Fanshawe College will honour a longtime local non-profit leader at its fall convocation on Thursday.
Steve Cordes, the executive director of Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU), is one of two people who will receive an honorary diploma from the college during two separate ceremonies. Cordes has been with YOU for 36 years and has developed it into an award-winning charity. Currently the agency, under Cordes' leadership, is working to build a $3.3-million, 30-bedroom shelter for homeless youth in the northeast-end and a home for teen moms in the downtown.
Music Executive Gary Furniss is the other person slated to get an honorary diploma from the college. Furniss is the president of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Canada and has been integral to providing direction and leadership to the college’s music industry arts program over the past two decades.
“Each of our honorary diploma recipients has made an outstanding impact within their field and both are very deserving of this distinction,” said Fanshawe College President Peter Devlin. “We are proud to have their names associated with Fanshawe College.”
Furniss will received his honorary diploma at 10 a.m., while Cordes will get his during the 3 p.m. ceremony.
More than 2,500 students will celebrate their graduation from degree, diploma, and certificate programs during the ceremonies being held the Metroland Media Agriplex.
