Ange Frymire Fleming

For immediate release

KPU Communications Professor Honoured by the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS)

METRO VANCOUVER, BC – (June 22, 2011) – KPU professor, Ange Frymire Fleming, was awarded the 2011 Mentor of the Year Diamond Jubilee Award for her years of committed mentorship. Frymire Fleming has taught applied communications at KPU since January 2010. She's also the president and owner of Vocal Point Communications, a boutique communications company specializing in public relations, communications and marketing services.

"To be chosen for this award out of 1,800 members across Canada brings forward a sense of humbleness," said Frymire Fleming. "It also reminds me that we all play this role of mentor, which is vital to the profession. Every day, I see examples of my peers and colleagues giving back to the profession through counselling other practitioners, students and clients."

Frymire Fleming received the award during the CPRS national conference in Saint John, Nova Scotia. The award recognized the critical role that her mentoring has played in the industry. Since opening her firm in 1992 Frymire Fleming has helped mentor and guide close to 100 students and practitioners.

"Mentoring starts as a conscious decision," states Frymire Fleming. "Its roots are planted in our early days when we, ourselves, were mentored and were inspired with the possibilities, the successes and great challenges in our field."

The KPU professor was nominated by Shelly Burich from Williams Lake, BC due to the instrumental role Frymire Fleming played in Burich's professional development as a peer and a mentor over the past eight years.

Frymire Fleming has been engaged in public relations and journalism since 1986. Prior to KPU and Vocal Point Communications, she was a radio broadcaster, promotions director and freelance journalist in Vancouver, Prince George, Trail, Nelson, Castlegar, Abbotsford and Chilliwack.

The Mentor of the Year Diamond Jubilee Award was established in 2008 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of CPRS. It recognizes the outstanding effort of an accredited public relations (APR) practitioner who consistently and actively mentors public relations practitioners to advance in their careers. The award recipient has to demonstrate a commitment to engage with post-secondary students, encouraging internships in the workplace, fostering exemplary relationships in the profession and serving the profession.

Frymire Fleming was the recipient of one of the three major awards presented at this year's national conference.

KPU has been serving the Metro Vancouver region for 30 years, and has opened doors to success for more than 200,000 people. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs, including business, liberal arts and science, design, health, trades and technology, apprenticeships, horticulture, and academic and career advancement. Over 17,000 students annually have a choice from over 135 programs, including bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates and citations.

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