Arch Awards 2008 - June 5, 2008

At the 2008 Arch Awards, the U of C’s alumni family and friends were treated to great food, lively conversation and truly inspiring messages from this year’s award winners. More than 200 guests filled the Grand Theatre in downtown Calgary on June 5 to celebrate the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award winner Susan Smith, BN’75, PhD’95, and the 2008 Graduate of the Last Decade Robyn Hauck, BCS’05.

Both winners spoke about their motivation to change the world and “the power of one” to make a difference. Hauck, who spearheaded a one-woman advocacy campaign that led to a public smoking ban in Calgary a year earlier than planned, credited one of her Communication and Culture professors Dr. Ron Glasberg for encouraging her to take action instead of just complaining about issues. Smith, who has helped impoverished communities around the world, spoke of defining moments in her career. What she learned, she said, was that “it is the power of all, not the power of one” that fosters real change. A recording of her speech can be found at http://www.ucalgary.ca/~erupload/SusanAcceptanceSpeech.mp3

The night was emceed with panache by Communication and Culture dean Dr. Kathleen Scherf, who followed a performance by a trio of Flamenco dancers with a few steps of her own. The dancers were accompanied by guitarist Peter Knight, who also played for guests as they arrived.

Video tributes to each award recipient followed remarks by Roman Cooney, BA’95, MCS’01, vice-president (external relations) and Dean Brawn, BA’89, past president of the Alumni Association, who announced that the association, as is its tradition, would fund a scholarship in the name of Dr. Susan Smith. Kirk Dunkley, BFA’08, who designed and made the new awards, also spoke about his artistic vision in creating the unique tributes crafted from hundreds of layers of acrylic. The Faculty of Communication and Culture hosted a pre-reception in Hauck’s honour upstairs at the Grand before the evening’s main event.

Congratulations to both our recipients, and thanks to all our alumni and U of C supporters for joining us at this wonderful celebration of two members of our accomplished alumni family.