CONESTOGA COLLEGE
Business awards celebrate student success

Students, employees and industry partners gathered at the Tapestry Hall event venue in Cambridge to recognize the achievements of Conestoga's top business students on April 11 at the 36^th annual School of Business Awards. Over 70 awards were presented to more than 100 students, with over $75,000 in bursaries and scholarships handed out.

"The School of Business Awards banquet is the highlight of our academic year. It's such a fitting way to recognize our students as well as the partnerships that make many of our student supports possible," said Michelle Grimes, executive dean, School of Business.

"I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our donors and community partners, as their generous donations and contributions provide our students with valuable recognition and resources that help position them for success, and I congratulate our students on their well-deserved awards. We're very proud of their work and accomplishments."

The School of Business has worked to build relationships with a diverse group of partners, ranging from industry and non-profit organizations to large banks and financial companies, that sponsor many of the awards, bursaries and scholarships. The college also sponsors nine awards itself. 

Students were honoured for academic achievement and extracurricular involvement in the disciplines that the School of Business offers, which include marketing, accounting, financial planning, business administration and supply chain management, among others.

The awards were especially important to graduating students, who had a chance to reflect on their time at Conestoga.

Brace Lemphers, graduating from the Business Administration - Financial Planning program, was honoured with five awards and took time to mention some of the professors who made a difference in his journey.

"Professor Tanya Staples is an absolute legend in her program, and even outside the program. She's been such a great resource to learn from. And David Van Alstyne, who teaches the best ethics class I've ever attended," said Lemphers.  

In addition to winning the Marketing Faculty Award, Macy Stewart won an award for research excellence and was named a Co-op Student of the Year in a ceremony held the previous week. A graduating student, Stewart spoke of the doors that the Business Administration - Marketing program has opened for her career.

"I made a lot of really good connections that I wouldn't have made if I wasn't here. Through faculty, I was able to secure a full-time position for my co-op. It's been my full-time position for over a year-and-a-half now, and it will continue to be for the foreseeable future."

Stewart also spoke highly of Conestoga's professors and positive learning environment.

"The one-on-one interactions with professors and smaller class sizes - having those meaningful connections really made such a difference for me personally. The opportunities for extracurriculars like the Ontario Colleges Marketing Competition were also a huge standout for me. It was something that you could do in addition to your education that was so beneficial."

Vasu Sai Kiran Mattepu, winner of the Narhari Sharma Memorial Award, is graduating with a Project Management certificate this year after having completed the Sustainable Business Management program in 2023. Mattepu commented on the opportunities he had to get involved with the community.

"It was a great experience. I had the opportunity to do a lot of volunteering around green solutions and with Sustainable Waterloo Region, and I got a chance to meet the prime minister." 

Conestoga's School of Business provides numerous opportunities and pathways to complete, specialize or expand business education through full- or part-time studies. Its programs reflect today's business needs across a wide range of credentials from apprenticeships, one-year certificates, two- and three-year advanced diplomas, to graduate certificates and degree opportunities that include multiple specializations.