Jenna Kirker chosen as Lakehead’s TD Insurance Meloche Monnex Fellow

Photo of Jenna Kirker

Jenna Kirker

Friday, March 15, 2019 - Thunder Bay, Ont.

External Relations and the Alumni Association of Lakehead University are pleased to announce that – for the first time in over two decades – Lakehead University has been selected to receive a TD Insurance Meloche Monnex Fellowship through the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education.

This is an incredibly competitive process and only two recipients are selected from the post-secondary sector each year.

Lakehead’s Fellow is Jenna Kirker, who has a long-standing relationship with the University, External Relations and the Alumni Association.

Over the course of her year-long fellowship, Jenna will be working specifically on projects within the alumni engagement, annual giving, and legacy giving portfolios. 

She will be developing a Family Outreach and Giving program, building and strengthening relationships with current students and recent graduates through the introduction of targeted programming, and building synergies between Lakehead’s annual giving and legacy giving programs.  Jenna will report back on her initiatives at the 2020 CCAE national conference in Winnipeg, adding to the collective body of knowledge in the post-secondary sector.

Jenna’s philanthropic journey began at Lakehead in the Alumni Phone-a-thon Program, which employs students part-time during the academic year to connect with alumni and friends of the University.  Starting as a caller, she soon became a supervisor in the program. 

“As I worked to raise money for Lakehead's cases for support as well as the Annual Fund, I realized what an impact I was making on my fellow students,” she said.

“When I spoke with alumni and friends of the University, it was clear that my conversations were part of a larger relationship they had with Lakehead and engagement was critical to that relationship.”

She continued to volunteer her skills through various alumni initiatives, including as an Alumni Ambassador, a Student and Alumni Representative for Lakehead at the Ontario Universities' Fair, and as a guest speaker at the annual Donor Appreciation Luncheon.

Jenna’s dedication and love for Lakehead University and the Thunder Bay community is evident in all of her philanthropic endeavors.

“The idea of moving beyond transactional fundraising to foster deeper connections between members of an organization, and the organization itself, galvanized me to apply this experience to other areas of my current volunteer work,” she said.

“As an individual who wants to make Thunder Bay my permanent home, I strive to give back to the community and utilize my skills.”

Jenna is set to be a truly inspirational addition to Lakehead as well as exceed expectations for TD Fellowship scholarship recipients.