Former Communications intern wins Canada Life Leadership Award at IABC gala

Congratulations to Chantal Quagliara, a recent former intern in King’s Communications and Media Relations department, who has been awarded a Canada Life Leadership Award: Public Relations – Corporate Communications, Fanshawe College from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) London chapter Education Awards (Student Program).

This is the second year in a row an intern in the King’s Communications and Media Relations department has received the award from the London chapter of the IABC. In 2018, Lindsay Marcaccio was awarded a London Life Leadership Award.

Quagliara was an intern at King’s from the Fanshawe College Public Relations-Corporate Communications Graduate certificate program from January to March 2019. The Canadian Life Leadership Award: Public Relations – Corporate Communications is given to a student who has strong leadership skills, is a team player, and demonstrates competency in all aspects of communication.

She says her internship at King’s prepared her for the workforce by providing her with a variety of hands-on opportunities to create implement communications strategies, including:

• Covering communications for the King's International student trip to French Canada, Planning and executing the Bell Let’s Talk Day event with the intern team
• Creating a communications plan for King’s Cultural Festival event with the intern team,
• Writing for the King’s University College website, including stories about the King's International French Canada trip and King's Indigenous Knowledge Keeper Liz Akiwenzie
• Participating in the communications coverage of the King's University College March 2019 Open House event

“I am so grateful for the wonderful internship experience I had at King's with the Communications Department. King's is a very dedicated and inspirational community,” says Quagliara.

Quagliara is currently completing a summer internship with Middlesex County in their Economic Development and Tourism department. She joins another former King’s intern, Taylor Rummell, at the County in the same department.

At King’s, Quagliara was supervised by Jane Antoniak, Manager, Communications & Media Relations. Since 2013, more than 25 students have had placements with our communications department, including international students from India and China as well as students in Public Relations at Western Continuing Studies; at Fanshawe College in Corporate Communications and Public Relations and from FIMS at Western University. “We learn as well from the interns who bring their enthusiasm and new ideas to our department,” says Antoniak. She is also an instructor of Strategic Public Relations at Fanshawe College. 

Jackie Westelaken is the co-ordinator of the Public Relations-Corporate Communications Graduate Certificate Program at Fanshawe. She says the college values their long relationship with King’s. “The field placement aspect of our Public Relations program allows for hands-on experiential learning and King’s has been a wonderful partner proving an exceptional placement opportunity for our students. They not only gain valuable work experience but add to their professional network and portfolio having worked on a variety of projects,” says Westelaken.

Congratulations Chantal on your award and we wish you continued success!