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GARY KALACI
BSc ’05, LLB ’09, MBA ’09
G
ary Kalaci was only 16 years old when he witnessed
600,000 refugees pour into his Albanian homeland,
seeking safety during the Kosovo War. Desperate to help in
any way he could, he offered his gift for languages to translate
for foreign aid workers who were struggling to provide
the refugees with medical services and food. His talent for
language and his passion to help others was the foundation of
his professional and personal interests.
While still a student, Kalaci became a certified translator
in Albanian and Italian and passable French and Greek, using
his own money to start Kalaci Translations. Also while at
school, he launched the Golden Future Project to raise HIV
and AIDS awareness, foster life skills and to improve the lives of youth and vulnerable
communities in South Africa.
For all of his community work, he drew national attention in 2009 as the first-ever
recipient of the prestigious Thérèse Casgrain Volunteer Award given by the Government of
Canada Department of Human Resources & Skills Management. He was named a recipient
of the 2012 Rising Star Award sponsored by the Windsor Chamber of Commerce, and
won the 2012 Under 30 Award for the Toronto Board of Trade Excellence Awards for his
company Alexa Translations, the company he co-founded with UWindsor alumni Michael
Kaye MBA ’08 and Roy Sharda BComm ’97. Alexa is a translations and interpretations
provider specializing in more than 110 languages and dialects.
He is also a 2012 winner of the University of Windsor Alumni Odyssey Award.
MELISSA BISHOP
BHK ’10, BEd ’11
M
elissa
Bishop
is racing
toward 2016.
The
800-metre
standout has
set her sights
on the Rio
de Janeiro
Summer
Olympic games
where she hopes to claim the women’s
800m title.
Bishop made her Olympic debut at the
2012 Summer Games in London, where
she finished in the top 30 in the women’s
800m race. She was the third woman in
Canadian history to run 800m in less than
two minutes. In 2013, she won the Canadian
national championship in the same distance.
The UWindsor grad enjoyed a
spectacular career as a Lancer, claiming
multiple gold medals in the 600m, 1000m,
4x400m and 4x800m. She holds three school
records in the 600m, 1000m and 4x800m
relay and was named the 2012/13 Lancer
Athlete of the Year.
Today, the speedy alumna is a
professional athlete whose days are typically
spent training full time.
“Making the Olympic team was a
huge accomplishment and, to be honest, a
surprise. It was always in the back of my
mind to make the 2016 Olympic Team, not
the 2012. Goes to show what hard work and
believing can do for you. You can really defy
your dreams.”
AARON LOWE
BHK ’03, MHK ’07
MEGAN WING
BA ’03, BA ’04, MA ’08
M
egan Wing and Aaron Lowe have shown that it’s
possible to compete successfully at the highest level
of international competition while, at the same time, earn
university degrees.
During their years as students at UWindsor, the team
competed in pairs ice dancing at five world championships
and 14 Grand Prix International Competitions.They won two
bronze medals at the Four Continents Championships and
seven more National medals.They placed 10th overall at the
World Championships in 2005 before competing at the 2006
Olympic Games in Turin, Italy.
Lowe was the Skate Canada National Team captain from 2002-06, Skate Canada’s athlete
representative at the International Skating Union, and a board member for Athletes Canada.
He was also the athlete representative on the Skate Canada Board of Directors, International
Committee, and National Teams Committee.
Now married, Wing and Lowe live in Vancouver coaching and choreographing at the
BC Centre of Excellence. Both were involved in the bidding process that helped their
hometown beat Calgary for the rights to host the 2010 Winter Olympics and joined other
UWindsor alumni to cheer on Team Canada during the games.
