Just two people from across Canada have been named TD Insurance Meloche Monnex Fellows in Advancement for 2013-14 – and one of the them will be putting her skills to work at Memorial University.

Sarah Halliday will work with Memorial’s Office of Alumni Affairs and Development and the Division of Marketing and Communications for the one-year duration of her fellowship, beginning June 3. She will assist the office with a variety of projects, including alumni relations outreach, development programs, reunions and social media and marketing campaigns.

“I am honoured to be the recipient of this fellowship in advancement,” said Ms. Halliday. “The experience will allow me the opportunity to further my skills and advance my knowledge in the development area. I am particularly excited to apply my education and skills to assist the university in their alumni affairs initiatives.”

According to Dr. Penny Blackwood, Memorial’s director of Alumni Affairs and Development, Ms. Halliday was the perfect candidate for the fellowship.

“Ms. Halliday has been very involved in Memorial activities beyond her academic pursuits with the Faculty of Arts,” said Dr. Blackwood. “This year alone she has organized many events with the Rotaract Club of Memorial University, fundraised for the university’s food bank, the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center, Polio Plus, various Christmas hampers, the Single Parents Association of Newfoundland and Rainbow Riders. I offer my sincere congratulations to Ms. Halliday and a warm welcome to our team.” 

A two-time recipient of the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Award, Ms. Halliday is an active community volunteer with extensive fundraising and event planning experience. She is president of the Rotaract Club of Memorial University, a community non-profit club for young professionals between the ages of 18-30 which prides itself on service above self. Rotaract provides an opportunity for like-minded individuals to come together to bring about change in humanity. Rotaract enables members to engage, communicate and participate with both the physical and social needs of their society. As president, Ms. Halliday has led the club through a year of significant achievements. She will graduate from Memorial University this spring with a bachelor of arts and a certificate in regional policy and development.

Funded by TD Bank, the TD Insurance Meloche Monnex Fellowship in Advancement supports the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) member institutions in attracting newcomers into advancement. Two fellowships, each valued at $37,500, are awarded annually. Now in its 15th year, the TD Fellowship program has opened doors to many successful new advancement careers while building capacity in the Canadian advancement profession. The fellowships provide financial support towards salary and professional development expenses for the 12-month period of June 1, 2013, to May 31, 2014.