Queen's alumni achieved great things in the past 12 months, such as commanding the International Space Station, becoming a top executive at the National Football League, and being named to the Canadian Business Hall of Fame.

Let us look back at some of our favourite Queen’s alumni moments from 2018.

March

Drew Feustel on the International Space Station 

NASA astronaut Drew Feustel, PhD’95, DSc’16, blasted off for a 197-day mission on board the International Space Station. He took part in several spacewalks, did a live Q&A from space with students and community members in Grant Hall, and became commander of the ISS. He safely returned to Earth in October.  

Indigenous studies pioneer honoured at Queen’s University Alumni Association Awards Gala

Dr. Marlene Brant Castellano, Arts’55, LLD’91, earned the Alumni Achievement Award, the highest honour bestowed by the Queen’s University Alumni Association. She is a pioneer who shaped the way Indigenous studies are taught across North America, and her work with the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples set standards on the way research is conducted with Indigenous communities.

Mary Ann Turcke named Chief Operating Officer of the NFL

Being named COO of the NFL made Mary Ann Turcke, Sc’88, MBA’97, the highest ranking woman in one the biggest sports leagues in the world. 

April

Queen’s University Alumni Association gets a new president

Jeremy Mosher, Artsci’08, started his two-year term as alumni association president and will represent more than 155,000 alumni over the next two years.

June

Tragic loss inspires new fellowship

The William Henderson Foundation donated $1 million to Queen’s to combat interstitial lung disease after the organization’s director, David Pattenden, lost his wife, Ruth, to the disease in 2016.

Law grad helps create LGBTQ Heritage Minute

Steven Maynard, MA’87, served as a historical consultant for the first Heritage Minute focused on an LGBTQ issue. The video focused on activist Jim Egan and his fight for the legal rights of same-sex couples.

Law grad becomes Jeopardy! champion

Jordan Nussbaum, Law’15, earned major bragging rights after winning $17,800 on Jeopardy! 

July

Michael Ondaatje wins Golden Man Booker Prize

The English Patient, written by Michael Ondaatje, MA’67, was named the best Man Booker Prize-winning book of the past 50 years. It originally won the prestigious award in 1992.  

August

Baders make another major gift to Queen’s 

Alfred Bader, Sc’45, Arts’46, MSc’47, LLD’86, and Isabel Bader, LLD’07, continue to be the university’s most generous benefactors. Over the past six decades, the couple has made many transformative gifts to Queen’s, including the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts, Herstmonceux Castle, and three Rembrandt paintings. This year, Bader Philanthropies donated $1 million (US) to support four projects related to their passion for the arts.

October

101-year-old returns for Homecoming

More than 3,000 alumni returned to Queen’s to take part in Homecoming. Among our favourite moments was seeing 101-year-old John Purkis, Com’48, and his wife Shirley Purkis, Arts’41, hanging out with fellow alumni and current students.

Queen’s Black Alumni Chapter launches

This new chapter hosted its inaugural event after months of work and planning. Visit their Facebook or LinkedIn pages to learn more.

November

Stephen Smith to enter the Canadian Business Hall of Fame

Stephen Smith, Sc’72, LLD’17, who donated $50 million to the School of Business in 2015, will be inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2019.

96-year-old alumna honoured by Principal Daniel Woolf

Bermuda resident Elizabeth “Betty” Musson Kawaley, Arts’43, has one amazing story. Read more about her in a recent Bermuda newspaper article. 

Making history with the Kingston Police Force

Alumna Antje McNeely, Artsci’83, MPA’13, was sworn in as the chief of the Kingston Police Force. She is the first female chief in the force’s 177-year history.

This article was originally published on the Queen’s Alumni website.