Distinguished Alumni Award
The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes the outstanding leadership and contributions of 4-H alumnus to our communities, country, and world.
Nominations
Nominations for the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award are now open!
Nominations must be submitted no later than 11:59 pm ET on September 22, 2023. For more information, please read the nomination guidelines.
Selection Criteria
The award recipient will be selected by a panel of reviewers based on these criteria:
- Demonstrated leadership and contributions to their field and the world.
- Being an outstanding role model of 4-H values (critical thinking, service, loyalty, and healthy living) and support for future generations.
- Experience as a 4-H youth member. The nominee does not currently need to be involved with 4-H.
Distinguished Alumni Award
2022 Recipient
Ken Keis, Ph.D.
Ken got his 4-H start as a dairy member in the Matsqui 4-H Holstein and Tractor Clubs, where he excelled in showing Holstein calves and driving competitions at Pacific National Exhibitions. He credits his involvement with 4-H as having been a critical to helping develop his confidence and build the experience that would help him become a successful entrepreneur.
Today, Ken is the President and CEO of Consulting Resource Group, an international leadership, coaching, and training firm. He is considered an expert in the field of leadership, self-purpose and wellness, and his firm is acknowledged as being one of the top three leadership development and coaching firms globally.
The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes the outstanding leadership and contributions of one of 4-H’s 350,000 alumni from across Canada, to 4-H, their communities, their industry, and the world. The award will be presented at 4-H Canada’s Leadership Awards, which will be held virtually Feb. 28, 2023. The organization’s signature event, the 4-H Canada Leadership Awards aims to showcase the achievements of leadership at every level of 4-H in Canada, while fundraising for the Canadian 4-H Foundation.
Past Recipients
Past Recipients
Sage Watson
2021
Sage Watson was presented with the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award at the 2022 4-H Leadership Awards held virtually on Feb. 23, 2022.
Past Recipients
The Honourable Lyle Vanclief
2020
The Honourable Lyle Vanclief was presented with the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award at the 2021 4-H Leadership Awards held virtually on Feb. 22, 2021.
Past Recipients
Gord Bamford
2019
Gord Bamford was presented with the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award at the 2020 4-H Leadership Awards in Ottawa, ON, on Feb. 10, 2020.
Past Recipients
Elaine Froese
2018
Elaine Froese was presented with the first-ever Distinguished Alumni Award at the 2019 4-H Leadership Awards in Saskatoon, SK on Jan. 31, 2019.
