2024 Mohawk College Award of Excellence recipients
Congratulations to this year's recipients, Mirela Vujcic, Nick Petrella and Jim Vanderveken
The Mohawk Award of Excellence is the highest honour for recognizing individual employees at the college. Three Awards of Excellence are presented annually to an outstanding employee from the faculty, support and administrative employee groups. This year's awards were presented at the President's Breakfast on August 28.
Congratulations to this year's recipients, Mirela Vujcic, Nick Petrella and Jim Vanderveken:
Award of Excellence - Support Staff: Mirela Vujcic
Mirela Vujcic, Coordinator - Convocation & Registration Services is the 2024 Award of Excellence recipient in the Support Staff category.
Mirela has made both substantial and long-standing contributions to the success of Mohawk College. For more than 20 years, she has consistently enhanced the image and reputation of each department she has been a part of, including the Registrar’s Office. Mirela's leadership is not merely defined by her title or position, but is embodied in her ability to turn challenges into opportunities, to unite others in pursuit of a shared vision, and to lead by example with compassion and grace.
Since taking on her current position, she has led her team in successfully processing an impressive 26,000 credentials, showcasing her exceptional leadership and organizational skills. Every semester, her meticulous attention to detail and proactive approach have been instrumental in facilitating smooth grade submissions, managing registration processes, and ensuring timely grad clearing for convocation.
Mirela is a constant support for members of the Registrar’s Office and college partners, providing clarity and partnership to move forward the work Mohawk College does to support the students, applicants, and the communities we serve. Her exceptional leadership, innovative contributions, and steadfast dedication to Mohawk College make her a deserving recipient of the Mohawk Award of Excellence.
Congratulations, Mirela!
Award of Excellence - Faculty: Nick Petrella
Nick Petrella, Professor, Health, Wellness & Fitness is the 2024 Award of Excellence recipient in the Faculty category.
Nick has demonstrated exceptional leadership and impactful contributions at Mohawk College. As a dedicated faculty mentor in the College Educator Development Program, he supports new faculty with integrity and transparency. Nick co-founded "Mental Health in Motion," a peer-to-peer support network that has guided students since 2014. As the current Mindset and Mental Performance Coach for all varsity teams and athletes at Mohawk College, Nick has played a pivotal role in enhancing the mental health and performance of student-athletes.
Nick significantly enhances the image and reputation of the Health, Wellness, and Fitness program through his dedicated efforts and active engagement with various stakeholders. His participation in college open houses is instrumental in attracting new students to the program. By showcasing the program's strengths and unique offerings, Nick ensures that prospective students and their parents understand the value and opportunities available.
Congratulations, Nick!
Award of Excellence - Administrative Staff: Jim Vanderveken
Jim Vanderveken, Dean, Centre for Community Partnerships and Experiential Learning is the 2024 Award of Excellence recipient in the Administrative Staff category.
Jim is a recognized leader in the postsecondary sector, known for guiding innovative programming to support community vitality and student success. With a career spanning more than 35 years, Jim led the ground-breaking work to develop Hamilton’s Community Access Strategy, which focused on the role education could play in poverty reduction for Hamilton’s most vulnerable communities.
Some of Jim’s most well-known portfolio achievements include: College in Motion, Community Integration through Co-operative Education program, City School by Mohawk, the Four College Alliance (4CA), CityLAB Hamilton, Future Ready Premium Program and the creation of the Centre for Experiential Learning. Jim’s inspiring, collaborative style and passion for providing pathways for all learners has left a significant mark on Mohawk College students, alumni, and our greater community.
Through his passion for community-based, accessible education he has been successful in securing multi-million-dollar grants that have launched innovative programs. He has also supported and co-authored nine research papers over the last seven years to enhance the college’s academic reputation.
Many leaders within the college credit their career progression to Jim's mentorship. Anyone working with Jim feels his full support, allowing them to take risks and grow professionally. He has the respect and admiration of his colleagues not just within Mohawk, but across the community and the country.
Congratulations, Jim!