Alumni Giving Back Stories
Alumnus Donates $10,000 a Year…Forever
Mark Catroppa, Class of '94, recently donated $10,000 per year to establish an entrance award for a Queen Elizabeth Secondary graduate. The award is based on financial need and is intended to support a student that might not otherwise be financially able to attend post-secondary.
Mark was originally approached for the gift by Megan Procoppio, a BBA Entrepreneurial student in the fourth year sales class. Megan had worked at Pivotal Partners, Mark's company, as a co-op student in the summer and got to know him through a class assignment that required her to interview a business leader. When she approached him about making a gift to Kwantlen, he admits that he was already thinking about it.
"I wanted to support my high school and university. Setting up an endowment fund at the Kwantlen Foundation gave me the opportunity to do both." Mark's initial $10,000 gift was matched by the Foundation for a $20,000 endowment that will generate a $1,000 award in 2009 and continue in perpetuity.
Mark was born and raised in Surrey and is a proud and committed resident. His wife, Kristan, is also a long-time resident. They wanted to support the community that has been so good to them over the years. "We've chosen to raise our family here and couldn't be happier. Surrey is a great place to live, work and play and we're proud to support these particular educational institutions," commented Mark.
Mark is the Vice-President of Pivotal Partners, a company he co-founded with friend and fellow alumnus, Monty Sikka. The partners were nominated and selected for a 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award.
Alumnus Establishes Award for Landscape Design and Installation
Wayne Saliken, a 2006 graduate of the Diploma in Horticulture Technology program, and owner of Saliken Landscaping and Luscious Lawns, established an award for a Landscape Design and Installation student in 2007.
"I appreciated my time at Kwantlen and felt the need to give back to future industry leaders, especially since I personally benefited from similar scholarship help when I needed it most," remarked Wayne.
"Good people are critical to this industry because of their passion for their work and I feel it is important that we all support this next
generation.
In April, Wayne presented his award for the second time to Landscaping student, Jason Kenney. Jason was very familiar with Wayne and his company - he was working for Saliken at the time.
Wayne got started in the industry in 1988 as an employee for the City. From 1990 to 1997, he successfully ran Luscious Lawns, a lawn maintenance and cutting company, slowly moving towards more lawn care services.
In 2002, he ran into a well-respected professional landscaper that inspired him to go back to school. "I enrolled in the Landscaping program at Kwantlen immediately and I never looked back," states Wayne.
Saliken Landscaping is a proud member of the BCLNA and can be reached by email at salikenlandscaping@shaw.ca or by phone at (604) 538-9403.
