Memorial University is proud to announce the 2014 recipients of the Alumni Tribute Awards.

Jane Rowe, B.Comm.(Hons.)(Co-op.)’81, is this year’s Alumna of the Year and Robert Crosbie, B.Comm.(Co-op.)’79, will receive the J.D. Eaton Alumni Award. Thomas Maddox, BA, B.Ed.’70, will be recognized with the Outstanding Community Service Award and Mark O’Brien, BA’10, with the Alumni Horizon Award.

“This year, our Tribute Award recipients are exceptional individuals who excel in their chosen fields, yet also display incredible commitment to their communities and Memorial University,” said Bob Dowden, chair, Alumni Tribute Awards selection committee. “The entire field of nominees this year was incredibly strong, a fact that further distinguishes those individuals who’ve been selected. I congratulate each one of the 2014 recipients. They have made remarkable contributions in many different ways and are all very deserving of these honours.”

As this year’s Alumna of the Year Award recipient, Ms. Rowe will receive the highest honour bestowed on a Memorial graduate. Immediately following graduation from Memorial University, she completed an MBA from York University's Schulich School of Business. Ms. Rowe then went on to build a stellar reputation during a 23-year career with Scotiabank. There she took on progressively senior roles, including president and CEO of Roynat Capital, president and CEO of Scotia Mortgage Corporation and was executive vice-president of Scotiabank before leaving in 2010. Ms. Rowe joined the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, where she oversees an $18-billion portfolio as head of the private equity and long-term equities groups. She is one of Canada’s top financial leaders and was recognized as a WXN Top 100 Canada’s Most Powerful Women in 2012. Ms. Rowe is a longtime and dedicated supporter of numerous charitable boards, associations and fundraising initiatives, notable among which are YWCA Toronto, United Way Toronto and Memorial University.

The J.D. Eaton Alumni Award recognizes outstanding volunteer contributions to Memorial and Mr. Crosbie is a very deserving recipient. He is the chairman of the board of St. John’s, N.L.-based Crosbie Group Ltd. and serves as a member of the board of directors of Emera Newfoundland and Labrador, ASCO Canada and Forent Energy. He is also the past chairman of the board of Marine Atlantic Inc. He is a steadfast supporter of Memorial’s Faculty of Business Administration and the entire university. He has served on a number of committees for the Faculty of Business Administration and is currently the chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board. He is a strong supporter of student success programs at Memorial and has created a fund for students and career-planning initiatives. Over the years, Mr. Crosbie has extended support to various scholarships at Memorial and in 1998, established the Rob Crosbie Scholarship for International Study. Mr. Crosbie also served as co-chair of the St. John’s regional volunteer committee for Memorial’s recent and very successful Dare To fundraising campaign. 

Mr. Maddox is a man whose name has become synonymous with the Town of King’s Cove, N.L. This year's Outstanding Community Service Award recipient is a long-serving mayor of the community and also a former teacher and principal. He originally became involved in municipal politics in 1970 as a member of the King’s Cove Town Council and was elected mayor in 1975. Mr. Maddox has held that position for 39 years and during that time has been a consummate volunteer, advocate and leader for the town and the Bonavista Peninsula. Mr. Maddox has served on numerous boards and volunteered in a variety of capacities over the course of his career, notably as an executive member of the King’s Cove and Area Fire Department, the Bonavista Peninsula Regional Waste Disposal Committee, the King’s Cove Historical Society and as director of the Discovery Trail Tourism Association, among many others.

The Alumni Horizon Award recipient is recognized for exceptional achievement by a Memorial graduate under the age of 35. At just 30 years of age, Mr. O’Brien has already built a successful career as an actor and filmmaker, adding many award-winning film and television credits to his growing resumé. His career began with a large supporting role in the Second World War mini-series Above and Beyond. Since then he has appeared on numerous television series, including a recurring role in the NBC series Hannibal, Saving Hope and Murdoch Mysteries. He has appeared in many films over the years, including the 2010 Sundance Film Festival selection Grown Up Movie Star and four feature films in the past year. However, he is most popular for playing the role of Des on the hit TV show Republic of Doyle. For that work he has been nominated for two Canadian Comedy Awards in the last three years. As a filmmaker, Mr. O’Brien has had short films screen throughout the U.S. and Canada that have received numerous awards. Always available to support his alma mater, Mr. O’Brien has come back to Memorial on numerous occasions to lend his time and talent. In November 2011 he hosted the official launch of the Dare To fundraising campaign. He reprised his role as host in 2012 for The Wicked Memorial Variety Show, the flagship event held during the biggest reunion in Memorial’s history, as well as co-hosting Super TSC Night during havin’ a time: Reunion 2013.

The 33rd Annual Alumni Tribute Awards ceremony will take place Thursday, Feb. 12, at 6 p.m. at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland. To purchase tickets, please call the Office of Alumni Affairs and Development at 709-864-4354, toll-free at 1-877-700-4081, or email rsvpalumni@mun.ca. Tickets are $125 per person and are only available in advance.