College names Honouring Excellence recipients

Four Lethbridge College graduates will be saluted during this year’s Honouring Excellence award presentations in April.

Chelsey De Groot, who’s graduated from three LC programs, will be recognized with this year’s “Community Leader” award. She’s currently the cultural program coordinator with Arches, the Lethbridge community outreach organization that’s responding to the city’s severe opioid problem.

After completing her child and youth care training in 2010, she earned a general studies diploma in 2012 and continued to receive a Bachelor of Applied Studies degree in justice studies in 2015.

Cornelius Mans, a 2013 graduate in business administration and management, has been selected to receive the “Rising Star” award.” Since graduating, he advanced from working as an employee of Galimax Trading Co. — now supplying high-end Alberta food specialties to Alberta restaurants — to become the company’s owner.

Kathy Veres Sassa, a nursing graduate in 1991, will be this year’s “Distinguished Alumna.” Over the 25 years since her days in college, she has become a clinical educator for surgery and highly specialized intensive care at Chinook Regional Hospital. At the same time, she helped create the college’s simulated patient care environment for research and education, in support of training for today’s nursing students.

And Barbara Duckworth Thompson, a journalism graduate in 1974, will be presented the “Career Virtuoso” award. As Calgary bureau chief for the Western Producer for more than 25 years, she has travelled the world to cover agriculture-related issues — and become a widely interviewed source of expertise here at home. The award presentations will be made April 26 in the college’s Garden Court dining room, with tickets going on sale at the alumni relations office on March 5.

Follow @DMabell Herald on Twitter