CONESTOGA COLLEGE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND ADVANCED LEARNING
AlumNight celebrates growing APFM community

Joined by APFM students, past and present faculty, college administrators and industry partners, the event was hosted by the new APFM Student Society in celebration of the program and its graduates. Launched in the spring, the society is a student-led organization made up of executives and representatives of the APFM program, to foster community, connect students with industry professionals and create opportunities for professional growth through networking, learning and hands-on experiences.

AlumNight was hosted by the new APFM Student Society. 

"Together, we're committed to growing the APFM society as a lasting part of our program's legacy - one that connects all of the students, alumni and industry professionals long after graduation," said Sophia Padalino, a second-year APFM student and project director for the society. "Thank you all for being here tonight and for supporting the APFM society. Let's continue to connect, collaborate and grow our community."

In addition to AlumNight, the society has already hosted lunch-and-learns, site tours, and a career and co-op fair. Membership is open to all APFM students, and a lifetime honorary membership is granted to all program graduates.

As part of the celebration, program representatives also inducted new members into the APFM Hall of Fame in recognition of their impact: Graduates Chris Marion (2009), Emily Culumovic (2017), and Hibah Peracha (2021), as well as retired faculty member Ron Bean. This year's inductees join 2007 graduates Marisa Havens and Nick Heibein, 2009 graduates Megan Bos, Ryan Meier and Scott Rivard, 2012 graduates Luke Antonio and Colin Leddy, 2013 graduates Jillian Harvey, Yumna Nasir and Jehan Salim, 2017 graduate Emily Cross-Wilkinson, as well as retired faculty members Colin McGugan, Jim Bechard, Raymond Chung and Chris Pickard, past chair Karen Cain, and retired School of Engineering & Technology executive dean Julia Beidermann who were instrumental in the program's design and launch.

Now in its seventh year, the annual APFM alumni gathering and hall of fame was first organized by Bean as a way of celebrating the impact the program's graduates have in the communities the college serves and around the world. As one of the first faculty members to teach in the degree program, Bean has taught every one of APFM's now more than 500 alumni.

Conestoga's unique four-year APFM co-op degree program is the only in Canada to be regulated by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Foundation and the first Canadian program to be accredited by the Applied and Natural Sciences Accreditation Commission (ABET). The program focuses on the entire architectural process from the planning phase through to occupancy and the adaptive reuse of buildings. Students gain strong foundations in architecture, construction, basic engineering and business; insight into project and facility management; and have additional exposure to liberal arts disciplines and practical applications for the business enterprise.