Welcome to the Winter 2025 edition of Thrive, Holland College Alumni Insider.
Published and distributed just four times a year, each edition includes discounts, perks, contests, stories, and important news just for Holland College alumni!
(L-R) Kerry Anne MacDougall — Founder, Insight Studio; Founder, KA MacDougall Consulting, Marketing and Advertising Management, 2004; Kent MacDonald — Vice President of Strategic Alliances, Long View Systems Inc., Electronics Engineering Technology, 1980; Kent MacLean — CEO and Director, Allumiqs Corporation, Accounting Technology, 1987.
The Holland College Foundation has named Kerry Anne MacDougall, Kent MacDonald, and Kent MacLean as the recipients of the 17th Annual Distinguished Alumni Awards.
Melody Dover
Founder and Brand Builder, Fresh Media Visual Communications
Class of 1995 Interactive Multimedia, 2003
In this interview, Melody shares her journey from studying Visual Communications to founding Fresh Media, PEI's first female-led design agency. Melody's passion for design, adaptability in changing industry, and resilience in the face of personal challenges have shaped her career, and her story is a testament to following your instincts, embracing changes, and the impact of a Holland College education.
Are you an alum working in a company filled with fellow graduates? Or perhaps you’re a business owner proud to employ multiple Holland College alumni? If so, we want to hear from you! Join our Alumni Cookie Quest, where we deliver trays of delicious cookies to businesses showcasing our incredible network of graduates.
Help us spread joy and gratitude within our community! If your workplace is home to a number of our alumni, let us know, and you may be selected to have some sweet treats and a coffee break visit from us. We'd love the chance to connect with you and hear your stories. Together, let's celebrate what makes our Holland College family so special!
Send an e-mail to skmaccormack@hollandcollege.com to chat further!
Did you meet your sweetheart while wandering a Holland College campus? Whether it was a shared class, a campus even event, or a mutual friend, we’re calling on our alumni to share their Holland College love stories with us for a chance to win a $100 gift card for dinner at The Culinary Institute of Canada* and some sweet treats.
How to Participate:
Don't miss Melody Dover's alumni spotlight above, where she talks about her very own Holland College love story!
* If you live off island and are the winner of the draw, we will provide a gift card to a restaurant of your choosing in your city. "
"There is an evergreen statement which goes, “nothing says comfort like a slice of warm apple pie.” There are many nostalgic feelings which many Canadians attach to the dish as it connects them to their childhood and family gatherings. As a first generation Canadian, I can’t exactly say my love for pie came in natural flow with my upbringing. Rather, it was something we as a family learned and experienced together. Mom and Dad would test drive new dishes and apple pie was amazing. I especially loved a warm piece of pie with a slice of cheddar.
This sheet tray version pulls on my Hungarian heritage — instead of the traditional round pie, our Hungarian “almas pite” was baked and cut into squares. As an intertwining of my own cultural culinary experience, this recipe is a blend of both comforting apple desserts.
The dough is enriched with milk and egg yolk which renders the it more tender than a typical pie dough, making it much easier to work with.
Feel free to use other fruit like blueberries, peaches, pears, cherries, or use your frozen strawberries and rhubarb that you squirreled away in the spring and summer." - Chef Ilona Daniel
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup butter
3 3/4 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 egg yolk and milk to equal 1 cup (keep egg white to brush over top of dough)
6 cups peeled, sliced apples
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
Method:
Preheat oven to 400F. Cut butter into flour and salt. Place egg yolk in 1 cup measure and add milk to fill cup. Add yolk and milk to flour, salt, and butter mixture, and form a dough. Roll out half the dough and place on sheet pan, roughly 12x16 inches. Spread apple slices evenly over bottom pastry, then sprinkle with sugar, flour, nutmeg, and cinnamon mixture. Roll out other half of the dough and place on top, pinching the edges. Beat egg white until foamy and brush over crust. Bake at 400F for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 325 and bake an additional 30 minutes. Enjoy!
H
olland College Commercial Design alumni from the 1970s through the mid 1990s would no doubt have many memories of educator Russell Stewart. Russell was a founding instructor for the Commercial Design program, a celebrated artist, a graphic designer and illustrator, and a mentor to many. He left a lasting mark on the world of art and education, and his many achievements include designing the cauldron and torch for the first-ever Canada Summer Games and PEI's Award of Merit medal. He also illustrated for CBC TV, contributed to Sand Patterns magazine, and created a regional icon of sorts in the Dixie Lee Restaurants mascot. As a fine artist, Russell also participated in numerous art shows across Canada. Today, his works can be found in the PEI Art Bank, the Confederation Centre Art Gallery, and in private collections.
In 2024, Russell’s family chose to gift two pieces of his art to Holland College. Son Dave Stewart and husband Dave Morrow, who is a graduate of Holland College’s Human Services Program, class of 1986, noted the family’s strong connection and affinity to Holland College.
“In addition to Dad being a founding instructor for the Commercial Design program, my mom, Davida, was the first woman on the College’s senior management team,” said Dave Stewart. “They both loved their work at the College and were deeply committed to their roles. I spent a lot of time here growing up!”
Russell’s works “Winterscape” and “Midnight Chorus” now have new homes at Holland College, with Midnight Chorus being proudly on display at the Holland College Foundation & Alumni Office.
Cheer on the Hurricanes at the ACAA Volleyball Championships hosted at Holland College from February 21-23! As members of our alumni community, we are offering special discounts just for you:
As an alumnus, you have access to perks and discounts including oil, memberships, insurance, and a credit card! Check out these discounts!
