Distinguished Alumni

The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to an individual who has achieved professional excellence within his or her career, has given back to society and inspired others with leadership, and has contributed remarkable community or humanitarian service. Listed below are the previous recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award and of the Distinguished Recent Alumni Award.

Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients 

• Dale Kryzanowski -2011
• Dr. Gordon Walker - 2012
• Patrick Ash - 2013
• Lisa King - 2014
• Kevin Scoular - 2015
• Scott Osmachenko - 2016
• Kameron Kiland - 2017
• Sheila Hryniuk
• Sandra Jackle - 2019
• Nick Crighton - 2023
• Bonnie Cummings-Vickaryous - 2024
• Linda Ostryzniuk (Wright) - 2025

 

Distinguished Recent Alumni Award Recipients

• Patrick Falastein - 2013
• Faye Matt - 2014
• David Robertson - 2015
• Leslie Genoway - 2016
• Amanda Kleisinger - 2017
• Claudia Garcia-Thibodeau - 2017
• Nicole Chow - 2018
• Ashley O'Reilly - 2019
• Kara Haus - 2023
• Krista Slough - 2024
• Landon Watson - 2025

Linda convocated from the University of Regina Spring of 1991 with a Bachelor of Physical Activity Studies (now Kinesiology) degree with a specialization in the Adaptive program. She began her career as the Activity Director at the Weyburn Special Care Home, where she worked for two years before moving to the Regina Lutheran Care Home. She later joined William Booth Special Care Home, where she concluded her career as Assistant Director of Care, dedicating over 20 years of work to the facility.

Throughout her career, Linda was actively involved with the Saskatchewan Association Recreation Professionals and was recognized as an Outstanding Recreation Professional in 2014. Committed to furthering her education in Therapeutic Recreation, she became one of the first two Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist in Saskatchewan in 2018.

Her expertise in Therapeutic Recreation led her to a position of sessional lecturer at the University of Regina where she taught classes in Therapeutic Recreation including Aging, Interventions, as well as Mental Health and Addictions. In 2019, Linda was recognized by the Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association as the Outstanding Recreational Professional for her work with and for promoting Recreation Therapy in Saskatchewan.

I graduated from the University of Regina in 2016 with a Bachelor of Sport & Recreation Studies with a major in Sport and Recreation Management and a Diploma of Business Administration.

Following graduation, I spent seven seasons with the Regina Pats working my last few years as their Director of Hockey Operations.

In August of 2023, I was hired by the Arizona Coyotes as Manager of Hockey Operations.

I currently reside in Salt Lake City, Utah where I am working as Manager of Hockey Operations for the Utah Hockey Club.