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Social justice for butterflies
Message from the Athletics Department
A year like no other
This past year is one we will not soon forget. Yet as so often with sport, challenges provide opportunities. We quickly turned our attention to our athletes, coaches, and community focusing on safety, education, access, wellness, and finding ways to help navigate these difficult times. We had to adjust, reinvent, and learn different ways to deliver and receive our programs and services during the ebb and flow of the pandemic, and our entire community rose to the challenge. Immense thanks you to all!
We were very fortunate to be able to safely give our student athletes an opportunity to practice in a controlled environment. This was both important and special as part of keeping our teams and athletes supported and connected. Their resiliency and perseverance were unwavering. We felt privileged in that we were one of the few provinces in Canada able to allow our student athletes to compete against sister institutions in a modified way. The opportunity to compete was joyous, and when we eventually return to some normalcy, competition will be valued more than ever.
We were also pleased to be able to continue to celebrate the accolades of our athletes through our Best of the Blue Awards.
Best of the Blue Award winners
Sheila & Stephenie Allt Memorial Award: Alisha McNeil, Women’s Basketball Kathrine McEwen, Women’s Soccer
Tracy Barton Endowed Memorial Award: Nicole Rector, Women’s Volleyball
Raymond & Helen Plato Memorial Award: Redford Ingram, Men’s Basketball Campbell Colpitts, Men’s Basketball
Rick & Andrea Plato Award: Tariq Thomas, Men’s Basketball
Dyrick McDermott Memorial Leadership Award: Alisha McNeil, Women’s Basketball Tahlia Jones, Women’s Basketball
Windsor Flash Award: Hannah Baillie, Cross Country Donald DeWolfe, Cross Country Julia Short, Women’s Soccer
Alumni Varsity Award: Donald DeWolfe, Cross Country Julia Short, Women’s Soccer
A fond farewell…and a warm welcome!
Danny De Palma
A sincere thank you to Ian MacRae who stepped down after seven years at the helm of our men’s basketball program. He is an inspiring coach, colleague, role model, dad, and friend, and his athletes learned so much from him, both on and off the court. A special thank you also to Derek Norris, assistant coach of the men’s team who provided tremendous support through the transition.
A sincere welcome to our new men’s head coach, Danny De Palma. De Palma, a 2011 BA graduate of MSVU and an extremely experienced basketball coach, joined the Mystics family in early February. FM
What a year it has been! As I conclude my two-year term as president of the Mount Saint Vincent Alumni Association (MSVAA), I reflect that while things did not progress as planned this past year, I am incredibly proud of how we responded and what we accomplished. Our mission is to engage and celebrate our alumni, which stands at an amazing 35,000 worldwide. Despite the limitations the pandemic created, we found new and innovative ways to achieve that mission.
The Mount Mentorship program officially launched in February 2021, providing support and guidance to final-year students and new graduates with the transition from university. Immense thanks to all alumni who are giving back and signing on as mentors providing a means to support students during these uncertain times. We value greatly your involvement.
We acknowledged Tina Murphy and The Limestone Group as winners of our 2020 Alumni Awards virtually in January of this year, allowing people from various corners of the globe to join in celebrating the wonderful accomplishments of these incredible alumni.
The MSVAA Board of Directors often discuss the impact the pandemic has had on graduating students. The classes of 2020 and 2021 have sadly missed out on traditional celebrations to mark their graduation from university. Each of these accomplished students, now alumni, have reached their goals despite the many obstacles of this past year. For that, they should be truly commended. We want to welcome these new alumni by helping them celebrate their year of hard work. We will share more on our celebration plans in the coming months.
Thank you for the privilege of serving as president of the Alumni Association. I am extremely proud to be part of this special community.
All the best to you and your loved ones.
Alison MacDonald, BPR ‘88 President, MSVAA
MSVAA Board of Directors 2020-2021
Executive Committee
President: Alison MacDonald, BPR ‘88 Vice President: Joanne Bernard, BA ’96 Past President: Tanya Lorimer-Charles, BBA ‘89 Secretary: Carolyn O’Malley, BBA ‘14 Treasurer: Linda MacKay, BA (AIT) ’99
Members at Large
Brianne Bezanson, BAH ‘11 Nancy Dorey, BPR ‘97 Penny Henneberry, BSC ‘87 Aris Hernandez, BBA ‘16 Roberta Hibbert, BBA ‘15 Tanya Lush, MEd ‘06 Lynne MacQuarrie, BPR ’96 Jeremy Neilson, BA ’10 Trevor Poole, BA (AIT) ’10 Ashley Stewart, BSC ’06 Heather Strickey, BAH ‘95 Vanessa Yurchesyn, BHN ‘12
Tina Murphy The Limestone Group 2020 Alumni Award winners
The Mount Saint Vincent Alumni Association was thrilled to recognize the 2020 Alumni Award winners this past January through a wonderfully engaging virtual ceremony. Special congratulations to Tina Murphy, the winner of the Alumni Award for Community Service, and The Limestone Group, (O’Neil Miller (BMP ’16), Damian McCartney (BBA ’16), and Giovanni Johnson (BSc ’17)), winner of the Young Alumni of the Year.
The 2021 Alumni Awards celebration will take place virtually on Saturday, October 16 as part of Reunion Weekend 2021. Alumni Award submissions will open in July so be sure to consider nominating a MSVU alumni for this worthy recognition. #msvuproud. FM
