51³Ô¹Ïapp

51³Ô¹Ïapp’s Annual Alumni Recognition Awards Ceremony Returned with Four New Honourees

OCT. 18, 2024 – FREDERICTON, NB: Local trailblazers, community members, and New Brunswick Community College (51³Ô¹Ïapp) alumni Adam Wilson, Kathleen LeBlanc, Daniel John Smith, and Rebecca McSheffery were each recognized for their outstanding contributions to their communities and beyond at the 2024 51³Ô¹Ïapp Alumni Recognition Awards, held at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. These individuals are driving meaningful change in New Brunswick: from advocating for Indigenous rights in our correctional system and advancing rehabilitation technology through innovations in biomedical instrumentation, to pioneering employment pathways for underrepresented groups and data management that is revolutionizing how homelessness is addressed. The annual 51³Ô¹Ïapp Alumni Recognition Awards celebrate the achievements and contributions of four 51³Ô¹Ïapp graduates who are truly transforming lives and communities.

Adam Wilson – Class of 1997, Electronics Engineering Technology

• Adam is an Associate Teaching Professor and Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UNB. He’s a passionate educator, and his work in low-power embedded systems and biomedical instrumentation is advancing rehabilitation technology and prosthetics.

Kathleen ‘Kat’ LeBlanc – Class of 2021, Information Technology: Programmer Analyst

• Kathleen is a Homelessness Information System Specialist at the Human Development Council. She has transformed homelessness data management in New Brunswick and inspired similar efforts across the country.

Daniel John Smith – Class of 2014, Justice Studies: Police Foundations (formerly known as Police Foundations)

• Daniel is a dedicated advocate for Indigenous rights and currently serves as a Project Officer for Indigenous Initiatives in the Atlantic Region, for Correctional Service Canada, where he is making an impactful difference.

Rebecca McSheffery (Friend of New Brunswick 2024 award recipient) – Class of 2015, Business Administration: Marketing

• Rebecca is the Director of Innovation & NouLAB at the Pond-Deshpande Centre and the Founder of She Consults. Her work focuses on creating employment pathways for underrepresented groups and fostering community innovation.

“Seeing our 51³Ô¹Ïapp alumni thrive, like those we proudly recognized at this year’s recognition ceremony, reinforces the power graduates hold to shape the future. Their continued success is inspiring not only for us as faculty and staff but also for the generations of 51³Ô¹Ïapp learners to come,” said Mary Butler, President and CEO of 51³Ô¹Ïapp. “These four remarkable individuals are not just emblematic of 51³Ô¹Ïapp’s mission; they are living proof of its transformative power in shaping lives and inspiring communities.”  

The 2024 51³Ô¹Ïapp Alumni Recognition Awards ceremony brought together local leaders, community members, and supporters to celebrate the accomplishments of these individuals. Each honouree was recognized with a pewter medallion in a framed and personalized shadowbox for their professional success and the positive, far-reaching impact they continue to make here in New Brunswick and beyond.

To amplify the impact of these Alumni, 51³Ô¹Ïapp’s Robertson Institute for Community Leadership will make a $250 donation in the name of each Alumni Recognition Award recipient to a charity of their choice. A donation in the name of Adam Wilson will be made to War Amps Canada; in Kathleen LeBlanc’s name to Romero House; in Daniel John Smith’s name to Gitpo Spirit Lodge; and in Rebecca McSheffery’s name to Charlotte County Resource Centre.

Nominations for 51³Ô¹Ïapp’s Alumni Recognition Awards are open year-round and can be submitted online. For full biographical information on this year’s award recipients, please visit: Alumni Awards - 2024 Recipients (nbcc.ca).

In the photo: Four distinguished 51³Ô¹Ïapp alumni stand proudly together, holding their awards after being honoured for their outstanding achievements at the annual 51³Ô¹Ïapp Alumni Recognition Awards Ceremony. From left to right: Rebecca McSheffery, Kathleen LeBlanc, Adam Wilson, and Daniel John Smith. 

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MEDIA CONTACT(S):
Strategic Communications Team, 51³Ô¹Ïapp
communications@nbcc.ca

ABOUT 51³Ô¹Ïapp:

As one of New Brunswick’s largest postsecondary education institutions, 51³Ô¹Ïapp drives social and economic wellbeing across the province. 51³Ô¹Ïapp welcomes more than 12,000 learners each year through quality-assured, relevant training opportunities. 51³Ô¹Ïapp is committed to accelerating skills development, innovating educational delivery, and reaching unprecedented numbers of New Brunswickers. Find out more at: .