The Orangeville Campus Student Success Awards are a celebration of the campus community where nominees, staff and students would usually gather at the Saputo Health & Wellness Centre. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has, of course, caused a change of plans. Orangeville Campus Principal Joe Andrews will announce award winners May 21st during a Facebook Live event. 

As always, he'll be wearing a suit, this time in front of a web cam rather than a live audience. 

"This is really a kind of a culmination of the academic year," said Andrews. "It's an important opportunity for the student body, faculty, associate and senior deans and even the community to recognize students." 

Students can be nominated for academic excellence or improvement, and for commitment to the betterment of the campus, student life, or the community. 

"It really is up to the students if they desire to get involved in the community. We've had some students who have just been exemplary in the last couple of years," said Andrews. 

He is already receiving nominations for two categories. Once gathered, the nominations are sent to an impartial committee which chooses six to eight award winners. 

People are already reaching out to Andrews about students, staff and faculty.  

"They have to put some work into it," said Andrews. An application form needs to be completed and the reason for nomination needs to be conveyed clearly. 

For this reason, he says receiving a nomination is "kind of a big deal." 

Generally, all student and staff nominees attend the annual banquet which attracts about 100 supporters, a good turnout for a campus of 250 students. 

One award category stands out from the rest. It is specific to staff and faculty and has been awarded only three times in 11 years. Only the most exceptional and impactful nominees receive the award for their contributions to the community. 

The nominee isn't notified until the day of the awards. 

"Usually it's just their colleagues within their work environment that are aware of it," said Andrews. 

Once the winners are announced virtually, the actual awards will be sent to the recipients. Two monetary awards will also be sent to the winning students.