QSAA Wins Canadian And US Advancement Awards

The Queen's Student Alumni Association (QSAA) has won three prestigious 2012 accolades for its programming over the past year.

Ben SeewaldFor its innovative and creative approach to the management and marketing of the 2011 Alumni Speaker Series, the QSAA team was first honoured with the 2012 Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) ASAP (Affiliated Student Advancement Programs) District 2 Outstanding External Program award.

This award was swiftly followed by the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) Prix D'Excellence Silver Medal for Best Special Event, which specifically recognized the speaker event that brought Queen's alumnus and NASA astronaut Drew Feustel, PhD'95, back to campus.

Finally, current QSAA President Rico Garcia and Alumni Officer and Advisor to the QSAA Ben Seewald travelled to Indianapolis in August for the CASE ASAP 39th Annual Network Convention where the 2011 Alumni Speaker Series received the CASE ASAP National Award for Outstanding External Program.

"I am thrilled that the QSAA Ambassador team members, who generously volunteer their time to foster the connection between students and alumni, have been so widely recognized for their exceptional passion and professionalism," says Ben.

The QSAA's annual Alumni Speaker Series was established in 2010 in partnership with the Alma Mater Society (AMS).  As well as Drew Feustel, past speakers have included Editor-in-Chief for The Globe and Mail, John Stackhouse, Com'85; global activist and humanitarian Amma Bonsu, Artsci'02, Artsci'03; and CNN's Chief Business Correspondent Ali Velshi, Artsci'94 (who makes a repeat appearance on campus later this month).