2022 Alumni Award Recipients

Chris Conklin ’74

Chris Conklin

Outstanding Alumnus Award

  • Chris graduated in 1974, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronic Engineering Technology.
  • After graduating, Chris worked for Consumers Energy, Weltronic Corporation, NEWCOR Inc., Bechtel Corporation, and Dow Corning Corporation where he served as Senior Measurement and Controls Engineer (retiring after 30 years).
  • He has given back to the university through his volunteer work with the admissions office and his efforts to assist with recruiting prospective students at college recruiting nights.
  • Chris later served on the Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) group on campus, supporting the engineering and technology programs.
  • Chris and his wife Carol celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on September 2, 2022. They have two children Kristine Loree Goward ’99 (LSSU alumna) and Scott Aaron Conklin.
  • Chris is a dues paying member of the LSSU Alumni Association.
Sophie Chandauka MBE ’00
Sophia

Kenneth J. Shouldice Achievement Award

  • Sophie graduated from LSSU in 2000 with a BSc in Political Science- Pre- Law (Summa Cum Laude).
  • She was the student respondent for her graduating class and received the Paul Ripley Young Alumnus Award in 2008.
  • Sophie is the Head of Americas Risk Management and Intelligence for Meta, parent company of Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram and Oculus.
  • Prior to working at Meta, she was the Global COO of Shared Services and Banking Operations at Morgan Stanley, as well as the Head of Group Treasury (Legal) at the Virgin Money Group.
  • A campaigner for diversity, equity and inclusion, Sophie is Head of Race Equity Strategy for the 30% Club; member of The Executive Leadership Council; Chair of The Network of Networks (TNON); Chair and Executive Founder of the Black British Business Awards.
  • Sophie is a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow and has served on boards including Sentebale, founded by Prince Harry for children affected by HIV and is an Advisory Board Member of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies.
  • In 2021, Sophie was honored by HM Queen Elizabeth II as a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for services to diversity in business.

Jamie (Groos) Momber ’08

jamie_momber

Paul Ripley Alumnus Award

  • Jamie graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2008, with Bachelor of Science degrees in both Computer Networking and Computer Science.
  • While a student in LSSU, she was a member of the LSSU Volleyball Team, Alpha Chi, and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.
  • She was the Outstanding Computer Science Graduate in 2008 and received the GLIAC Post-Graduate Certificate.
  • After graduating in 2008, Jamie went on to earn a Master’s degree in Computer Science at Western Michigan University.
  • In her current role as a Senior Application Engineer at Steelcase, she builds solutions for internal business customers working with teams in the US, Mexico, Germany, and Malaysia.
  • Jamie is an established cook and gardener and uses these skills to volunteer with various organizations in the Grand Rapids area, including The Renucci House and Kids Food Basket.
  • She is married to fellow Laker Alumnus, Ben Momber. They have two children, Colin (7) and Quinn (5).