At its recent Summer Seminar, the provincial membership organisation for international education in British Columbia, BCCIE, bestowed awards on its distinguished and rising stars on the international education scene – worth over CAN$2 billion to the regional economy.
There was a tie for the award of Outstanding Program in International Education Award, between Douglas College (for its Zambia Global Leadership Program) and Capilano University/University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Northwestern Switzerland (for Canadian Academics Studying Europe CASE).
Other winners included Brad Booker, Director of International Education, School District No. 59 (Peace River South) who scooped the Rising Star in International Education Award.
“We applaud those educators that have left a lasting legacy and built a solid reputation for BC as a high quality study destination at all education levels across all regions”
Booker works for a school district and has been successful in identifying appropriate agents, schools, and organizers to gain ground in a very competitive field.
Mike Henniger, Director, International Marketing, at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) was honoured for Excellence in International Education Marketing. BCCIE highlighted his social media skills: “Mike has made use of emerging technologies to take the TRU brand into the global marketplace and brought social media to the fore as a tool to brand, recruit, counsel, advertise, and connect in the international education space.”
Catherine Vertesi, Vice President – International Programs, External Relations and New Initiatives, at Capilano University won the International Education Distinguished Leadership Award. She has been at the forefront of international education initiatives in the province for over 30 years.
Finally, the International Education Lifetime Achievement Award was given posthumously to Dr Wesley J. Koczka and accepted by his son. Koczka, who died suddenly earlier this year and also worked at TRU, believed international education experiences “are among the most profound, life changing events an individual can encounter in their lives”, explained BCCIE’s Colin Doerr, Director, Communications and Programs.
“We applaud those educators that have left a lasting legacy and built a solid reputation for BC as a high quality study destination at all education levels across all regions,” he said.
