Initiative of the Year Award

This award is presented to recognize an initiative that most contributes to the mission of the QUAA.

A prize of free tuition to the annual Alumni Volunteer Summit is awarded to the lead individual for the initiative (i.e. Branch president, director, reunion coordinator, etc.) or designate.

Award Eligibility & Criteria

Candidates should be:

  • From an active and officially recognized Queen’s Branch, Reunion group or Chapter
  • An initiative that aligns with and embodies the mission of the QUAA to engage members in the life and work of the university, and to serve the alumni community in all its diversity
  • Not limited to social events but include initiatives to engage alumni with the life and work of Queen’s University in unique and meaningful ways

No nominations were submitted for the 2024 Initiative of the Year Award. There will be no 2024 recipient of this award. 

2025 Recipient

Bachelor of Art Education/Bachelor of Fine Art 55th Alumni Reunion

photo of a group of people gathered around an outdoor staircase

From Sept. 13 to 15, 2024, the Bachelor of Art Education/Bachelor of Fine Art 55th Alumni Reunion brought together over 100 alumni to celebrate more than five decades of artistic excellence and education.  

Spearheaded by a dedicated planning committee representing Bachelor of Art Education and Bachelor of Fine Art (BAE/BFA) graduates across generations – with support from the BFA Program, Office of Advancement, and Queen’s University Alumni Assocation’s board of directors – the weekend was filled with reconnections, reflections, exhibitions, and creative collaborations.  

Highlights included engaging artist talks and a legacy art-making event that united alumni, professors, and current students to create a collaborative artwork for the university. The celebration concluded with the Home Again Alumni Visual Art Show at Union Gallery, showcasing works from five decades of alumni alongside current student pieces. Many Queen’s dignitaries spoke at the reception, emphasizing the power and importance of art education – a tribute to the lasting impact of Queen’s BAE/BFA Program.  

The reunion fostered meaningful connections, honoured artistic achievements, and reignited Queen’s fine art community. With the newly formed Fine Art Alumni Advisory Council, this spirit of collaboration and celebration is set to continue well into the future.