Page 14 - Brandon Sun - 2018 Community Leader Awards

14 • COMMUNITY LEADER AWARDS 2018 THE BRANDON SUN • THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2018

» TEACHER AWARD, SPONSORED BY ASSINIBOINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

‘Genuinely an inspiration,’ educator goes above and beyond

BY DIANE NELSON
Teachers.
They’re among the most important people we encounter in
the course of our lives.
Bad ones can leave a person confused, discouraged and
unfulfilled.
But good ones can encourage their students to embrace new
ways of thinking, help them develop self-reliance and confidence,
and open them up to a world of possibilities.
According to nominator Amber Bollman, Assiniboine
Community College’s Amanda McGregor, who teaches
primarily Human Resources in ACC’s School of Business, is
an educator that goes above and beyond what’s expected of her
— and then some.
“Amanda has dedicated herself to her students,” Bollman
said.
“She always puts her students’ needs first. She tries to make
learning exciting as well as practical. Amanda works hard to
ensure her students have the skills they need to enter the
workforce. She has gone as far as setting up assignments in
conjunction with industry leaders. This has given us exposure
to the Human Resources world. We have been given a small
snapshot of what our careers may look like.
“Amanda does not shy away from any task she is handed.
She is continually upgrading her education. Her experience in
Human Resources is vast but she is always looking for new
professional development opportunities to better herself and
the quality of education she provides to her students. She gives
career, educational and emotional support and advice. She is
always willing to go the extra mile for anyone who crosses her
path. She is genuinely an inspiration and the world is a better
place because of her. I am blessed to have crossed paths with
such an amazing woman.”
McGregor was teary when informed of the high praise
Bollman had heaped upon her, and said while she’s grateful
and humbled that her student thinks so highly of her, being
nominated for a Community Leader Award is somewhat
daunting.
“I feel a bit overwhelmed by this whole thing,” she said. “What
I do isn’t unusual or extraordinary. But it is so nice, especially
coming from Amber, who has very high standards for herself,
and for her to think that of me means a lot.”
While she works hard to stay up-to-date with the HR industry
and bring fresh perspectives to the classroom, McGregor said
she really loves learning new things and sharing those discoveries
with her pupils.
“I have a real enthusiasm for it,” she said. “What I try to be
is a helper as much as I can. I’ve had tons of people in my life
who have helped me see potential in myself when I didn’t see
it, so I just try to do the same.”
McGregor also said she found out early on that education
can be the key to success.
“If you get an education it opens doors — it’s the best gift
you can give yourself,” she said. “So to be a small part of seeing
people better their lives, and the lives of their families, is really
gratifying.
“And if I can get them excited about learning and education,
that’s wonderful to me. The highlight of my career is that I get
to be part of something that is really important to people.” Assiniboine Community College business administration instructor Amanda McGregor. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
While she’s eager to help her students along the way, she
refuses to take credit for their accomplishments. of this (Community Leader) recognition because I think what “But I work with a bunch of teachers who do an even better
“The success the students have is their success, not mine,” I do every day is pretty average. I think I owe it to the students job than I can do. And I think there are lots of other teachers
McGregor said. to walk into the classroom with enthusiasm and to give the best who are way better at things than I am who are more worthy
“I’m just a very small part of it. I feel somewhat unworthy I have to give. And I think I do that. of recognition.”

Chorale founder shares her love for music with students

BY DIANE NELSON

The list of Liz Grant’s accomplishments could likely
fill an entire newspaper.
And the number of lives she’s impacted through her
music teaching and choir directing might possibly
round out two editions.
Which is why she was nominated anonymously,
but with a number of enthusiastic references, for the
Community Leader Award in Teaching.
Grant, who is now 70, founded the Brandon love of singing and choral works in me,” said
Conservatory Chorale in 1981 as a Master’s thesis McLenehan.
project. What began with 14 singers grew to 100 in Kendra McFarland, now of Kelowna, B.C., sang
the next eight years. That the Chorale continues today, in the chorale from 1995 to 2013. She described
37 years later, with 71 choristers and Grant still Grant’s leadership as “educational, thoughtful and
wielding the baton, is nothing short of remarkable – direct.” She deemed Grant a great mentor who had
and rare. a major influence on the person she is today.
Thousands of youngsters have had their musical “She teaches a lot of life values — not just about
chops honed in the Chorale, which exists under the paying attention and learning musically from her —
auspices of Brandon University’s Eckhardt-Gramatte but also how to get through challenges and struggles
Conservatory of Music. The groups that perform in life,” she said.
under the umbrella of the Chorale include the Victoria Rust joined the Chorale in 2003 when she
Apprentice Choir (for children in Kindergarten to was only five years old, and stayed for 13 years. She
Grade 3), the Concert Choir (for children in Grade 4 said Grant was “extremely patient and dedicated,”
and up), the Chamber Choir for treble singers up to and was grateful for Grant’s guidance as a “piano
Grade 12, and an adult choir, Bel Canto. teacher, voice instructor, audition coach, choral
A gala concert, “Celebrating Liz,” was held at the director and part-time parent.”
end of April, and dozens of former Chorale members Before the Chorale was formed, Grant was the
came from far and wide to acknowledge their deep Music Director at First Presbyterian Church, a
respect, boundless affection and never-ending gratitude position she still holds today, 45 years after she first
for their talented conductor, and to work with her began.
once again. “I was just a babe when I went there,” she said with
Grant’s choirs have performed around the world, a grin.
including in England, Italy and France — and in 1991 Being nominated for a Community Leader Award
and 1995 at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New in Teaching also makes her smile. “It’s wonderful,”
York City. Grant said. “I was thrilled and honoured and
“It was a very thrilling experience,” Grant said of humbled.”
the Carnegie Hall concerts in a recent Brandon Sun When asked what continues to fuel her desire and
story. “Very surreal, especially when you walked in passion, she answered enthusiastically and frankly.
there and you realized all the people that had been on “It’s the music and people,” she said. “I get so much
this stage before. It was very exciting.” back from my students and my choristers that I can’t
Many of Grant’s former pupils have made music imagine doing anything else. And I’m certainly not
their life’s work, saying she inspired them to have retiring – some people thought the Celebrate Liz
confidence, demand the best of themselves, and concert was my retirement. No!”
embrace music fully and completely. And while she accepts that she’s been a major
And as if the Chorale groups weren’t enough, Grant influence on thousands of singers over her decades
conceived and conducted a community choir, which of musical activity, she said that’s a two-way street.
performed at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. That event “I get inspiration from them to continue on,” Grant
was a highlight for Nicole McLenehan, who sang in said. “It’s teamwork. I’m not a loner. I’ve got
the Chorale from 1983 to 1989. Now the music teacher wonderful support. And at my church, too. I’ll just
at Tanner’s Crossing School in Minnedosa, and keep building on what I’ve got.”
involved in community musicals and performing While the outpouring of love from her former
groups, she told the Brandon Sun that Grant was an students and choristers is thrilling, being nominated
ongoing inspiration. for a Community Leader Award is especially
“So many of my most memorable musical meaningful.
experiences have been in performances with her at “It’s the community at large – it’s not just the music
the helm and I am very grateful she has instilled a community,” Grant said. “That makes it very special.” Elizabeth Grant is being recognized for her contributions through education. (Submitted)