Lita Lising and Kiran Sonea are the inaugural recipients of the Shaun Kenneth Gauthier Memorial Award

Shaun Kenneth Gauthier graduated from SFU in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in communication and publishing. He was an ambitious, energetic student who began his academic journey in the Beedie School of Business with a focus on marketing before transferring to the School of Communication.

After graduation, Shaun worked for the Coors Light division of Molson in Vancouver. His next marketing role was with Bacardi, and his outgoing personality and charm made him a natural fit for the role planning events and unique marketing initiatives.

In 2010, a rare form of cancer, angiosarcoma, took Shaun suddenly, and he is missed every day by his loving friends and family. Known to his friends as ‘Shaun G,’ he was a multi-faceted talent who had a black belt in karate, excelled in hip hop dancing, and thrived as an events promoter through his personal business, Soul Good Productions. A month after he passed, his friends organized a fundraiser at the Commodore Ballroom which raised over $100,000 in support of cancer related charities.

Lita Lising, a third-year communication and publishing student interested in a career in digital marketing or events planning, says she is honoured to be one of the inaugural recipients and is extremely grateful for the acknowledgement from this award.  

Kiran Sonea, an international student from Mauritius graduating this June with her Bachelor of Arts in communication, feels equally grateful for the award. “Receiving this award has not only relieved some financial burden but also served as a tremendous encouragement to pursue my professional and personal goals,” says Kiran. “The recognition associated with the award has inspired me to work even harder and has opened up new opportunities for me.”

Shaun’s legacy lives on as recipients will receive awards in his memory each year. As Grace explains, Shaun was a charismatic young man with a passion for life and an extensive network of friends. The year after he passed away, friends got together to organize a fundraiser for cancer research raising $106,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society and the Shaun G. Foundation. Shaun continues to inspire and bring people together through this award.

Learn more about how to apply for the Shaun Kenneth Gauthier Memorial Award in Communication and other financial support for Communication students.