Priya Johal as new directors. Director bios can be read at alumni.kpu.ca/kpuaa.
At the 2023 Annual General meeting held on September 20, we said a final farewell to Mohammad Kallas who completed his term as vicechair. Gabby Gill stepped into a one-year term as past chair and I was pleased to be elected as chair. Jaqueline Tarantino was elected as vicechair and Henry Flowers continued in the role of treasurer.
Finally, with support from the Alumni Affairs office which functionally operationalizes the KPUAA Strategic Vision through a board approved three-year business plan, we are pleased to report that we achieved and exceeded our objectives for this annual reporting period.
James Grange Chair, KPU Alumni Association
MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE KPU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Dear friends,
It has been such a pleasure to support the Strategic Vision of the KPU Alumni Association this past year through our Three-year Business Plan. We exceeded our goals for building on our alumni engagement programming, largely due to the infusion of much needed human resources to support our plan. With support from KPU Leadership we were pleased to expand our team, welcoming two new members into the Alumni Affairs office, including an additional coordinator, Rose Barsoumian and an Alumni Affairs officer, Jasmine Bassi. With these additions to the team, we are well positioned to add to and expand on existing programs of engagement.
With the shift in focus created by the global pandemic, the Alumni Affairs office has proven to be flexible and responsive where needed to implement online and digital methods of engagement through our online mentorship program, KPU Connects; powered by Ten Thousand Coffees and with our mobile app, Alumni Perks, which offers a growing number of discounted products and services from KPU alumni businesses, for all our alumni. In addition, we hosted in person events, such as KPU Alumni Night at the Nat and our Annual General Meeting in 2023. Details of these initiatives and more are forthcoming in this Annual Report.
I hope you enjoy!
Nancy Armitage Executive Director, KPU Alumni Association and Director, Alumni Affairs
Back row L-R: Taylor Todd, Hayley Woodin, Sukh Rai, James Grange, Chair; Henry Flowers, Treasurer Front row L- R: Lovepreet Kaur, Damanpreet Garcha, Ayesha Khan, Deepak Gill, Mohammad Kallas, Jacquleine Tarantino, Vice Chair; Nancy Armitage, Executive Director Absent: Gabby Gill, Past Chair; Colby Davidson, Priya Johal, Scott McInnes
KPUAA DISTINGUISHED
ALUMNI AWARDS 2023
Since 2007 the KPU Alumni Association has been recognizing exceptional KPU alumni who have demonstrated excellence through their achievements.
Consideration for these awards is given to individuals who have enhanced the reputation of the university through their outstanding professional, business or industry endeavours; public, community and/or volunteer service.
This year the KPUAA was pleased to confer the Distinguished Alumni Award upon Amy Robinson and Jeremy Senko, and the Outstanding Young Alumni Award on Tate Tham.
THIS YEAR THE KPUAA WAS PLEASED TO CONFER A DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD UPON
AMY ROBINSON
Robinson’s work focuses on improving the sustainability of businesses large and small. She has a passion for local business and seeks opportunities to share the benefits of supporting the local economy.
“I see how hard local businesses work, how much they define our communities, how they aren't just big corporate entities. They are in our communities and care about their people, their places, the planet,” she says. “Our communities and our society wouldn't be the same without them, so I've dedicated my life to helping them survive and thrive.”
When climate change starts to significantly impact our economy and lifestyles, the relationships created in a local economy will help sustain us and transition to a new system, says Robinson, adding she’s impressed by the environmental leadership of local businesses despite their limited time and resources.
“There are many ways in which local businesses help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. There hasn't been a lot of research on this, except for some that shows how online shopping creates more GHGs in transport and waste. LOCO has been trying to change that. In 2021, we partnered with Vancity to study the GHG impacts of purchasing local products from local businesses and found that it has a huge climate change benefit – up to 66 per cent less emissions.”
Robinson’s LOCO BC organization leads the buy local movement in B.C. by promoting the idea to consumers, businesses, and governments and institutions. LOCO also works to improve small business sustainability.
“LOCO has contributed a number of studies to the body of research on the impact of independent business, and I always get a thrill when someone quotes our statistics. Our research is used across B.C. and the rest of Canada, to promote buying local, and to justify policy changes, and I'm super proud of that.”
She’s also proud of how far she’s come since completing her EPT diploma from KPU in 1998. Robinson, who also
holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and serves as a sessional community economic development instructor at Simon Fraser University, remembers being terrified of public speaking as a KPU student.
“I literally read my entire first presentation from my notes and made no eye contact with the class while my heart pounded loudly in my chest. I knew I had it in me to become a good public speaker. I still get the jitters sometimes, but I know how important it is, and I've become a bit of a spokesperson for the buy local movement.”
Her advice to graduating students is to take risks and learn from mistakes.
“Break some rules, don't take no for an answer. I always say that 75 per cent of my success is due simply to persistence, and to not taking things personally. In order to survive as a species, we are going to need all hands on deck, with every one of us bringing forward our craziest, most creative ideas.”
The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes KPU alumni demonstrating lifetime accomplishments in one or more of three areas: professional, entrepreneurial, innovation; service; exemplified resilience in the face of adversity; and significant regional, national or international contribution.
Paul Richard, an instructor in KPU’s EPT program, nominated Robinson for the award, noting her work has benefited countless small businesses that – by being local – help the environment.
“Amy’s whole career has been working with small businesses to embed sustainability. Small, local businesses often feel isolated and not empowered to adopt sustainability principles. Amy recognized that need early and by addressing it, has made our communities healthier and more vibrant. She has created an exemplary career without compromise, always for the benefit of the community.”
ALUMNI AWARD
THIS YEAR THE KPUAA WAS PLEASED TO CONFER A DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD UPON
JEREMY SENKO
Senko is a Vancouver-based interior designer who leads creative development for residential projects, from conception to realization. He is certified by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification and has won several awards during his career.
When the pandemic hit, Senko volunteered his expertise to the American Society of Interior Designers, which formed a task force to study design and construction issues related to the pandemic. That research led to positive insights for the future of interior design.
In his work, Senko’s focus is not just making things beautiful, but doing what he can to help communities in the process.
Senko is known for mentoring new designers and students entering the field, and advises graduates to help others when given the chance. He also urges graduates to not lose sight of what drove them to study design.
“We are lucky we get to help people in a different way than say a doctor, a nurse, or a teacher may. If we take this profession seriously, we can shape the environment that people spend most of their time in for the better. We can affect their mood, their mental health, their physical wellbeing. We can assist them in living longer, healthier, safer, happier lives.”
My mantra with doing all this is to try and leave everything better than you found it.”
– Jeremy Senko
“My main motivation is ensuring that all of that is done with empathy in mind,” he says. “I love research. I love furthering design thinking in regards to health, safety, and welfare, not only of the immediate users but of the community as a whole. My mantra with doing all this is to try and leave everything better than you found it.”
Senko has designed many homes, but a memorable project was a residential development focused on first-time homebuyers who were invited to share a video about their new home on move-in day.
“I sat and watched people tear up because they loved their kitchen, or a design we did in their amenity space, or little other choices we made that had a huge impact on them,” he says. “It reminded me that at the end of the day, people live in these spaces, they have families in these spaces, they work in these spaces, and we need to treat every design we touch with this in mind, whether it be simple or lavish.”
Debbie Johnstone Bjerke, a program assistant at the Wilson School of Design, nominated Senko on behalf of the interior design program faculty, noting he is a deserving winner for his determination, passion, and willingness to give back to the community.
“We see Jeremy as an overall inspiration to KPU students for his service outside his regular work life, including volunteering on committees and mentoring junior employees. His thirst for knowledge and innovative work in improving the wellbeing of others is what makes him an outstanding alumnus of KPU.”
The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes KPU alumni demonstrating lifetime accomplishments in one or more of three areas: professional, entrepreneurial, innovation; service; exemplified resilience in the face of adversity; and significant regional, national or international contribution.
ALUMNI AWARD
THIS YEAR THE KPUAA WAS PLEASED TO CONFER THE OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD UPON
TATE THAM
Born in Singapore and raised in Vancouver, Tham graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing Management from KPU in 2020. It was a sales job at an electronics store that sparked Tham’s interest in marketing at the age of 18.
“After completing my degree, I fell in love at the crossroads of understanding consumer psychology and digital strategies to win people over. At the current place in my career, it's fulfilling to exercise what I've learned to market a product and company I feel strongly about.”
Tham is now a growth marketing operations specialist for Envisio Solutions – a firm that helps boost transparency and trust in public sector organizations. At Envisio, Tham uses his skills to support many local government organizations, school districts, and higher education institutions to run more efficiently and gain more trust from their communities.
“It's always been fun for me to solve problems, and typically choosing the harder path has made life a bit more exciting for me. My drive to learn more about the world and myself fuels a huge part of my striving to do new things.”
Through mentorship and as a guest speaker, Tham has been involved with the KPU Marketing Association, a student-led group committed to improving the success of marketing students. His guidance and leadership have helped many students hone their skills and reach their full potential.
Tham has also volunteered his time with various initiatives in the community, including with the U.S.-based non-profit organization Global Synergy Group. Tham provides marketing support to the organization, which is raising funds to provide humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
Tham says his experience at KPU taught him the importance of putting knowledge into action – and to have grit.
“We live in a generation where instant results come with a click of a button. Having grit has taught me to really push through and do the work needed with integrity in order to learn and prepare yourself for the future.”
A goal for his future is to give back to the next generation.
“I've always liked teaching and mentoring, and thought it'd be a great way to share everything I've learned to others,” says Tham.
The Outstanding Young Alumni Award recognizes KPU alumni under age 30 at the time of nomination who have demonstrated sustained levels of community service while making a significant or innovative impact in their chosen profession. It also acknowledges those who’ve maintained involvement with KPU or alumni activities since graduation.
Nominator Elizabeth Steward, vice-president of marketing at Envisio, says Tham is a leader and a difference-maker who doesn’t back down from a challenge, and is constantly seeking to stay ahead of the curve.
"Tate has an entrepreneurial spirit and provides the backbone to many company initiatives. As a result, he is supporting many local government organizations, school districts, and higher education institutions to run more efficiently, with higher performance, and more trust from their communities,” says Steward. “Tate's dedication, passion, and drive are truly exceptional and make him a deserving candidate for recognition.”
Activities and Events
Chapters
Chapters provide alumni with the opportunity to remain connected with others from their cohorts. While many of our Chapters have been on hiatus due to the impact of COVID we have begun to rebuild our chapter program. Last spring the Interior Design Alumni Chapter of ‘93 held their 30th reunion at the Wilson School of Design, the Accounting Alumni Chapter held an event in the early spring. In addition, we launched the new Creative Writing Alumni Chapter and began laying the foundation for a Psychology Alumni Chapter.
Convocation
The KPUAA continues to play an integral role at KPU’s convocation ceremonies. This past year we introduced the Alumni Lounge concept and continued our tradition of gifting the Alumni pen to each graduate as they crossed the stage. We also embarked upon researching the feasibility of offering personalized video clips to each of our graduates for next year.Many of our board directors participate in Convocation and Directors Mohammad Kallas and Haley Woodin shared a message, on behalf of the KPU Alumni Association, welcoming graduates to the alumni community.
Mentorship and Networking
KPUAA remains dedicated to offering alumni an opportunity to connect. To this end KPU Connects is a virtual platform that offers alumni and students meaningful opportunities to have conversations on how to advance in their careers. KPU Connects mentoring and networking platform is powered by Ten Thousand Coffees and supported by RBC Future Launch! For more on Chapters visit: alumni.kpu.ca/chapters
KPU Connects
A virtual networking platform by Ten Thousand Coffees
KPU Connects is a community built with you in mind! Find your perfect mentor or mentee and start connecting with other members to accelerate your personal and professional development. LEARN
ALUMNI BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES
The KPU Alumni Association was pleased to continue expanding our alumni benefits and privileges program on the Alumni Perks app and microsite. Our perks partners, including many alumni owned and operated businesses, provide services and products to KPU Alumni at discounted rates:
• All Purpose Realty
• Altitude Media Co.
• Arafat Kalam Notary Public
• Best Coast Bonsai Inc.
• Black Bird Holistic
• Broadway Across Canada
• Cirque du Soleil
• Coach Hector Wong
• Conscious Works
• AG Dominion Blue Reprographics
• EJ Cellphone Repair
• Eyetician
• Fresh Prep
• Hannah T Photography
• H.R MacMillan Space Centre
• Hum Apparel
• Ingrid Brito Life coaching
• Magic IT Solutions
• Miller & Co.
• RC Railing Experts
• Niecey Glam Studio
• Partopia Digital
• S&A Accounting
• Second Life Apparel
• Thunderbolt Sign
• Vancouver Boat Parties
• Vancouver Canadians
• VanGo Vapes
• Z&R Automotive
We continue to collaborate with our affinity partners, who provide discounted services to alumni while also generating revenue for the Alumni Association. Our Affinity partners include:
• Artona Group
• Bell Mobility
• Convocation Flowers
• Canucks Sport and Entertainment
• KPU Bookstore
• LEAD Benefits – (Legal Extended Assistance Discount)
• TD Insurance
• TD Life
• TD Small Business Insurance
Alumni Magazine
This year the magazine was dedicated to featuring 12 alumni stories of note.
The digital version can be viewed at alumni.kpu.ca/magazineiss7
Communications
DOWNLOAD THE APP TODAY!
The KPU Alumni Affairs office coordinates our engagement communications through email messaging and on our social media platforms including Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
For more information on alumni benefits, privileges and services, contact the Alumni Affairs office at alumni@kpu.ca
Learn more at alumni.kpu.ca/perks
All our activities and initiatives can be found on our website at alumni.kpu.ca KPU Alumni
Our regular newsletter is sent to over 38,000 alumni every month, we continue to send a special welcome newsletter to our newly graduated alumni several times a year and have also introduced a Convocation newsletter twice a year which is sent to all graduates attending Convocation, and contains useful information related to this special day.
