> Student affairs officer secures sweet award
Student affairs officer secures sweet award
Contact:
Sam Thiara, 778.782.6833, sthiara@sfu.ca, asthiara@shaw.ca
Carol Thorbes, 778.782.3210, cthorbes@sfu.ca
Sam Thiara, 778.782.6833, sthiara@sfu.ca, asthiara@shaw.ca
Carol Thorbes, 778.782.3210, cthorbes@sfu.ca
August 28, 2007
Sam Thiara is an Indo-Canadian who marches to the beat of his own drum with the British Columbia Regiment Irish Pipes and Drums. But it's his ability to help others march to the beat of their own drums that makes him stand out at Simon Fraser University, where he has won this year's B.C. Sugar Achievement Award.
A student affairs officer in SFU's Faculty of Business, Thiara helps business students shine in their studies, community work, international exchange programs and worldwide competitions. “Aside from selecting and grooming students for competitions, I encourage them to think beyond transcripts and grade point averages and become effective communicators,“ explains Thiara. He notes that his position doesn’t exist at other Canadian universities and is unique at SFU.
One of SFU's highest honours, the B.C. Sugar Award recognizes a student, staff or faculty member for garnering national and international praise that enhances SFU's reputation. A $5,500 cash prize accompanies the sweet victory, which Thiara, a North Vancouver resident, will use to help finance his master's degree in leadership at the University of Exeter in England.
“Sam's energy and passion for the holistic approach to making the undergraduate experience and community service vehicles for personal development shines through in all of his dealings with faculty, staff and students,” says SFU Business Associate Dean Maureen Fizzell.
Thiara, an SFU business and political science graduate, has helped more than 20 community organizations, such as Leaders of Tomorrow, the Children’s Wish Foundation and the North Shore Neighbourhood House, achieve their goals. He has helped countless individuals, including SFU graduates Terry Beech and Shawn Smith, blossom into recognized community leaders.
Thiara's unwavering commitment to student and community development earned him the 2006 Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award and the 2002 Outstanding Grad Award for Leadership Vancouver, a community leadership program. A graduate of the program, Thiara became a board member and chaired its graduate network committee.
In the minds of some Olympians Thiara deserves a gold medal for his dedication to helping Vancouver win the bid to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. Along with conducting 60 open houses to promote the bid, Thiara implemented municipal and community projects and networked with political and community representatives.
What drives Thiara, who still finds time for his hobbies, drumming and photography, to accomplish so much? “I am passionate about what I learn and about leadership, and about making it all enable me to give back to the community,” says Thiara. “My favourite quote is, ‘Everyone's life is an autobiography. You have to make yours worth reading.”’
— 30 — (electronic photo file available on request)
A student affairs officer in SFU's Faculty of Business, Thiara helps business students shine in their studies, community work, international exchange programs and worldwide competitions. “Aside from selecting and grooming students for competitions, I encourage them to think beyond transcripts and grade point averages and become effective communicators,“ explains Thiara. He notes that his position doesn’t exist at other Canadian universities and is unique at SFU.
One of SFU's highest honours, the B.C. Sugar Award recognizes a student, staff or faculty member for garnering national and international praise that enhances SFU's reputation. A $5,500 cash prize accompanies the sweet victory, which Thiara, a North Vancouver resident, will use to help finance his master's degree in leadership at the University of Exeter in England.
“Sam's energy and passion for the holistic approach to making the undergraduate experience and community service vehicles for personal development shines through in all of his dealings with faculty, staff and students,” says SFU Business Associate Dean Maureen Fizzell.
Thiara, an SFU business and political science graduate, has helped more than 20 community organizations, such as Leaders of Tomorrow, the Children’s Wish Foundation and the North Shore Neighbourhood House, achieve their goals. He has helped countless individuals, including SFU graduates Terry Beech and Shawn Smith, blossom into recognized community leaders.
Thiara's unwavering commitment to student and community development earned him the 2006 Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award and the 2002 Outstanding Grad Award for Leadership Vancouver, a community leadership program. A graduate of the program, Thiara became a board member and chaired its graduate network committee.
In the minds of some Olympians Thiara deserves a gold medal for his dedication to helping Vancouver win the bid to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. Along with conducting 60 open houses to promote the bid, Thiara implemented municipal and community projects and networked with political and community representatives.
What drives Thiara, who still finds time for his hobbies, drumming and photography, to accomplish so much? “I am passionate about what I learn and about leadership, and about making it all enable me to give back to the community,” says Thiara. “My favourite quote is, ‘Everyone's life is an autobiography. You have to make yours worth reading.”’
— 30 — (electronic photo file available on request)