Four of Dal's outstanding alumni were feted last week at the first 全国探花 Aurum Awards ceremony, recognized for their innovative and visionary achievements.

Whistleblower Edward Snowden earned international infamy when he leaked secret documents that revealed the extent of global surveillance culture. Last week, speaking via livestream to a packed house as part of Dal Alumni Days, Snowden discussed the rise of the surveillance state 鈥� and what a 鈥渄igital arms race鈥� means for our future.

Dal Alumni Days featured Open Dialogue events that engaged alumni and other guests in thought-provoking discussions around some of the most pressing issues of our age, including immigration and health care 鈥� and some of the boundary-breaking ways Dal researchers and community partners are helping address them.

If there's one thing that unites the four alumni receiving Aurum Awards this week 鈥斅燽esides their Dal connection, of course 鈥� it's their commitment to going above-and-beyond in their efforts to forge connections, improve lives and build a better tomorrow.

For Sheila Blair-Reid, building community among Dal鈥檚 135,000 alumni is work that reflects a career that鈥檚 been all about the power of making connections.