Page 4 - Impact Newsletter Spring 2016

Royal Roads University Advancement – Spring 2016
2015: So much to celebrate!
For 75 years, Royal Roads has been changing lives and the world we live in.
In 2015, we celebrated that legacy with events highlighting Royal Roads tradition, innovation, learning and leadership.
A Royal Roads Staff Bursary helped fund Cheryl Heykoop’s trip to Uganda where she worked with former child solidiers on how to tell their stories. Cheryl was also awarded the prized RRU Chancellor’s Award for her doctoral dissertation.
Cheryl Heykoop
In partnershp with Makerere University’s Refugee Law Project, Cheryl Heykoop brought together more than 100 young people to co-create ways to share their experiences with the anticipated Ugandan truth commission.
In Heykoop’s approach, young people’s ways of knowing and ideas for actions didn’t simply inform the research. Instead, young people co-created
a truth telling processs that strengthens their own well-being and reconciliation in the community.
“What’s so important here is that
the kids identify what’s important,”
says Heykoop. “In the context of working with vulnerable children, and speci cally children who have been affected by armed con ict, the ethical responsibility is so much greater.”
“I don’t want to sit in an ivory tower. I really want to be doing something that’s meaningful,” she says. “That was de nitely the draw to Royal Roads.”
The rst of its kind in Canada, the Doctor of Social Sciences degree program focuses on applying interdisciplinary research to complex, real-world problems of organizations, communities and society.
Cheryl is an associate faculty member at Royal Roads University.
“The RRU Staff Bursary gave me the feedom to take my eld research to a deeper level.
2015 Alumni Award recipients:
Vivian Giang (Alumni Excellence Award) and Herb Pitts (Alumni Leadership Award)
We began the year by welcoming the community to campus for the return of a much beloved tradition: the Sunset Ceremony. Last held 20 years ago on the grounds of what was then Royal Roads Military College, more than 2000 people joined in, enjoying a parade, military bands, a y-over by the Canadian Forces Snowbirds and a lone piper, piping down the sun.
The rst of many events that brought ex- cadet and university alumni together with the larger community to celebrate this special place, our thanks go out to all those whose skills, contributions and generousity of spirit made the day so special.
In September, Homecoming brought people together again, as alumni, faculty and staff from Royal Roads Military College and Royal Roads University were joined
by 80 of our 6,000 global alumni. Many guests let us know how valuable the mix of perspectives and experiences was to them. (We may be on to a new tradition!)
Alumni tell us the friendships and experiences that made their Royal Roads education so meaningful continue to enrich their learning and leadership long after graduation. At our Alumni Awards we were thrilled to share the inspirational work of Alumni Leadership Award recipient Herb Pitts and Alumni Excellence Award recipient Vivian Giang, who was recognized for her work at United Nations Association in Canada.
President’s Gala Co-Chair Terry Farmer and wife Leslie celebrate with guests at the event
Major General (retired) Herb Pitts believes if you ask others to do a tough job, it has to be something you are willing to do yourself. His inspired command and his teambuilding efforts have earned him a legacy of deep respect and honour on the battle eld, in the board room and in the community. He has been recognized with many distinctions for his volunteer service including Scouts Canada’s Silver Wolf Award, the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award and the Air Canada Golden Heart Award.
Vivian Giang holds a full-time position at the University of Alberta’s Geotechnical Centre as a communications and grant strategist, while working part-time with UNA-Canada. The RRU Alumni Excellence Award is the latest in a series of accolades for Giang, the recipient of numerous scholarships. In 2013, she received the Chancellor’s Award from Royal Roads for the highest academic performance in her degree program. Most recently, she was named as one of the Top 30 under 30 by the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation.
In October, the President’s Gala and auction raised more than $250,000 to support two newly established bursaries.
In addition to the bursary established by
Wayne Strandlund, $150,000 was raised
to create the 75 Years of Changing Lives
Bursary, celebrating this moment in our
history and looking forward to all our ” students will make happen aross the globe.