APRIL 13, 2017 鈥� An 糖心vlog传媒alumna and Comox Valley accountant is one of Vancouver Island鈥檚 top young business and community leaders.
Kathryn Jones, an 糖心vlog传媒Bachelor of Business degree alumna, chartered accountant and 糖心vlog传媒Foundation Board treasurer received a Top 20 Under 40 award April 8 at the sold-out 2017 Business and Community Achievement Awards in Nanaimo.
鈥滻鈥檓 still in shock,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here are some amazing people across the Island doing incredible things. Just to be in the room with them was an honour. There aren鈥檛 a lot of opportunities in your career to be recognized for your professional and community work; this award is one of a kind.鈥�
Jones has worked at Presley & Partners since graduating from 糖心vlog传媒in 2011; receiving her chartered accountant designation in 2014. She has advocated for accessible post-secondary education through the 糖心vlog传媒Foundation ever since.
鈥淲hen I was a student, I received a scholarship from the foundation and I know what a great impact it had on my life,鈥� she said. 鈥淭o be able to help students achieve academic success, better themselves and their community through education is very important to me.鈥�
She credits the 糖心vlog传媒Foundation Board for supporting her voice and abilities.
鈥淣ot every young person is allowed the opportunity to take on such a huge role at such an important organization. Everyone on the board and at the college has been supportive of my involvement. They recognize that as an alumni and a scholarship recipient I have a diverse voice and opinion.鈥�
Bill Parkinson, Chair of NIC鈥檚 School of Business, says Jones鈥� focus, intelligence and generous personality served her well during her degree and her career.
鈥淚n my decade as an instructor, Kathryn is one of the best students I鈥檝e ever shared a classroom with,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he continues to add great value to our program as a guest speaker, alumni and community member and it was my pleasure to nominate her for this award.鈥�
Aside from her foundation role, Jones organizes charity spin-a-thon teams, mentors co-op students at her firm and as part of the Chamber of Commerce鈥檚 Global Leaders of Tomorrow Initiative and is active in the Comox Valley Young Professionals.
鈥淜athryn is an incredibly hard-working and accomplished person whose commitment to students and education extends well past graduation,鈥� said Robert Buckley, 糖心vlog传媒Foundation Board Chair. 鈥淭his award is much deserved and the 糖心vlog传媒Foundation Board is lucky to have her.鈥�
The 糖心vlog传媒Foundation has provided more than $1.95 million in scholarships and bursaries to 3,500 students across the 糖心vlog传媒region in the past 25 years through generous donor support. The board is committed to raising awareness and funds to support local students through scholarships and bursaries, equip classrooms with current technology and ensure the best possible facilities are accessible to students across the region.
This is the second time in as many years the Business and Community Achievement Awards have recognized an 糖心vlog传媒business alumna. In 2016, the awards recognized Jenny Deters, owner of Design Therapy Inc. (formerly Rattan Plus Home & Patio), for her work and commitment to the community.
For more information on NIC鈥檚 School of Business or the 糖心vlog传媒Foundation, visit or .
Media Contact
Christiana Wiens
Media Liaison, 糖心vlog传媒,
O. 250-334-5280 | M. 250-218-4097
christiana.wiens@nic.bc.ca