Engineering Now | October 2009

Sarah Shortreed (BESc ’89) receives 2009 L.S. Lauchland Engineering Alumni Medal

Homecoming 2009 was a celebration like no other. This year’s festivities brought a whirlwind of activities to the Faculty of Engineering on Saturday, October 3, 2009.

The day started with faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and friends gathering in the Richard Dillon Atrium to celebrate the grand opening of the Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavilion and official launch of Western’s $500-million fundraising campaign. Next, alumni and friends ventured down to TD Waterhouse Stadium to watch the No. 2 ranked Western Mustangs play the McMaster Marauders at the Homecoming football game. Unfortunately, the weather was dismal and the Stangs were not victorious, but Western Engineering alumni kept their spirits high as over 70 alum joined Dean Hrymak and Western President, Amit Chakma, for the Annual Engineering Alumni Cocktail Reception & L.S. Lauchland Engineering Alumni Medal Presentation Saturday evening.

At the reception, Ms. Sarah Shortreed (BESc ’89) was presented with the 2009 L.S. Lauchland Engineering Alumni Medal in the Richard Dillon Atrium of the Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavilion.

Sarah is Vice President, Planning and CIO Program Office with Research In Motion Ltd. She has enjoyed a diversified career in industry since graduating from Western Engineering twenty years ago. She started her career at Union Gas where she held several technical engineering and management roles and then, in 1996, she moved to IBM. At IBM, Sarah was involved in various business units and quickly advanced to positions in Global Technology and Business Development. In May 2008, Sarah moved to Research in Motion where she is a Vice President.

Throughout her career, Sarah has been recognized as a champion for the involvement and promotion of women in engineering. She has participated on countless committees and was Chair of the PEO Women in Engineering Advisory Committee as well as the IBM Women in Technology Group. She has spoken in high schools, events and conferences as an enthusiastic supporter of women in engineering. The University of Western Ontario recognized Sarah’s contributions to the community, the engineering profession and the university as a whole, in 1999 with the Young Alumni Award.

For information on how to organize a class reunion, or if you would like more information on nominating someone for the L.S. Lauchland Engineering Alumni Medal, please contact Virginia Daugharty, Alumni and Development Officer, at: vdaughar@uwo.ca or 519 661-4209.

View photos from the event on Flickr.

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Contact

.: Allison Stevenson
Spencer Engineering Building, Room 2074
Phone: (519) 850-2917 Fax: (519) 661-3808
contactwe@eng.uwo.ca