Athabasca University Honours Two Distinguished Alumni

March 26, 2008

Canada’s leading online and distance education university is proud to honour two prominent B.C. alumni at a luncheon in Kelowna on March 26, 2008. Lorraine McGrath and Sharon Barnes are being recognized for their contributions to their community, their commitment to excellence and their support of Athabasca University.

AU president Dr. Frits Pannekoek will present the Distinguished Alumni Award to Lorraine McGrath and the Rising Star Award to Sharon Barnes.

McGrath has held many important positions in Kelowna, including regional vice-president of Prospera Credit Union and president of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce. She was also co-founder and vice-president of the Okanagan Innovation Fund.

McGrath, who holds an Athabasca University MBA, was previously awarded the prestigious Sarah Donalda Treadgold Memorial Award as Woman of the Year and the YMCA/YWCA Woman of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award.

Barnes is founder and president of RFind Systems Inc., a leading edge technology company based in Kelowna.

In 2005, Barnes launched RFind after developing the business plan for the venture as the applied project in her AU MBA program. A year later, she and her company won first prize in the prestigious Telus New Ventures B.C. competition.

Athabasca University’s Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes the accomplishments of an AU graduate who has brought honour and prestige to the university. The Rising Star award is presented to graduates who have demonstrated leadership and contributed significantly to their area of expertise early in their career.

The award luncheon will be held in the Kootenay Room at the Grand Okanagan Lakefront Resort and Conference Centre, 1310 Water Street, Kelowna. Representatives of the media are cordially invited to attend. Lunch will be served.

For more information contact:

Lori Van Rooijen
Vice-President (Advancement)

Email: loriv@athabascau.ca
Phone: (403) 298-2920

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Updated August 21, 2012