CONESTOGA COLLEGE
Police Foundations awards recognize students for their teamwork, dedication to policing

Students in Conestoga's Police Foundations program gathered for their annual year-end celebration recognizing students who were nominees and recipients of industry and program awards.

Award donors - Waterloo Regional Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police Association and Guelph Police Association - were also thanked at the event held April 2 at the Kitchener - Doon campus.

Craig A. Stephenson, program professor and co-ordinator, said the gathering is an opportunity to honour all students in the program and their desire to make positive changes in the community.

"One of the great joys of teaching is when you can go beyond the classroom and recognize those students who were able to make a difference to the program and to the other students' lives. We are lucky in Police Foundations to have students who all want to contribute and make a difference to society," Stephenson said.

"The awards ceremony is not just to celebrate the recipients, but to celebrate all of our students, their hard work and their future success."

Student award recipients:

Waterloo Regional Police Service Scholarship - Rylan Pedersen

This scholarship is given to a second-year Police Foundations student in good academic standing.

Chief Harold Basse Education Award - Noah Bright

Harold Basse become the youngest police chief in Canada, bringing the local police department into the modern era with computers and the new regional headquarters on Maple Grove Road as well as introducing the concept of community-based policing and recruiting more women and minorities.

This award goes to a student who displays excellent academic performance, leadership and mentoring abilities, a positive attitude, and contributes to the success of the program by helping others.

Constable Jennifer Kovach Memorial Award - Anmol Kler  

Conestoga graduate and Guelph Constable Jennifer Kovach, 26, was killed in the line of duty in 2013 while responding to a call for assistance by another officer. Friends and colleagues established a memorial award, now supported by the Guelph Police Association. The award goes to a female student who demonstrates academic excellence, leadership abilities, a passion for policing, community involvement and a high level of fitness.

Fitness Achievement Awards - Autumn McDonald, Avery MacKenzie Derschner-Sousa and Jacob Thomas.

These awards are presented to students who are punctual, actively participate and a team player.

Police Foundations Leadership Award - Stan Hollingsworth-Pratasousky.

This student, who is nominated by another student or faculty member, is selected by a faculty committee for enhancing campus life for fellow students, advocating for positive change, establishing partnerships, inspiring and motivating others, and demonstrating genuine care for others.

Hollingsworth-Pratasousky was also elected to be this year's valedictorian.

Sgt. Margaret Eves OPP Scholarship - Autumn McDonald

This award was created in memory of Sgt. Margaret Eves, a Conestoga graduate who was critically injured during a routine traffic stop in 2000 - the first female officer killed in the line of duty in Ontario. It recognizes a female student who demonstrates academic excellence, leadership abilities, peer-mentoring skills, community involvement and a high level of fitness.

Being recognized with an award was emotional for McDonald, who admitted she struggled with confidence in her abilities in the program's first year.

"The award is not just about the physical award. It's a reminder that all those late-night study sessions, the perseverance, sacrifices and growth were recognized and achieved. That's worth everything to me. It inspires me to never give up on my future endeavours and holds me accountable to live up to the legacy of Sergeant Margaret J. Eve. to continue to serve my community to the best of my abilities. I am so thankful for my professors and my peers that encouraged and believed in me."

McDonald said the event was a great opportunity for everyone connected to the program to celebrate together.

"The award ceremony for me was something that I was truly honoured to be a part of as recipient, and an organizer. I got to see students and faculty members come together to celebrate everyone's achievements over the past two years at Conestoga," she said. "The ceremony was not only meant for the recipients, but it was to highlight all the students' hard work and dedication throughout the years."

The students also recognized contributions by four program leaders who are retiring at the end of this term: Marv Mustin, program chair; Don Willis, co-ordinator of the Protection, Security and Investigation program; Jim Featherstone, professor; and Colleen Holmes-Cumming, fitness technician.

The program's new chair, Amanda Feeser, was also welcomed.

Conestoga's Police Foundations program offers a two-year integrated learning experience to develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values of a preferred candidate in public sector law enforcement. This program focuses on understanding justice through a lens of social equity and modern policing and has been designed to provide an overall base for a variety of careers in criminal justice and public safety.