A familiar face at Okanagan College’s Penticton campus has received an award for her commitment to students and community engagement.

Surandar Dasanjh, who is a Library Clerk at the College along with a friendly face for many campus students, was honoured with the Key Directions Award at the College’s Employee Excellence Awards presentation held recently at the Kelowna campus.

Okanagan College established these awards to recognize the many outstanding contributions employees of all kinds make to the development of both the College and the greater community. The awards are to be handed out annually for a wide-range of achievements including innovation, scholarly activity, and service excellence.

The Key Directions Award recognizes employees who embody the College’s key directions of engagement, encouraging leadership, assisting with student transitions to, from and within the College, and collaboration and partnership.

“Surandar’s commitment to service as well as her strong ties to the local community, is a great example of how employees make a difference for students attending the Penticton campus,” said Okanagan College President Jim Hamilton.

Dasanjh was recognized for her exceptional interest in ensuring students’ welfare, and also acting as a cultural liaison with the South Asian community, including the establishment of the now annual campus event – A Taste of India.

Dasanjh was one of many employees honoured with an Employee Excellence Award.

South Okanagan Regional Dean Donna Lomas received the Leadership Award for her pivotal role in the deployment of The Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation.

Well-known Penticton author Frances Greenslade received the Scholarly Activity Award.