Back row (from left): Cristal Glass-Painchaud, Stuart Cullum, Caitlyn Charles, Raigne Symes, Randy Daniels (on behalf of his late spouse, Sara Daniels), Kristine Plastow and Shauna Philip. Front row (from left): Deanna Morin, Lacey Fittes, Breanna Mass and Dr. Stephanie Powers. Photo submitted/Red Deer Polytechnic
Red Deer Polytechnic has recognized nine faculty and staff members for their contributions to students, the institution and the community.
The awards were presented Aug. 21 at the annual Employee Awards of Excellence event held on RDP’s main campus.
“The Employee Awards of Excellence celebrate the dedication and expertise of the Polytechnic’s faculty and staff,” said Stuart Cullum, president of RDP. “Our employees contribute immensely to the success of our institution, our students, and the industries and communities that we serve across Alberta.”
This year, 31 nominations were submitted for excellence in innovation, leadership, service and teaching. Support staff were also recognized with the Grace Taylor Memorial Award of Excellence and the Vicki Mix Administrative Excellence Award.
The 2025 Awards of Excellence recipients are:
-
Excellence in Innovation
• Raigne Symes, Bachelor of Science in Nursing instructor — recognized for innovative teaching methods, ethical technology use and immersive clinical experiences that prepare students for careers in health care. -
Excellence in Leadership
• Kristine Plastow, associate vice-president of student experience — honoured for fostering an inclusive campus through equity initiatives while strengthening RDP’s community ties. -
Excellence in Service
• Lacey Fittes, interim operations manager, School of Health and Wellness — acknowledged for cross-department work and improvements to faculty evaluations that enhance the Polytechnic community.
• Deanna Morin, marketing and promotions strategist, Continuing Education and Corporate Training (CECT) — recognized for providing exceptional service to students, business partners and stakeholders.
• Shauna Philip, Early Learning and Child Care instructor — honoured for supporting student growth and creating partnerships with the Sun Child and O’Chiese Nations, enabling on-reserve course delivery. -
Excellence in Teaching
• Sara Daniels, Bachelor of Science in Nursing instructor (posthumous) — celebrated for her contributions to student success and faculty development through student-centred learning.
• Dr. Stephanie Powers, Donald School of Business — recognized for experiential learning activities, innovative technology use and mentoring through ethical applications of artificial intelligence. -
Grace Taylor Memorial Award of Excellence
• Caitlyn Charles, placement co-ordinator, Career Education and Experience Development Centre — honoured for her high-quality work and ability to build collaboration through humour, empathy and communication. -
Vicki Mix Administrative Excellence Award
• Breanna Mass, operations co-ordinator, Donald School of Business — recognized for creativity, process improvements and a commitment to supporting students, faculty and administrative teams.
More details, including the full list of nominees, are available at the RDP website.
** With information from Red Deer Polytechnic.
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