Congratulations to recent Continuing Education grad Fay Hartwick, this year’s winner of the Red River College and Project Management Institute (PMI) Top Student Award.

Hartwick, who graduated from RRC’s Project Management program in Fall 2014, picked up her award — and associated $1,000 cash prize — at PMI Manitoba’s annual Professional Development Days Spring Conference on April 15.

Each year, program instructors nominate one deserving graduate for the award, basing their decision on a mix of criteria that includes academic achievement, attitude, drive, determination, initiative and teamwork skills.

Hartwick currently works for the Life Science Association of Manitoba (LSAM), where she’s been the office manager since March — working closely with a program manager on event planning and general operations. Before that, she was the Program Director responsible for large conferences at NDG Financial Corporation, parent company to E-Care Contact Centers.

Hartwick, who also has her Management Development credentials from RRC, says she chose the College because of the convenience and comprehensiveness of Continuing Education’s delivery model.

“I liked the programming. I enjoyed the fact that I could take evening courses, and I could take them either online or in class … Also I work downtown, so I could go to the [Exchange District] Campus right after work.”

Hartwick says she found her time at RRC extremely valuable, especially in light of the increased responsibilities she’s taken on as part of her new position.

“I enjoyed it all,” she says. “The case studies, the fact the instructors could take theory and show you the practical applications, the group interaction, the interactions and insights from other students — it really helps to cement ideas and projects.”

“I work closely with a program manager at LSAM, and [my training] helps me understand the challenges she faces, because we have a number of events going on back-to-back. My training has provided me with the tools to better support her, and as I grow in this positon my training will allow me to take on some of the workload.”

Click here for more information on the Project Management program at RRC.

(Above, from left: Melissa Fontaine, program director, Information Technology and Professional Studies, RRC; Fay Hartwick, recent RRC Project Management grad; Yanik Sourisseau, chair of communications, PMI Manitoba.)