Five students have been named as the first winners of a new Olds College (OC) award: the Bob Collier Award.
The award goes to five returning students enrolled full-time at Olds College in any program that is two years or longer in duration.
Recipients must portray excellence in innovation, creativity and an entrepreneurial aptitude in relation to the farming and agriculture sector. Each recipient is awarded $6,000, with five recipients selected every year.
Fifty-seven students applied for the award, each writing a lengthy essay proposal outlining a project that meets the award requirements.
From that group, 10 students were invited to present to a panel on their proposal, and five were selected as the inaugural Bob Collier Award recipients.
The inaugural five winners are:
Allana Beuermann (bachelor of applied science, agribusiness) - VCS Calf Feeding System
Shawn Chenard (agricultural management, production) - Self Levelling Grain Auger
Emma Hanchuk (equine science, breeding and production ) – Mare Lactation Induction
Simon Kouwenberg (bachelor of applied science, agribusiness) - Tillage Depth Control
Brooklyn McDonald (animal health technology) - Hemp Bedding
Interestingly enough, "Bob Collier actually doesn't have any official connection to the college," OC communications advisor Randy Butler says. "He was never a student, nor was any of his family.
"He had visited the college on a number of occasions for events, but it wasn't until recently that he decided to create an award at the college."
Butler says Collier decided to create the award after meeting OC grad Alex Villeneuve, who has started a business growing mushrooms in spent grains from breweries. (See related Albertan stories on that: https://www.oldsalbertan.ca/article/oc-student-competes-at-cne-for-innovation-award-20170905; https://www.oldsalbertan.ca/article/olds-college-student-wins-top-business-competition-prize-20160426; https://www.oldsalbertan.ca/article/business-to-utilize-spent-grains-has-huge-potential-20160426
"Bob believes strongly in innovation and creativity, and as a farm owner, he understands the importance of those qualities in the agriculture industry," Butler says.
In total, 438 students received awards during the annual Night of Distinction, held March 21 at the Alumni Centre.
Award winners were:
Outstanding Contribution to Olds College Students by a Student: Martina Holtkamp
Student Club of the Year: Animal Health Club
Ian Hall Outstanding Staff/Faculty Member: Kurt Spady
Business of the Year: Wildrose Medical Centre
Outstanding Student Board of Directors Member: Ethan Williams
Olds College Alumni Association Good Samaritan Award: Juanita Dieleman
Donors to the college and partners who entered a new level of giving to the institution were also recognized at the event.
Also during the evening, Olds College president Stuart Cullum presented Students’ Association of Olds College president Cassidy Kirsch with a cheque for $2,517.
That money, earmarked for the Emergency Bursary Fund, goes to help students overcome unexpected financial hardships. It was raised by college staff during the executive office staff Christmas social last December.
