Alumni Recognition Awards presented

Stephen Huza, Ron Corey, Frank Mizgala, Liliane Gondo and Michael DiGrappa accept their awards at a ceremony at St. James's Club.

About 135 people attended a festive dinner on January 27 at the downtown St. James's Club to honour this year's recipients of the Concordia University Alumni Association's Recognition Awards. This is the 10th anniversary of the awards, which are presented to deserving alumni, volunteers, teachers and students.

Stephen Huza (Sir George Williams BA 1973) was presented with the Humberto Santos Award of Merit for his longstanding commitment to the Association, university and community. Stephen was founding first vice-president of the Concordia University Alumni Association (CUAA), from 1984 to 1986. He spent 22 years on the board of the Association of Alumni of Sir George Williams and was co-chair of Homecoming 1998. He is in technical sales and marketing for Dorset Industrial Chemicals in Montreal.

The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Frank Mizgala (Loyola BComm 66), and Michael Di Grappa (BA 83). Mizgala is the Loyola Alumni Association's treasurer and has been a member of the board since 1994. Since 1995, he has been on the Annual Alumni Golf Tournament committee, which he chaired in 1998. Frank is senior partner in the accounting firm Mizgala & Cie. Di Grappa was president of the CUAA from 1996 to 1998. He helped conceive and organize the CUAA's Molson Centre EXTRAvaganza, held in September 1998. Michael is Concordia's Executive Director, Physical Resources.

Ronald Corey, CM, a non-graduate, was given an Honorary Life Membership in the Association. Until recently, he was president of the Canadiens' hockey club and the Molson Centre. He made an outstanding contribution through his chairmanship of Concordia's recent $77-million capital campaign; he was a member of Concordia's Board of Governors from 1996 to 1999.

The Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching was awarded to Bluma Litner (Applied Human Sciences/Centre for Mature Students) and Sean McEvenue (Theological Studies). Dr. Litner won a 1994 Concordia Council on Student Life Award for Excellence in Teaching and a 1996 national 3M Teaching Fellowship. Dr. McEvenue, who recently retired, is an eminent biblical scholar. He started teaching at Loyola in 1972, and has held many administrative posts, including first principal of Lonergan College, chair of his department, and first Director of Graduate Studies in Theology.

Liliane Gondo, who will graduate with a BA in Psychology this spring, was presented with the Outstanding Student Award for her leadership and contributions to student life. She has been co-coordinator of Concordia's Student Safety Patrol and a member of the Garnet Key Society. She will begin training with the RCMP in Regina this summer.