McEachern awarded for exceptional leadership and service

Posted: September 16, 2014 9:15 a.m.

Sean McEachern has always taken the University of Regina motto “As One Who Serves” seriously.

Just a year after he began his studies at the University, McEachern was elected president of the University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU). He was 18 at the time, making him the youngest URSU president on record.

The commitment to public service that he showed then has not diminished — in the years since, he has devoted much effort and many hours to the University, its alumni association and the larger community.

“My time at the University taught me a lot about serving one’s community and the impact an individual can have,” he says.

McEachern, who holds a Bachelor of Education ’03 is the 2014 recipient of the Dr. Robert and Norma Ferguson Award for Outstanding Service. The award recognizes an alumnus or alumna who has shown exceptional volunteer leadership and service to the University of Regina or its alumni association.

During his two years as URSU president (1998-2000), he was a member of the University of Regina Board of Governors, giving him an opportunity to speak on behalf of students when important issues were discussed. A major project during this time was development of the First Nations University of Canada.

He feels his most important contribution as student president was an improvement in the relationship between student government and the University administration.

Following his terms as president, he went on to serve as a member of the University of Regina Senate, a member of the Business Education Student Society and as president and founder of the Social Studies Student Society.

 When he graduated, McEachern knew he wanted to continue to serve both the University and the community in some capacity.

“Post secondary education is very much a privilege,” he says.  “And I said, in the remainder of my life, I want to return some of what I learned back to the institution and the community. I continue to try to serve.”

The University of Regina Alumni Association was a natural fit; he served as a director from 2005 to 2010, and its president from 2010 to 2012. During that time, he also found himself back at URSU when the student organization decided to bring in community members to chair its meetings; he served as chair of the URSU Board of Directors from 2007 to 2013.

He was involved in a number of initiatives through the alumni association, including the establishment of new scholarships and review of the association’s bylaws.

One project he personally took on was the choice of an appropriate award to be given to recipients of the Alumni Association Crowning Achievements Awards.The award chosen is a miniature copy of one of the panels of the Joe Fafard sculpture “Mind’s Garden,” which is installed on the shores of Wascana Lake, north of the University library. It was designed by Fafard in 1994, installed in its current location in 1999 and donated to the University’s permanent art collection in 2004.

Receiving his own copy of the award, inspired by the Fafard sculpture and produced by the Fafard studio, will have special meaning for McEachern. He says he is honoured to be selected for recognition by an institution that has meant so much to him.

“It’s exciting to learn that there are people out there who want to acknowledge you for service you have provided.”

McEachern will be awarded the Dr. Robert and Norma Ferguson Award for Outstanding Service at the 2014 Alumni Crowning Achievement Awards Dinner on October 22, 2014. For more information about this event visit:  www.uregina.ca/external/alumni-relations/events/2014/10/event.html