This past fall, three new members of the Niagara College team have been honoured for their exceptional service and accomplishments with the college’s highly coveted Awards of Excellence.
Presented at the College’s annual Niagara Day event, the awards not only celebrate achievements of faculty, support staff and administrative employees, but honour recipients with a highly coveted prize: a dedicated parking spot on campus.
InsideNC caught up with this year’s batch of recipients had to say about their achievements.
Faculty Award: Alex McGlashan
Alex McGlashan is program coordinator for NC’s Photonics programs in the School of Technology. For nearly 20 years, since the program’s inception, he has been instrumental in supporting the development of this pioneering program. From creative approaches to teaching and learning plans, to innovative lab experiment designs, Alex has demonstrated agility and resourcefulness to ensure the success of his students and the program.
he has also been highly successful in securing and renewing the specialized equipment needed to run the program, leveraging positive and enduring relationships with industry, other academic institutions and research centres. He consistently returns from site visits to manufacturers with equipment donations, job offers for students, or commitments to support program delivery.
With an easygoing and approachable demeanour, Alex consistently garners positive reviews from students, who remark about the impact of his teaching on their Niagara College experience. He is a mainstay at student orientations, open houses and recruitment events, tirelessly promoting the College and the program in the community and beyond.
Known equally for his technical skills as he is for his signature lab coat, this member of the Photonics program is a champion for the College, the optics industry, and student success.
InsideNC asks:
How does it feel to be recognized by your peers at NC through the awards of excellence?
There are so many dedicated and caring people here at Niagara College who deserve this award. It is extremely humbling to receive it. To be honest I’m still waiting for the college to realize the error and tow my van away.
Describe your experience working at NC over the years – do you have a memorable ‘NC moment’?
My most memorable experiences are from the early days of the program when health and safety regulations were not quite so restrictive (although come to think of it back then Rick Demers didn’t approve of hanging upside down from a dumpster either). I’ve had a very full and enriching experience at Niagara College and developed some strong lasting friendships (someone has to watch your back when dumpster diving). The early days of Photonics and those first applied research projects in the college system provided an endless opportunity to learn. It would be insincere to say that every day has been a great one – some have been extremely difficult – but I’m proud of what the Photonics team has accomplished. I’m also thankful to have had the opportunity to work with colleagues outside the School of Technology, at Brock University, and from NC programs as diverse as Graphic Design, Horticulture, and Culinary, proving that we all can find common ground to support and build each other up.
What’s the most rewarding part of working at NC?
When you realize that you’ve actually made a difference and had a positive impact on someone else’s life. It’s been wonderful working with my associate dean, Fred Deys, who has been a tremendous supporter of the program, and all the talented individuals in the School of Technology.
What one piece of advice would you offer to a new NC employee?
I’d start by quoting Dieter Rams:
You have to find the right people. People who could actually achieve something through collaboration. Who think beyond what they are responsible for on a daily basis. Who think “what will society look like in the future?”
Force yourself outside your comfort zone and foster relationships with people, programs, and services across the college and outside your immediate department. It is you, all those relationships you build, and all the other people filling these halls who bring compassion and guidance. Our common goal should be to enrich the lives of others and sometimes the smallest kindness is all that is required.
Support Staff Award: Jaclyn Chambers-Page
Jaclyn Chambers-Page is a warm, welcoming, and creative professional whose work supports the success of students, staff, and faculty alike. A dedicated member of the Libraries and Learning Commons team, Jaclyn works in cooperation with almost every department at Niagara College, and has supported the success of thousands of students since arriving to NC. Always willing to share expertise, ideas, and resources, this person fosters team spirit by encouraging open discussion, listening and valuing input, and focusing on student-centred outcomes.
Jaclyn is motivated by experimentation, and consistently re-conceptualizes and redesigns problems and solutions. A box of unsuccessful 3D prints beneath her desk serves as a reminder that nothing worthwhile is without its challenges.She has been instrumental in developing the Exploratory Digital Media Lab at the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus library, the Information Literacy Modules, and an in-class library instruction assessment system using Mentimeter
Outside of the College, she has worked on several committees of the Ontario Library Association, conducted presentations, and authored articles that have raised the profile of NC across the province and returned many new innovations and benefits to the NC Libraries.
InsideNC asks:
How does it feel to be recognized by your peers at NC through the awards of excellence?
To have excellent people recognize you for excellence–what an incredible honour! I’m so grateful to my sweet colleagues who took the time to nominate me. However, I feel like the Award of Excellence should be given to teams, not just individuals, because we are constantly inspiring each other to achieve our very best and beyond.
Describe your experience working at NC over the years – do you have a memorable ‘NC moment’?
I have had a remarkable journey at NC. I started working here in 2010 and have had the privilege of indulging my creativity by developing new and exciting ways to help students succeed in my role as Library Technician–Research Support, now Library Facilitator: Information Literacy. From ncLibraries’ first Student Advisory Team to ncReads to the NOTL Exploratory Digital Lab & Makerspace, I’ve been so fortunate to work one-on-one with students in unique and fulfilling circumstances.
I’m absolutely rich with memorable NC moments, but what happens in the Library stays in the Library! The NOTL Library’s legendary Halloween spectaculars are always favourite memories; we’ve been pirates, Ghostbusters, circus performers, even board game dice! These events are the epitome of collaboration and teamwork; everyone’s hidden talents emerge as the whole team joins together to make a special event for our students.
Early in my career, a student came to the Library’s front desk to borrow something. She looked a bit stressed, so I asked her if everything was alright. She told me how anxious she was about giving a presentation in her next class. Since I spent my entire academic career living in trembling fear of presentations, I knew exactly what she was feeling. I shared some of the strategies I used in the past and told her some of the things I wished someone had told me, and then we parted ways. The next morning, I found a sticky note on my computer that said, “Thank you Jackie for calming [student name redacted] down before her presentation.” That note convinced me that this is the place I want to work and this is the job I want to do for the rest of my life; the little note underscored how every little moment matters. You never know what I difference you can make to another person with one conversation. I still have the note, I’m looking at it right now as I write this!
What’s the most rewarding part of working at NC?
Without a doubt, helping students is the most rewarding part of working at NC. There is no worse feeling than a student coming to you frustrated and stressed and no better feeling than that same student leaving feeling confident and satisfied. One of my favourite things to hear from a student is, “I actually learned something.” It’s nice to surprise them!
What one piece of advice would you offer to a new NC employee?
Go for walks on your break! Walk around and see your campus, inside and out; you never know what you might learn, what hidden corners you might find, or who you might run into!
Administrative Staff Award: Sarah Scott
Manager of Benchmark Restaurant, Sarah Scott is a welcoming, passionate, and cheerful ambassador of the College. Known for a strong work ethic and unwavering dedication to NC, Sarah is invested in student development and success, regularly seeking and creating opportunities to augment student experiential learning opportunities, incorporate students into co-curricular activities and feature students at College events.
Sarah exhibits a standard of service excellence that has helped Niagara College gain a reputation for hospitality and culinary expertise. In addition to her work with the Canadian Food and Wine Institute, she also teaches courses in hospitality.
Sarah is a previous recipient of the Niagara Champion Award, was named a Business Link Niagara Top 40 Under 40, and received the Promoter Award from the Vintners Quality Alliance recognizing her efforts in raising the profile of VQA wines through education and promotion. She embodies the NC DNA, wears her NC button with pride and ensures that those around her feel the same.
InsideNC asks:
How does it feel to be recognized by your peers at NC through the awards of excellence?
I am completely honoured and still slightly shocked to be recognized as a recipient for this year’s Award of Excellence. I am very lucky to have a strong team of people, who recognizes and supports both myself and my team. I am humbled to be recognized amongst the entire administrative team, as so many individuals are also deserving of this honour. I am truly overwhelmed by the number of messages of congratulations that have been sent by my colleagues. Thank you to my peers, mentors and managers for recognizing me as an individual by helping me build the confidence to be a successful individual who demonstrates the personal qualities, performance skill set, and customer service skills that characterize an award winner.
Describe your experience working at NC over the years – do you have a memorable ‘NC moment’?
In my years working here at NC, I have so many memorable moments, but my most memorable ones are those that allow me to be part of the many special visits the team here at NC hosts, including the grand openings and the unique clientele that we are able to meet. In my role, I am exceptionally lucky to be a part of so many of these moments, to meet so many people. Being a part of everyone’s events and celebrations is truly remarkable. Creating memorable experiences for students and guests is something I strive for. When I was nominated and received the award for Top 40 under 40, I quickly realized how lucky I am not only be recognized by my peers but also in the Niagara community. I am constantly supported by a strong team of unique individuals, within the Canadian Food and Wine Institute, here at NC, and within our community and to be honoured as a recipient was most gratifying and humbling.
What’s the most rewarding part of working at NC?
My most rewarding part of working here at NC, especially with my position, is having the opportunity and flexibility to meet almost everyone that works here. I strive to teach our team of students to be the best ambassadors for Niagara College and represent our NC community by providing the best experiences possible for all of our guests. The opportunities are endless here at NC, both myself and my team, in our roles, allow us to be a part of any of our guests special occasions and ensures their time here is memorable. Over my time, working with so many clients, and meeting so many amazing guests and creating memorable events and enhancing their experiences with them is something that cannot be forgotten. As an alumni, I am proud to be a part of the NC team and I am so grateful for every opportunity I have gained throughout my years at Niagara College.
What one piece of advice would you offer to a new NC employee?
My one piece of advice would be that you can achieve things that nobody thought possible of you. The more successful or happy you become, the more you will encourage and inspire your friends and colleagues. Surround yourself with people you admire to raise the bar for yourself so you accomplish more as an individual.
