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BCIT Distinguished Awards

Honouring four outstanding leaders at the 2024 BCIT Distinguished Awards

On November 14, 2024, the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) will be hosting the 19^th annual Distinguished Awards, honouring four recipients with the BCIT Honorary Doctorate of Technology Award, Distinguished Alumni Award, Outstanding Student Leadership Award, and the Faculty and Staff Association Distinguished Alumni Award. The honorees are an inspiration in their fields, and their accomplishments represent the best of BCIT.

BCIT Honorary Doctorate of Technology:

Mark Angelo, C.M., O.B.C. – River conservationist, celebrated author, speaker, and teacher

BCIT Distinguished Alumni Award:

Kristy James (Non-Profit Management Associate Certificate, 2006) – President and Chief Executive Officer, Burnaby Hospital Foundation

BCIT FSA Distinguished Alumni Award:

Donabel Santos (Bachelor of Technology, Computer Systems, Database Specialization, 2004) – Instructor, Applied Database Administration and Design, Faculty

BCIT Outstanding Student Leadership Award:

Sally Poon (Computer Systems Technology, Diploma 2023) – Software Engineer, Okta

Learn more about our recipients:

Mark Angelo, C.M., O.B.C.
River conservationist, celebrated author, speaker, and teacher

Mark Angelo is a globally renowned river conservationist, speaker, writer, and paddler. His passion for protecting our world’s waterways led him to be chair and founder of BC Rivers Day and World Rivers Day, an event celebrated by millions in over 100 countries.

During his illustrious career, Mr. Angelo served as the head of the Fish, Wildlife, and Recreation Program at BCIT. When he retired in 2011, he received the lifetime achievement award from the BCIT Alumni Association and was named honorary Chair Emeritus of the BCIT Rivers Institute.

Among his many accolades, he is a recipient of both the Order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada, and has been recognized with honorary doctorate degrees from Simon Fraser University and Trent University. His work has also been the subject of Emmy Award winning newscasts.

In 2021, he published the acclaimed children’s book, The Little Creek That Could, telling the story of BCIT’s Guichon Creek, and in 2025, will release his new book, River Magic: Tales from a life on 1000 rivers.

As a Fellow of both The Explorers Club and the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, Mr. Angelo led numerous river conservation and restoration efforts and effectively profiled river issues locally and around the world. Today, continues to mentor non-government organizations and youth with an interest in rivers and water.

Kristy James
President and Chief Executive Officer, Burnaby Hospital Foundation

Kristy James has been in the non-profit sector for over 20 years. As President & CEO at Burnaby Hospital Foundation, she strives to make Burnaby Hospital and Burnaby Community Health Services stronger through building community relationships and providing stewardship to donors, volunteers, and staff. Her efforts have secured major financial commitments to support advancements in healthcare to benefit patients and families of Burnaby Hospital. Under her leadership, the Foundation raised a record breaking $40M in less than three years for the organization’s first capital campaign.

Ms. James is active in the industry, teaching fundraising courses and serving on boards. She served on the West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce board as Secretary and Second Vice President and is involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) volunteering numerous years for their annual gala as she has two children with Type 1 Diabetes. Currently, Ms. James is the Board Governance Chair for Pacific Assistance Dogs Society and St. Michael’s Long-Term Care, and is the committee Chair for a Family Services of the North Shore event.

Donabel Santos
Instructor, Applied Database Administration and Design, Faculty, BCIT Centre of Excellence in Analytics

From SQL queries to high-quality, practical YouTube tutorials, Donabel Santos has transformed her passion for data into a mission to empower others.

With over a decade in the data world, she has worn many hats: Instructor, Data Leader, Data Architect, Author, and Content Creator all to help demystify the world of data and equip the next generation of data professionals with practical, real-world skills.

Ms. Santos is the author of several tech books, including the “Tableau 10 Business Intelligence Cookbook.” She is also the creator of a YouTube channel with 120K+ subscribers and 3M+ view where Ms. Santos guides learners through the art and science of data storytelling, from mastering LOD expressions and advanced calculations to crafting impactful visualizations.

As a Tableau Ambassador and former Microsoft Data Platform MVP, Ms. Santos has learned that the most powerful data stories are those that connect with people. Her approach blends technical expertise with practical, real-world application and a healthy dose of empathy, because she believes that at its core, data is about people—their challenges, their triumphs, and their potential.

Sally Poon
Software Engineer, Okta

In her time as a student at BCIT, Sally Poon demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering community within the student body and beyond. Throughout her academic tenure, she actively engaged in volunteer work with organizations such as Chimo Crisis Line, various BCIT clubs, and the student association. Serving as the Treasurer & Director of Communications for Women in Computing, Ms. Poon collaborated with her executive team to establish a supportive environment where individuals could network and engage in discussions about representation within the tech industry alongside industry professionals. Additionally, in her role as Co-President of the Computing Club, she spearheaded initiatives such as an annual student-led hackathon and a mentorship program tailored to computing students, emphasizing collaboration and cross-community support.

Ms. Poon’s involvement with the student association was integral to her journey at BCIT. Beginning as a set representative and progressing to the role of student councillor for the Downtown Campus, she culminated her tenure as Chair of the Downtown Campus. Notable highlights of her leadership include hosting a panel for the inauguration of the Tech Collider and initiating a new De-stress Event aimed at providing students a chance to connect with peers and take a breather from student life.

BCIT gratefully acknowledges the generous sponsors who make the 2024 Distinguished Awards possible.

Presenting Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

Industry Sponsor

Distinguished Alumni Award for Lifetime Achievement

Mark Angelo
Chair, The Rivers Institute at BCIT
Past Program Head, BCIT Fish, Wildlife, and Recreation
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Leadership

Peter Hrdlitschka
DiplT ’78, Building Technology
President, Ledcor Construction Limited, Western Canada
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Entrepreneurial Innovation

David Yochlowitz
DiplT ’87, Administrative Management, ’90 (OLA), Bachelor of Business Administration
Chief Executive Officer, ABC Recycling
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Excellence in Teaching and Research Award

Dr. Sanja Boskovic
Chief Instructor, BCIT Power Engineering
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Nominations

Do you know outstanding individuals who have distinguished themselves in their lives and careers? Nominate a leader for an Honorary Doctorate, a BCIT alumnus for a Distinguished Alumni Award, or a current BCIT student for an Outstanding Student Leadership Award.

Nomination awards form

BCIT Distinguished Awards

Honouring four outstanding leaders at the 2024 BCIT Distinguished Awards

Mark Angelo, C.M., O.B.C. - Honorary Doctorate of Technology Award

Kristy James - Distinguished Alumni Award

Donabel Santos - FSA Distinguished Alumni Award

Sally Poon - Outstanding Student Leadership Award

Presenting Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

Industry Sponsor

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Bronze Sponsor

Past award recipients

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Nominations