A diverse slate of Champlain College graduates will be honored for their leadership during the College’s 2009 Alumni Leadership Awards ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 24 at ECHO Lake & Science Museum.
According to Alison Johnson, director of alumni relations and annual giving at Champlain, this year’s winners range from a 1959 graduate who worked as a volunteer for the Vt. Department of Corrections for 40 years to a former Champlain College basketball head coach who was named to the New England Basketball Hall of Fame.
“Champlain College Alumni Leadership Awards are given to those alums who have demonstrated great leadership in his or her career, outstanding service to the community and or a notable accomplishment. These awards, with the exception of the President’s Award and the Vermonter Award, are given out in honor past Champlain College presidents,” Johnson explained.
The 2009 Champlain College Alumni Leadership Award winners are:
Arthur Tittemore Award – Donald Lewis of Shelburne, VT, Class of 1959 earned his AS degree in accounting. Lewis was chosen because of his strong volunteering commitment in the community. He volunteers for the Flynn Theater, Fletcher Allen Health Care, over forty years volunteering with the Department of Corrections. During these years, he has been a one-on-one volunteer, teacher of the "Decisions" course, leader of Christian retreat weekends for prisoners, member of the So. Burlington Reparative Board, and member of the Victim Impact Panels. His name is legend with the Department of Corrections.
C. Bader Brouilette Award – Robert Tipson of New Haven, CT, Class of 1966 earned his AS in Management. Coach Bob Tipson played several crucial roles during his time at Champlain College. Starting out as the Associate Head Basketball Coach of the Champlain College Beavers in 1968 and ending as the Head Basketball coach in 2003. During this time, Coach Tipson helped coach the Champlain Beavers to become Regional champions nine times. Coach Tipson was named Coach of the Year in Region III 12 times and was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.
Vermonter Award – Kerry Sleeper of Richmond, VT, Class of 1976 earned his AS degree in Management. Sleeper’s career has centered on law enforcement and public safety for more than 30 years. Sleeper enlisted in the Vermont State Policy in 1977 and rose through the ranks to be appointed Commissioner of Public Safety. In 2001, then Vt. Gov. Howard Dean appointed Sleeper as the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisor, a position he was reappointed to in 2002 by Vt. Gov. James Douglas. Kerry is a currently employed as a Senior Advisor for Information Sharing under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in Washington DC.
Robert Skiff Award - Kim Ireland of Shelburne, VT, Class of 1985 earned an AS degree in Legal Administrative Assistant. Ireland works diligently as the Director of the SD Ireland Construction Corp.’s Cancer Research Fund for the purpose of sustaining her husband, Scott’s oncologist Dr. Krag’s work as a cancer researcher. Ireland continues their fight for cancer research by donating proceeds from the Ireland’s’ Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, “Walk for Life” supported the fund, and “Pretty in Pink” night to promote breast cancer awareness. One hundred percent of the profits from t-shirt sales on the website – www.sdirelandcancerresearch.org - goes to the fund.
Roger A. Perry Award - Tina Wiles of Brandon, VT, Class of 1987 and 1992 earned an AS in Legal Administrative Assistant and AS In Paralegal Studies. Wiles has a long history with the Vermont Paralegal Organization, holding past positions such as President and CLE Coordinator. She also held a national position with National Federation of Paralegal Association as Region V Director. Wiles is also a former adjunct instructor for Real Estate II in Champlain's paralegal program. She was a long-time resident of Chittenden County and moved several years ago to Brandon where she is currently the zoning administrator for the town.
President’s Award - Nora Haynes of New York City, NY, Class of 2002 earned a BS degree in Public Relations. Haynes is the Public Relations Director for Alpha Media Group which distributes Maxim magazine. She is a native Vermonter having grown up in St. Albans. She is the chair of Champlain’s Communication and Creative Media Advisory Council and was alumni commencement speaker at the 2009 Champlain College graduation.
To register for Champlain College’s Alumni Weekend activities, including the Leadership Awards ceremony from 6:30 to 11p.m. at ECHO Lake and Science Museum, visit https://secure.champlain.edu/alumniweekend/ Other activities during the weekend include a luncheon for the Class of 1959, a 20th Anniversary Celebration for the Radiography program, a hike up Mt. Philo, wine tasting, bowling and a 5K Fun Run/Walk on Sunday morning. Cost for the entire weekend, including Alumni Celebration at ECHO is $30/person.
The Alumni weekend is being held in conjunction with Champlain College’s Family Weekend events. For full details, visit http://www.champlain.edu/Family-Weekend.html
Champlain College, founded in 1878, offers “Education in Three Dimensions” - a distinctive educational approach to professionally focused majors, developing life skills and leadership based on critical and creative thinking. It has nearly 2,000 campus-based undergraduate students on campus and is ranked in the top tier of Best Baccalaureate Colleges in the North by 2009 America’s Best Colleges, published by U.S. News & World Report. To learn more about Champlain College, visit www.champlain.edu.