Mohawk welcomes Special Olympics to Fennell Campus

Wed, 29 May 2013 11:32:13 -0400

Mohawk College Professor Peter Olynyk

Mohawk College Professor Peter Olynyk has been recognized by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) at its annual conference in Penticton, B.C.

Peter received the Bronze medal for Teaching Excellence at the awards, which celebrate the extraordinary contributions of faculty and staff to their colleges and highlight the role colleges play in the social, cultural and economic development of the communities they serve.

Peter teaches Civil and Structural Engineering courses to upwards of 400 students per year in Mohawk’s School of Engineering Technology. From the beginning of his teaching career Peter has made student success a personal mission, getting to know each of his students and providing personal advice and guidance that has helped launch many successful careers.

One of the best examples of his commitment is the work he does outside of the classroom. Peter founded Mohawk's hugely popular Popsicle Stick Bridge Building Competition, which held its 26th competition this April, and he's a long-time volunteer with the Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair, one of the oldest and largest fairs in the country. He also organized Mohawk's first Meet the Grad & Employer nights as a way to bring students and potential employers together.

"Peter knows what it means to be a teacher," said Mohawk College President Rob MacIsaac. "He always puts students first, and they can count on him to provide advice and guidance on everything from math problems to career advice. He's made a significant and lasting impact on the lives and careers of hundreds of Mohawk graduates now working in the field, each one with a story on how Peter helped get them there."

This is the second year in a row that a Mohawk College professor has been recognized by the ACCC. In 2012, Mohawk College Creative Advertising Professor Jef Petrossi also won a Bronze medal in the same category.

ACCC is the national organization that represents colleges and institutes at the national and international level. For more information visit http://www.accc.ca.

Congratulations ACCC Awards of Excellence winners Cheryl Jensen, Alan Griffiths and Jef Petrossi

Mon, 28 May 2012 17:45:37 -0400

Three Mohawk College staff members have been recognized by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) at its annual conference in Halifax, N.S.

ACCC’s annual Awards of Excellence celebrate extraordinary contributions of individuals to their colleges and highlight the role colleges play in the social, cultural and economic development of the communities they serve.

Vice President Academic Cheryl Jensen received the Silver award for Leadership Excellence. Cheryl was the driving force behind many Mohawk success stories, including the launch of Canada’s first Bachelor of Technology Program in collaboration with McMaster University, the creation of the award-winning Hydro One – College Consortium and the $27 million transformation of Mohawk’s skilled trades campus in Stoney Creek. Cheryl is very active in the community serving on various boards and foundations, and she’s currently working with public, private and non-profit sector partners on a project aimed at promoting postsecondary education to at-risk youth in high-need neighbourhoods.

Alan Griffiths, Mohawk’s sustainable environment specialist, received the Silver Staff Excellence Award. Alan is responsible for Mohawk’s green initiatives, including taking the lead role in the development of the College’s first comprehensive environmental management plan. The plan commits Mohawk to a 20 per cent reduction of 2007 baseline carbon emissions by 2020, and includes strategies achieve reductions in eight target areas. Alan is also very active in the local sustainability movement, representing Mohawk on city-wide initiatives aimed at improving access to alternative transportation and helping businesses reduce their carbon footprint.

Jef Petrossi is a creative advertising professor in Mohawk's Advertising Advanced Diploma program and this year's recipient of the Bronze ACCC Teaching Excellence Award. An award-winning writer that has worked at some of the world's leading advertising agencies, Jef knows what it takes to be successful and works hard to make his students stand out in an extremely competitive industry. Since joining Mohawk four years ago, Jef's students have won numerous awards at prestigious national and international competitions including the CMA's national awards, the Ad and Design Club of Canada's national awards and Applied Arts Magazine advertising awards show. Some of Jef’s former students have gone to work for North America’s best agencies such as BBDO, Taxi2, Saatchi & Saatchi, Proximity, Ogilvy and Lowe Roche.

ACCC is the national organization that represents colleges and institutes at the national and international level. For more information visit www.accc.ca.

Mohawk College Newsroom

Mohawk welcomes Special Olympics to Fennell Campus

Congratulations ACCC Awards of Excellence winners Cheryl Jensen, Alan Griffiths and Jef Petrossi