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Second Distinguished Graduate named One of the highlights of this year's Reunion Weekend was the presentation of the second annual Father Norm Choate Distinguished Graduate Award. Gail Frances. Young of Toronto received the "Distinguished Graduate" honour at the Graduates' Association Reunion Dinner on June 6. She earned a BA in Sociology in 1966. The award recognizes outstanding contributions and distinguished service by a St. Jerome's graduate in one or more of these areas: the community, province or country; the Church; their career; St. Jerome's College and its Graduates' Association. It is named after Father Norm Choate, C.R., current President of St. Jerome's and a former chaplain and lecturer in sociology. Gail received a six-inch high lucite slab embedded with the College's crest and inscribed with her name, degree, year of graduation and year of the award. Her photo will be displayed in the College's classroom building along side last year's recipients, Joe and Stephanie Mancini. "To be honoured with an award named after someone whom I admire very much and which is given by a College which means so much to me is a very real source of pride," says Gail. "Through my involvement with the College as a graduate, I hope I can give back some of the benefits I received as a student." Currently a manager in the Management Development Department at IBM Canada Ltd. in Toronto, Gail joined the company following her graduation. She is responsible for the development and teaching of courses for 2,000 managers within IBM. She has risen in a field historically dominated by men. Today, only 7% of the managers at IBM are women. Gail has also received numerous awards for management and administrative achievement at IBM. A successful career has not been achieved at the expense of a deep commitment to her Church and local community. Gail and her husband, Bruce, also a St. Jerome's graduate from 1966 and now a provincial court judge, have served as instructors for the marriage preparation programme known as Engaged Encounter held in Mississauga. They have given talks on marriage to parishes and other groups. From 1981 to 1986, Gail served on the Board r of Directors of the Catholic Children's Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto, an agency which serves nearly 12,000 children, many of whom are physically or sexually abused, and most of whom live under the poverty line. Through her background in personnel administration, Gail was instrumental in assisting the CCAS recruit social workers from ethnic communities to more fully serve those in need of the agency's services. She was a member of the St. Jerome's College Board of Governors from 1980 to 1986 and has participated in various career programmes for students at the College. Most recently she spoke to students on the marketability A Distinguished Graduate A beaming Gail (née MacDonald) Young (BA '66) offers a few words of acceptance after receiving the second annual Fr. Norm Choate Award. of a bachelor's degree in a talk entitled "Using a BA in the Business World". She also participated in a campaign to write letters to prospective students who have applied to St. Jerome's in an effort to encourage them to choose the College. Gail sits on the University of Waterloo Alumni Development Council, a committee of senior UW grads who advise the University's Alumni and Development Offices. "As a College community it is important to recognize excellence and achievement among our graduates," acknowledges Robert Donelson, Director of Development and College Relations. "They bring honour both to themselves and to St. Jerome's College. Gail Young exemplifies this belief." The 1986 recipients, the first to receive the award, were Joe and Stephanie Mancini, co-founders of the Working Centre in Kitchener, a self-help resource centre for the unemployed. The Mancinis presented the 1987 award to Gail. It was a proud moment for Gail and for the College. It is good to honour those who have "gone the extra mile" in their careers or avocations. Be sure to nominate someone next year. At its wrap-up meeting of the year, the SJC Grads' Association Executive Committee voted in favour of adopting a new format for all future annual reunions. Acknowledging that general reunions each year run the risk of losing their appeal, the committee has decided to recognize five year anniversaries each year. Next year, on June 4 and 5, 1988, the major reunion focus will be on the classes of 1983, 1978, 1973, 1968 and 1963. A class would then have a reunion every five years. Of course, all graduates and friends are welcome, but a special emphasis on these years will allow organizers to make contact with members of each class and arrange phone committees around groups of graduates who know each other. This is a practice commonly used by most universities and does not preclude a special, general focus such as this year's 25th anniversary reunion for the residences. Did you graduate in '83, '78, '73, '68, or '63? Would you like to help organize reunion activities for your year? Let's repeat the success of Reunion '87. If you are interested, call or write Rob Donelson at the College (519) 884-8110, ext. 81. An active,productive year At the June Reunion, Rob Donelson, Director of Development and College Relations, provided a brief report on the activities of the College's Graduates' Association over the past year. He outlined a diverse and impressive array of events which saw the College make contact with more graduates than ever before and which saw more graduates participate in College life. "The Graduates' Association provides a valuable continuity for St. Jerome's College," he declared, "because while faculty, staff and students may change through the years, we are the one unchanging constituency of the College. We blend its past, present and future." "In rekindling memories of an important time of our lives through reunions and through other contacts, we keep the past alive," he said. "The continuing education of graduates, our participation in College life and involvement with current students gives us a meaningful role in the present. Our ability to offer programmes for prospective students and to financially support the College gives us a stake in its future progress and development." Donelson went on to highlight details of the past year's activities including Career Forum '87, which saw 20 graduates return to discuss careers with students; the Third Annual Grads' Association Lecture featuring Canadian Ambassador David MacDonald; the election of graduate George Luciani (BA '71) to the College's Board of Governors; the addition of over 750 former residents to our "graduates" list; the change in name from Alumni Association to Graduates' Association; the Hamilton chapter event 'Fun on Ice'; the letter writing campaign to prospective students; and, especially, the thorough organization of Reunion '87. Donelson offered special thanks to members of the Grads' Association executive committee who were instrumental in undertaking the past year's events: John Curtis (BA '83), Sharon Forgeron (BA '75), Ginny Jans (BA '61), Bill Klos (BA '60), George Luciani (BA '71), Pat Mackesy (BA '65), Sharon McCarthy (BA '85), Anita Ploj (Student Union President), Paul Rucurean (BMath '79), Paul Tratnyek (BA '75) and Dana Woito (BA '84). New direction for future reunions