College of the North Atlantic (CNA) student council president, Erin Everard, was presented with a Silver Award of Excellence for Student Leadership from Colleges and Institute Canada (CICan) during its annual conference in Quebec City last night.
The Paradise native was recognized with the award for her exceptional contribution to CNA, student life and to her community. Since enrolling in 2013, Erin has held various positions on the Student Representative Council at Prince Philip Drive campus and is also the president of the provincial Council of Student Unions (CNASU) – a council that represents students at all 17 campuses. She has been an exceptional ambassador of CNA, and has represented the college at the regional, provincial, national and international levels since her first semester of studies.
Erin has spearheaded two large projects during her tenure - in 2014, she planned the 10-day orientation event for Prince Philip Drive campus. Through consultations with CNA administration this initiative led to a province-wide orientation event for all 17 campuses.
In 2015, Erin created a student-led initiative called Mental Health Matters, where the entire student population came together through campus-based activities and social media to dispel the stigmas attached to mental health issues. This event was designed to ensure CNA provided students with an environment where they felt comfortable speaking about their experiences and challenges with mental health.
“It’s amazing,” Erin said of winning the award. “Honestly, I never could have pictured that I would have won anything like this and it’s an incredible feeling. I don’t think anyone really knows how well they are doing in leadership roles until something like this happens, so it’s really nice to be recognized and to know that I’m doing a good job.”
While she says it’s an honour to receive the recognition from CICan, Erin feels she couldn’t have done any of it without the support she’s received during her time at CNA.
“It feels amazing to be recognized, but the way I look at it, anyone who is a CNASU President could have done the same. I just really took advantage of the resources and the support system. We have a college president who supports me in everything I do and none of what I have done would have been possible without that. There are a lot of great leaders that work with me, and I couldn’t do it without all of them.”
CNA President and CEO, Ann Marie Vaughan, says from the time Erin enrolled in the Business Management (Accounting) program at CNA, she has proven herself time-and-again as a born leader who has gone out of her way to improve student life throughout the 17-campus institution.
“Under Erin’s leadership the CNA Student Union has formed a solid working relationship with CNA administration, one which has evolved from casual to collaborative – all due to Erin’s complete dedication and unwavering direction as the CNASU President,” said President Vaughan.
“The CNASU is working to support the main pillars of the college’s strategic plan, and the college in turn is working to support the goals of the CNASU. That’s not something you see at many institutions. This improved relationship has elevated how CNA is regarded nationally, and because of Erin’s influence, colleges and universities across the nation through the Canadian Federation of Students now look to CNA as the model of what every post-secondary institution should strive for in a relationship with its administration.”
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Media Contact:
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709.643.6408
glenda.mccarthy@cna.nl.ca