Leadership at all Levels award

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Leadership at all Levels award"

Opal Douglas
5 years ago
Views:

1 From: To: Subject: Date: Taryn Friesen Leadership at all Levels Award submission Wednesday, December 14, :14:40 PM Leadership at all Levels award submission Award Category Please select:: Individual Non-instructional Staff Nominee Information Do you have the nominee s written permission to proceed with this nomination? (When asking, find out if they are an RRC grad): Yes please proceed (save the written record of permission in case it is required) Nominee First Name: Lauren Nominee Last Name: Konrad Nominee Primary Campus: Exchange District Campus Nominee Position Title: Student Integration Coordinator Nominee School or Department: Diversity and Intercultural Services Nominee Office Phone Number: Nominee Office lkonrad@rrc.ca Is the nominee a Red River College grad?: No

2 Program(s) and graduate year(s): Nominator Information Nominator First Name: Andrea Nominator Last Name: Johnston Nominator Position Title: Counsellor Nominator School or Department: Student Support Services Nominator Office Phone Number: Nominator Office Why my nominee is a Leader at All Levels for 2017 Commitment: Lauren Konrad embodies the spirit of the Leader at All Levels Award. Success follows Lauren's work and the College is made better for it. Professionally her list of yearly achievements is impressive, Lauren can be credited with: Spearheading a successful and award winning Student Refugee Program (SRP) at Red River College that led to the first SRP grad in 2016 Sweat Lodge Experiences for International Students The Annual Welcome Party a College-Wide Diversity Event Ice Skating at the Forks (Group Activity) An Annual Diversity Volunteer Recognition Event Wednesday, April 12th, 2017 (College- Wide Diversity Event) An RRC Summer BBQ Lauren is the type of employee who makes the hard work look easy but each event from the large to the small takes a committed mix of leadership, delegation, organization, planning and cultural understanding. In addition to Lauren's big College wins, like bringing the SRP program to RRC, Lauren understands commitment is an act of showing up and being engaged. She is the first one to get out on the ice at the forks with students in -30 degree weather, provide her own BBQ for College events, and to make students new to Canada

3 feel at home and part of a community. Personality: To walk with Lauren through the halls of our College is to see her leadership and positive personality at work. Lauren knows EVERYBODY and people smile when they see Lauren. Lauren has a way of making people feel welcome; she will stop to say hi, to ask a quick question to show leadership through caring and being curious about those around her. Lauren is trusted; it is not uncommon for her colleagues and students to share their struggles and their successes with her. It is important to note that Lauren doesn't reserve her warmth for those in positions of power; her care is not about gaining advantage it comes from a place of genuinely trying to make people, all people, feel like they are counted and are part of a community at RRC. Communication: Lauren is truly one of the most verbally articulate people I have met at the College and it is easy to see that Lauren's professional degree is in Communications. When I have sat on committees with her, the straight forward and respectful approach to her communication style has been refreshing and productive. When she has chaired meetings she facilitates with ease. During the selection process for the SRP, I saw Lauren provide leadership in our efforts to sort through a host of deserving stories of hopeful refugee s applications by asking questions and having us consider key points in a bigger picture instead of directing or dictating the process. I credit Lauren's personal style of communication as the reason why the selection committee for the SRP program reached consensus around a difficult choice efficiently and unanimously. Visionary Thinking: RRC is a more inclusive and diverse community because of Lauren's vision and optimism. The groundbreaking work she did with the SRP program is a demonstration that she does not just do what is: Lauren is constantly searching for what could be, what should be and then she makes it what will be through her hard work. Passion: Lauren's position requires self-motivation and passion to make a real and trusted connection with students. There is overlap in our jobs when International students requires mental health services, and I have first hand experience witnessing the passion with which Lauren works

4 to support students in these moments of need. I honestly feel like it is Lauren's passion to provide a safe and nurturing community that has allowed students, some of whom have personal histories that make it difficult to trust professionals, to trust in the process at RRC and be open to receiving support. It is not uncommon for an international student to mention Lauren's name positively during a counselling appointment and to count her as a person they trust for advice and support. Organization: While I can't speak closely to Lauren's day-today organizational skills I can say that when I have worked with Lauren on committees she has never failed to do what she says she will do and shows up prepared to work. She is always well prepared for the meeting ahead. I think the proof of organization is in Lauren's successes. It is not an accident that her events are successful, that her first year bringing a refugee student to RRC won an Award and that students trust her. Student/College Success: Yves Ngendahimana was the College s first SRP s graduate in He would not have had the opportunity to leave a refugee camp, study and successfully cross the RRC graduation stage in Winnipeg if it weren t in part for Lauren s hard work championing the benefits of RRC having an SRP. Opportunities: Lauren has enhanced RRC's profile in the World University Services of Canada community. In collaboration with RRC stakeholders she was a key player in developing a first of its kind sustainable model for Colleges to undertake a Student Refugee Program. In recognition of RRC's pioneering work with the SRP Lauren was invited to present on the initiative at the Canadian Bureau of International Education and the Canadian Association of Colleges and University Student Services Conference in Other: Please note that this nomination was submitted as a group endorsement effort between Dustie Ritchie in Employment Services, Chad Smith and Andrea Johnston in Counselling and Accessibility Services. When we approached Lauren with the idea of this nomination her first response was to talk about how her successes were all part of larger College collaboration and a team effort. I think it speaks volumes of

5 This was built and sent using Visual Form Builder Pro. Lauren's character and leadership that in a moment of recognition by her peers her first instinct was to bring up others who have been part of her journey and part of her successes and to share the compliment and gratitude forward.

Daffodil Month Workplace Campaign. Workplace Ambassador Toolkit

Daffodil Month Workplace Campaign. Workplace Ambassador Toolkit Workplace Ambassador Toolkit Daffodil Month For 80 years, the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) has been Canada s cancer voice and leading authority on the disease. We re the only organization that fights