Over 300 Acadia alumni, friends, and students gathered on April 17, 2010, to celebrate the best of the Acadia spirit at the 8^th Annual Alumni Gala Dinner and Silent Auction in Halifax.

The event was a tremendous success, raising thousands in support of programs and awards for Acadia students, and celebrating two Acadia alumni who have brought honour to the university through their accomplishments. Stacy Wilson ('87) and Jeff Goodspeed ('76) were this year's Distinguished Alumni Award winners.

Highlights of the event included music by Jeff Goodspeed and friends, and the unveiling of an original oil painting of the Acadia campus, which was created for the 150^th anniversary of the Associated Alumni of Acadia University. 

Special thanks to student Masters of Ceremonies Ryan Oxner and Mark Frank ('09), and singer Kyla Cook who opened the evening by performing Acadia's Alma Mater song.

 

About the 2010 Distinguished Alumni Honourees:

Stacy Wilson graduated from Acadia in 1987, earning a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. Stacy is well-known as one of the best and most respected players in women's hockey. She is a veteran of Canada's World Championship-winning teams of 1990, 1992, 1994 and 1997, and was captain of the silver medal-winning Canadian team at the 1998 Nagano Olympics.  Her impressive record as a player is matched by her reputation for leadership and ability to inspire others, both on and off the ice. Stacy is author of the Hockey Book for Girls, and most recently was head coach of the Bowdoin University women's hockey team.

 

Jeff Goodspeed graduated from Acadia in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. Jeff is an award-winning professional musician, music educator and community developer who uses the power of music to break down cultural and economic barriers, and to inspire youth to attain excellence. As a music educator, Jeff has started several school music programs and has been one of the long term leaders of Acadia's Summer Jazz Camp. With his wife, Amara, Jeff created the Los Primos project in 1998. Spanish for "the cousins," Los Primos is an ongoing cultural exchange between music students, professional musicians and teachers in Nova Scotia and Cuba.

-30-