Alumni Almanac

2011 Alumni Award Winners

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These four ambitious, dedicated alumni serve as tremendous ambassadors of Western. Each will return home to Western to receive their awards on Friday, September 30. In addition, another eight individuals will be honoured at the 37th Annual Alumni Award of Merit Dinner, for their contributions to athletics.

Ted Hessel, BA’67
Ted Hessel has earned a place in the Alumni Association’s records as the recipient of the 2011 Dr. Ivan Smith Award. This fitting tribute is bestowed to the man who has painstakingly culled endless sources for Mustang artifacts to add to the collection at the J.P. Metras Museum. Ted’s tireless service to Western has been realized through his active volunteer career with the Alumni Association, the ‘W’ Club, and as a member of Senate. Ted has served his country through his posting with NATO as a fighter pilot in Europe, his community as a Vice-Principal, teacher and coach and his alma mater through decades of commitments both large and small. Ted is passionate about the Mustangs and can often be seen clutching a new find for the museum, polishing the display cases or cheering for the current roster of athletes in Alumni Hall or TD Waterhouse Stadium. His advocacy for sport history at Western is unsurpassed. Ted has worked closely with university archivists to ensure that these legends will inspire future generations of Western students and studentathletes. The museum serves as a learning environment for current students and a place of remembrance for alumni. The Dr. Ivan Smith Award i Dr. Ivan Smith Award s Alumni Western’s highest honour.

John Eberhard, BA’66, LLB’69
John Eberhard has been defined as a social entrepreneur and a visionary change agent. For his lifelong dedication to a number of causes, he has been fittingly named as the recipient of this year’s Community Service Award. John currently holds a seat on the Alumni Association’s board of directors serving as a leader in the areas of alumni outreach and internationalization. He was honoured by the University of Windsor with an Honorary Degree in 2007. John’s most notable volunteer efforts have been realized through his decades-long relationship with Rotary International where he has served in various capacities including Club President, District Governor and International Director. John was the driving force behind a variety of new initiatives for Rotary – he created Cyber Clubs to increase accessibility for members, and he founded Rotarian Action Groups which undertake humanitarian programs such as water management, AIDS and malaria programs, micro-banks and blood banks around the world. John has dedicated himself to each community he serves – Western, London and international populations through his service and passion for a better world for us all.

Jack Cowin, BA’64, LLD’00
Jack Cowin gives new meaning to the term entrepreneur. In the mid-60s with his Psychology Degree in hand he left Western to tackle the business world. Jack moved to Australia more than 40 years ago where he took the fast food industry by storm, initially with Kentucky Fried Chicken, then his own burger chain named “Hungry Jack’s” and next with Dominos Pizza. He expanded his reach into food manufacturing and now exports to 27 countries employing 17,000 people. Through the years, Jack has remained extremely loyal to Western. He has served as both a donor and a mentor through the “Jack Cowin Award.” Students in receipt of this award demonstrate athletic and academic excellence. The award allows the student to conduct a three-month internship with Jack and his colleagues in Australia. Jack has contributed his efforts to numerous leadership projects and has provided unparalleled support with multiple global initiatives. He will return to campus this year as the recipient of the Professional Achievement Award.

Sarah Richardson, BA’93
This year’s Young Alumni Award recipient is Sarah Richardson. Sarah’s keen eye for design was shaped during her studies in Visual Arts. Her immense design talents, coupled with her infectious enthusiasm and drive, have come together in the creation of a television empire. Sarah’s hard work and passion for design can be seen daily in homes around the world through her five hit television series. She also authors a column in The Globe & Mail, maintains a robust client base through her design firm and is growing a collection of signature product lines including indoor and outdoor furniture and a line of Para paints. Sarah has received the prestigious Top 40 Under 40 Award from Caldwell Partners and has earned Gemini Awards for her television work. She gives back to her community by lending her design talents to styling dream homes and hotel suites for a variety of charities.

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