Grande Prairie Regional College

Distinguished Alumni Award

Home » Alumni & Friends » Distinguished Alumni Award

Introduction

The distinguished Alumni Award is the Alumni Association’s most prestigious award.  The purpose is to recognize GPRC alumni for outstanding accomplishments in their professions, and/or in service to their community, society or GPRC.  The Distinguished Alumni is an example of alumni success for GPRC.

Dr. Gary BorstadThe 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient is
Dr. Gary Borstad.

Back in 1966/67 when the College first opened its doors to the students of our region, Gary Borstad was among the charter class of 66 eager learners.  He enrolled in university transfer science, and then went on to complete a Bachelor of Science in zoology and chemistry at the University of Alberta, Edmonton.

In June, 2011, the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society awarded the prestigious François J. Saucier Prize in Applied Oceanography to Dr. Gary Borstad for “his longstanding leadership in the application of science to a wide range of applied projects in the oceanographic sciences, with a particular focus on the application of remote sensing to the study of marine processes and ecosystems.  His scientific vision in leading more than 200 oceanic/aquatic remote sensing projects worldwide has facilitated Canadian leadership in international oceanographic science applications.”

Obviously the years between 1966-1967 and 2011 were busy and interesting ones for Gary Borstad!  His work has taken him to all Canadian provinces and territories, most US states, and over 35 countries, including the high Arctic, the mountains of the high Andes, African deserts and jungles, tropical coral reefs and lagoons and many places in between.  His work spans a broad range of applications of the technology – including water quality, shoreline and intertidal habitat mapping, fish schools, coral reefs, forestry, agriculture, mineral mapping and land use studies. He has also provided general remote sensing instruction to students in Peru, china and Indonesia, and more specialized training to scientists at the international Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna for many years.

Dr. Borstad is the eldest son of long-time Grande Prairie residents Elmer and Doreen Borstad, and the brother of Lane Borstad, an instructor in the Fine Arts program at GPRC.

Download Nomination Form
Deadline December 31st

Download Nomination Form for Distinguished Alumni Award Nomination Form for Distinguished Alumni Award (49K)
Adobe Acrobat Document

Criteria

The candidate has demonstrated oustanding excellence in his/her profession, community or society and is therefore an example of alumni excellence for GPRC.  The nominee must be an alumnus of GPRC.  Alumni currently serving the College as board members are not eligible.

Nominations

Nominations will be accepted form the public and the College Community. Nominations will be reviewed and selected by a committee of the Alumni/Foundation Board. The recipient will be contacted in advance so he/she may attend the event to receive their award. 

Distinguished Alumni Honorees

Senator Dennis PattersonDistinguished Alumni Award 2011: Senator Dennis Patterson
In the fall of 1966 when the Grande Prairie Junior College opened its doors, Dennis Patterson was one of
101 charter students. Soon after Dennis would be taking a leadership role as the first Students’ Executive President;
a role that helped to lay the groundwork for what the College is today. He was named to the Senate of Canada by
Prime Minister Stephen Harper on August 27, 2009.

 

 

Joseph RedheadDistinguished Alumni Award 2010: Mr. Joseph Redhead
Mr. Redhead completed his Associate Science credential at GPRC in 1998. He went on to
complete his Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the UofA, graduating in 2002. Today, he is the
Registered Nurse in Charge at Sturgeon Lake First Nation.

 

 

 

Dr. Marie MoreauDistiguished Alumni Award 2009: Dr. Marie Moreau
Marie completed the first two years of pre-medicine at Grande Prairie Regional College,
and received the GPRC Valedictorian award in 1982. She went on to successfully
complete her MD in the Department of Medicine, University of Alberta. She is currently
the Director of the Grande Prairie Cancer Clinic at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital.

 

 

Darlene HorsemanDistinguished Alumni Award 2008: Darlene Horseman
Darlene attended GPRC for a total of 11 years, beginning in Academic Upgrading
and in 2008 achieving a Bachelor of Education, Teacher Education North, inspiring
many along the way.

 

 

 

Bob MacleanDistinguished Alumni Award 2007: Robert J. Maclean
He has generously contributed of his personal success to encourage and
support the efforts of others. He completed his Business Administration diploma at GPRC.

 

 

 

Koralee SamarodenDistinguished Alumni Award 2006: Koralee Samaroden
Now a community leader in recreation and leisure programs in Wood Buffalo,
she complete the first two years of her Bachelor of Physical Education at GPRC.

 

 

 

Willie de WitDistinguished Alumni Award 2005: Willie de Wit
Olympian and Lawyer Willie de Wit “learned how to learn again” at GPRC
in 1989-91, going on to graduate from the Faculty of Law at the University of Alberta.

 

 

 

Dr. Cora VoyageurDistiguished Alumni Award 2004: Dr. Cora Voyageur
GPRC University Transfer program 1988 - in 1997 she became the first
Aboriginal woman to receive a Doctorate from the University of Alberta.