Belleville, ON, June 3, 2025 – Loyalist College is proud to announce that Nicole Flynn, an accomplished speaker, author, entrepreneur and advocate for disability justice, will receive the Hugh P. O’Neil Outstanding Alumni Award at the college’s 58th annual Convocation ceremonies this month.

A graduate of Loyalist’s General Arts and Science program, Nicole Flynn is the founder and CEO of Nicole Flynn Enterprises. As a person with Trisomy 21 Down syndrome, she brings her lived experience to the forefront of her writing, photography and speaking engagements, delivering powerful messages about equity, inclusion, and the importance of confronting systemic barriers. As a professional speaker, Nicole has shared her message on national and international stages, including as keynote speaker at the 2024 United Nations World Down Syndrome Day Conference in Trinidad. Flynn also represented Canadian Youth Leaders at the Conference of State Parties at the United Nations in 2024. In 2017, she received a Canada 150 Anniversary Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to her community.

The Hugh P. O’Neil Outstanding Alumni Award is presented each year during the college’s Convocation ceremonies, honouring a Loyalist graduate who has demonstrated outstanding professional leadership or, through volunteer service, has made an exceptional contribution to their community. The award was established in 1998 in recognition of Mr. O’Neil’s leadership as Chair of the Foundations for the New Millennium Campaign.

Nicole Flynn will be presented with the award during Loyalist’s Convocation ceremonies, taking place June 4 – 6 and June 9 – 11, 2025, at the college’s Belleville campus.

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Source: Loyalist College News