The Mohawk Award of Excellence is the highest honour for recognizing individual employees at the college. Three Awards of Excellence are presented annually to an outstanding employee from the faculty, support and administrative employee groups. This year's awards were presented at the President's Kick-Off on August 28.
Congratulations to this year's recipients, Abby Taylor, Dr. Mariano Arriaga and Lisa Pender.
Award of Excellence - Support Staff: Abby Taylor
Abby Taylor, Student Success Advisor, is the 2025 Award of Excellence recipient in the Support Staff category.
Abby's deep knowledge of program policies, exceptional critical thinking skills, and warm, solution-focused approach make her a cornerstone of student support and academic success. While managing a wide and complex portfolio she does so with unwavering professionalism and infectious positivity, even in the busiest moments.
She proactively reaches out for resources, anticipates issues in processes and policy, and identifies timely issues. She is consistently calm and decisive in escalated student situations and adept at connecting students to the most appropriate campus resources. Abby was instrumental in streamlining a cumbersome and frustrating back-end process for students eligible to transfer to second-year streams of their programs. Abby helped to provide better tracking of students requesting this change, making the process much better and less time-consuming.
Abby is always the first to say "yes" to requests to volunteer at college events. Over the years, she's participated in Destination College, Ontario College Fair, Open Houses, Get Set, Start Smart, Welcome Week, Day One Orientation and Faculty onboarding orientation to name a few.
As one nominator said, "Abby makes me want to do my job better, which I feel is the highest amount of respect and admiration that you could have for a co-worker."
Abby is an indispensable member of our college community whose impact is felt daily by students and faculty. Her exceptional leadership and steadfast dedication to Mohawk College make her a deserving recipient of the Mohawk Award of Excellence.
Congratulations, Abby!
Award of Excellence - Administrative Staff: Dr. Mariano Arriaga
Dr. Mariano Arriaga, General Manager, Energy & Power Innovation Centre (EPIC) is the 2025 Award of Excellence recipient in the Administrative Staff category.
The partnerships Mariano has established with large and notable organizations have not only positioned the college as a trusted partner delivering consistent real-world innovation, but they have also provided students hands-on experience with emerging technologies in a safe lab setting. Throughout his time at the college, Mariano has mentored more than 90 students. He ensures every project includes student involvement, leading to many students transitioning into full-time roles, both at the college and in the broader sector.
Mariano has successfully secured several major grants that have strengthened the college's research capabilities and funding to establish a state-of-the-art lab, resulting in long-term support for applied research.
Under his leadership, EPIC, a division of IDEAWORKS, has generated over $8 million in research funding and significantly enhanced Mohawk's reputation in cleantech innovation and applied research. His strategic approach to growth has created a hub of innovation within the college, developing strong partnerships with industry, government, and Indigenous organizations.
Leading the initiative to engage the Independent First Nations Alliance in Northern Ontario Mariano helped to provide pathways to energy efficiency and local energy generation in these communities, including introducing a carpentry course to provide skills required to maintain houses. An important first step in advancing energy efficiency.
Mariano has been described as a role model for his team, showcasing how to establish new partnerships and how to navigate conversations to build trust and strong working relationships. His visionary leadership and innovative contributions to Mohawk College make him a deserving recipient of the Mohawk Award of Excellence.
Congratulations, Mariano!
Award of Excellence - Faculty: Lisa Pender (posthumous)
Lisa Pender, Professor is the 2025 Award of Excellence recipient in the Faculty category.
Lisa was considered a trailblazer by many.
As a champion of mental health and wellness, she cultivated a culture of digital wellness on campus, empowering both her students and colleagues to prioritize balance, self-care and healthy habits around the use of technology.
She pioneered Mohawk College's first-ever Digital Wellness course, equipping students with tools to reflect upon and manage their use of technology in ways that positively impacted their academic and personal lives. This course will continue to encourage students to adopt healthier digital habits in the future.
Through her corporate workshops, she extended her expertise beyond academia, fostering digital wellness in local organizations and institutions, creating a ripple effect in the community. As a sought-after speaker on digital wellness, she represented the college at conferences, workshops, and corporate events for Bell Canada, Sick Kids, and St. Joseph's Hospital among others, boosting the college's reputation as a leader in the emerging digital wellness field.
As the founder of her own successful and reputable digital wellness business, Digitally Well, Lisa linked the importance of professional development and life-long learning to real-world impact.
For over 15 years, Lisa consistently championed student engagement and wellness. Ever the sociologist, she was committed to challenging the status quo and dismantling stereotypes. Not only did her Aging in Society course accomplish this in every module, but she empowered her students to do the same.
Lisa was a connector. She inspired her colleagues and fellow educators to consider innovative approaches to teaching. She set the teaching bar high in the name of personal growth and expansion. In her classes, Lisa was an adored and respected professor and mentor to her students. She empowered her students to make deliberate choices that aligned with their values and goals. She was brilliant, positive, and always willing to lend a listening ear or provide support and advice to her friends, colleagues and students.
Lisa's lasting impact is immeasurable, making her a deserving recipient of the Mohawk Award of Excellence.
Lisa's award was presented to her husband Wayne Pender and her son Braeden Pender.
