Kings' Alumni Awards: Celebrating Leaders, Changemakers and Trailblazers

King's University College and the Alumni Association Board of Directors are pleased to congratulate the 2025 Alumni Award recipients. Five members of the King’s Alumni family were chosen by the Alumni Awards Selection Committee after reviewing numerous nominations.

 

Alumni Award of Distinction

The Alumni Award of Distinction recognizes a King's graduate who is an inspiration to others, has made a significant contribution to the community or society, or has reached a high level of accomplishment in their field.

Darryl King, BA ’97 (History), is the Executive Director of Logikor Inc., a multi-national logistics firm. With almost thirty years of experience in the transportation and logistics industry, King directs and oversees the strategic and operational development of the company across operating divisions in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong.

When King was 18 , his father passed away, leaving his university future uncertain. “Darryl firmly believes that King’s believes in people and in giving people a chance. He does too. He believes in people, and in giving back so others can have the same opportunity,” says Dr. Trevor Hunter, Associate Professor, School of Management. Economics, and Mathematics, who nominated King for the award.

King and Logikor have contributed to King’s financially, through leadership gifts as well as other donations and sponsorships. His generous contributions include a $1 million donation to the Student Life Centre Campaign to name the building the Darryl J. King Student Life Centre. At first, King thought it was strange for his name to be on the building. However, he thought, “maybe this is a testament to show alumni can continue to support their institution. It’s important that we all, to some extent, give back.”

King has also provided real-world inspiration to King’s students. He has delivered talks to students about new trends in business, , what it takes to be an entrepreneur, and how humanities degrees can translate into any role or industry. He has helped students and alumni understand the impact King’s has had on them, the power of their degree and how those experiences can be related to other situations.

“I am humbled for being considered for this incredible honour. My time at King’s was truly transformative—not just academically, but personally. It was at King’s that I honed my skills, solidified critical thinking abilities, tempered my passions, and was mentored by faculty who were wise, principled, and demanded excellence. The values and education I received at King’s have guided me throughout my life and career, and I carry them with pride to this day. I’m grateful to be part of such a remarkable community, and I will always cherish the foundation for success that King’s provided to me,” says King.

Emerging Leader Award (formerly known as Recent Grad Award)

The Emerging Leader Award goes to an individual who graduated from King's in the last 15 years and has earned regional, national or international recognition in such areas as service to humanity, professional accomplishment, community service, the advancement of knowledge, or service to King's University College.

Candace Campbell, BA ’13 (English Language and Literature), is the Director of U.S. Sales at Nuts For Cheese, playing a pivotal role in the company’s explosive growth and overseeing all grant writing efforts, which secured over $500,000 in funding for export development, employee training, marketing, and new product innovation. Campbell has also led the company’s Culture Committee and the annual Pride Committee.

"I am incredibly grateful for my time at King's. Coming from a rural town, the idea of attending university felt daunting, but King's provided the perfect balance—a welcoming, close-knit community with smaller class sizes, while still offering the full university experience. It was truly the best of both worlds, and I couldn't have asked for a better place to learn and grow,” she says.

Campbell was named one of London’s 20 in their 20s by Business London Magazine in 2019 and one of the city’s 20 Under 40 by London Inc. Magazine in 2025. She has also won an Ontario Volunteer Award for her long-standing commitment to Junior Achievement.

Campbell is a passionate mentor, regularly visiting London’s post-secondary campuses to provide mentorship to participating in student events, panels and other events, including as a speaker at the King’s Entrepreneurship Association’s event. She has hired and supported dozens of interns since 2018, and has continued to champion many of them after their internships have ended. She mentors emerging food entrepreneurs through the London Small Business Centres Foodpreneur Program and supports Canadian newcomers by facilitating professional connections and volunteer employment opportunities.

“My time at King’s meant so much to me—it’s where I learned a lot about myself, built lifelong friendships and pushed out of my comfort zone. I’m so grateful for the professors, peers and experiences that shaped my journey and for this recognition, which reminds me just how far I’ve come,” says Campbell.

Alumni Ambassador Award

New this year, the King's Alumni Ambassador Award honours up to three recent graduates (within five years of graduation) whose dedication and ongoing support of King's University College have made a meaningful impact on the King's community. These individuals exemplify King's values, demonstrating a commitment to ethical leadership, service, and the pursuit of the common good.

Before starting in a full-time position as an account manager at TD Bank, Stephanie Figueiredo, BMOS ’23 (Finance/Organizational and Human Resources), demonstrated a strong commitment to student engagement as a King’s student. She took on several leadership roles, including President of the King’s EconoMath Society (KEMS) and helped to launch several events and initiatives.

In her final year as BMOS Faculty Student Representative on the King’s University College Students’ Council (KUCSC), Figueiredo secured $2,000 to organize a celebratory School of Management, Economics and Mathematics (MEM) social event, her “dream event,” which recognized recent graduates and current students on their achievements.

“She was instrumental in rebuilding a thriving clubs environment on our campus post-pandemic, and this particular event was one of the most successful that I have seen in my tenure as director,” says Dr. Jennifer Jeffrey, Associate Professor and Director of the School of MEM.

Since graduating, Figueiredo has continued to return to King’s to give back and share her insights and experiences from the professional world, including at the Career Discovery Night, a collaborative event hosted by the King’s Accounting Club and KEMS, as well as at an interactive workshop for members of various business clubs.

“Her enthusiasm and experience served as powerful inspiration for emerging student leaders. I was struck by her willingness to share her ideas and resources (no credit asked for), to volunteer to be a sounding board and contact should students have questions, and to really emphasize that these various initiatives take a lot of hard work and perseverance to implement successfully. She deeply understands the value of alumni engagement and the impact it can have on students navigating their own career journeys,” says Dr. Jeffrey.

Emily Thuss, BA ’24 (Childhood and Youth Studies and minor in English Language and Literature), embodies King's vision of an "ethically grounded changemaker" through her commitment to social justice as it relates to children and youth, her dedication to empowering others in her work as a teaching assistant, and her pursuit of knowledge for the betterment of society as she continues her studies at the University of Windsor's Juris Doctor program in the fall.

Thuss says it is a huge honour to receive the award. “Being a part of the King's community, specifically in the Childhood and Youth Studies (CYS) program as a student and teaching assistant during my undergrad, has been a meaningful part of my life. Now, as a proud King's alumna, I am excited to continue to share the core values and walk through the doors that a liberal arts degree has opened as I embark on the next chapter of my academic journey."

During her time as a King’s student, Thuss worked as a teaching assistant, served as Vice President, Finance, for the King’s Children’s Association and volunteered with the Children’s Aid Society London and in her home community of Strathroy.

“These experiences demonstrate her dedication to serving others and making a positive impact on the lives of children and families,” says Dr. Jennifer Silcox, Assistant Professor of CYS.

After graduating, she continued to work as a teaching assistant and became a research student to both Dr. Silcox and Dr. Liam Kennedy, Chair, Department of Sociology.

“I am confident that she will not only excel in her legal studies but will continue to

make significant contributions as a lawyer. I am confident that Emily will continue to embody the values of King's University College and make the institution proud through her future endeavours,” says Dr. Silcox.

Nasser Kaddoura, BA ’22 (Sociology/Criminology), has been accepted for his master’s degree at Western University and is excelling as a paramedic for Middlesex-London Paramedic Services.

“I am incredibly honored to receive this award. I’ve always believed that everyone deserves an opportunity to make something of themselves. King’s gave me that chance. King’s opened doors to explore a world of possibilities and helped me realize my potential. To my classmates, staff, faculty, and leaders who helped me get here: thank you for giving me a chance,” he says.

Recognized as a trailblazer in his field, Kaddoura has implemented new technologies, introduced advanced training programs, and spearheaded research initiatives to push boundaries and embrace innovative practices.  He recently accepted a professor position at Fanshawe teaching professional issues in the department of public health and safety.

As the youngest vice president in his entire union local, he works tirelessly to transform the culture of his union and community, encouraging the recruitment and advancement of underrepresented individuals within the paramedic profession.

At the same time, he has made a lasting impact on his community, volunteering his time to promote young workers in Ontario to become more educated about precarious working conditions.

Malina Hannam, who nominated Kaddoura for the award, says he “consistently goes above and beyond in his role, striving to make a positive impact on the lives of others. His dedication and commitment have been recognized within the province of Ontario with the Provincial Young Worker of the Year Award. His relentless drive and passion for his profession set him apart as a role model for the next generation of paramedics, inspiring them to push boundaries and make a difference.”

Congratulations to all of this year’s Alumni Award recipients. This year's ceremony will take place at King's on September 26, 2025, as part of the Homecoming Dinner and Awards Celebration. All are welcome to attend.