Sydney Wakaruk, a development officer at Lethbridge College, was honoured as the overall winner of Lethbridge’s Top 40 under Forty recognition by the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce. Wakaruk was honoured at the chamber’s Business of the Year Awards on Thursday evening.
Wakaruk, an alumna of the college’s Business Administration program, joined the college in 2018 as the Alumni Engagement coordinator. She was promoted to development officer earlier this year. As Alumni Engagement coordinator, Wakaruk worked with alumni, donors and stakeholders to build lasting relationships that benefit students. She also successfully organized the 2018 and 2019 iterations of Coulee Fest, the college’s annual community festival.
“We are incredibly proud of Sydney and her many accomplishments and are pleased the chamber recognizes them as well,” says Sandra Dufresne, Lethbridge College executive director of Advancement. “She brings a passion for her work that is not seen in many her age. We know that as a development officer, Sydney will bring warmth, authenticity and trust as she works to align donors’ philanthropic interests with the work we do at Lethbridge College. Sydney’s future is very bright.”
In her current role as a development officer, Wakaruk connects and builds relationships with community members and donors to create opportunities that benefit students.
Originally from Whitecourt, Wakaruk moved to Lethbridge in her teens and graduated from Catholic Central High School. In addition to graduating from the college, she earned her Bachelor of Management from the University of Lethbridge. Her career has been spent in the not-for-profit and public sectors, as she has a passion for helping others. She worked previously for the Lethbridge YMCA and the Ronald McDonald House in Calgary.
“Thank you to the chamber and BDO for this incredible honour,” says Wakaruk. “I am proud to call Lethbridge home and am proud of the way this community continually comes together to support business and each other. Although I’m early in my career, I’m extremely grateful for the many opportunities I have received and the mentors who have made them possible. It’s humbling to be recognized alongside 39 other people who are doing amazing things for our community.”
The Top 40 under Forty is an annual recognition campaign organized by the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce. Each year, the chamber identifies 40 people in our community who are thriving in business, entrepreneurship, arts, athletics, or are striving to make our city and region a better place to live and work. Out of the 40 weekly winners, Wakaruk was chosen as the overall winner of the Top 40 under Forty award.
Lethbridge College was well represented in the 2019 Top 40 under Forty campaign, as Wakaruk was one of 10 college graduates named to the list.