He then introduced Prof. Kevin Donoghue, who has been involved with the technical operations within the television and new media program for five years, but has been away since October because of a stroke. Donoghue was brought on stage and greeted with a spontaneous and heartwarming standing ovation.

Cudmore had originally planned on simply acknowledging Donoghue from the audience. However, it made more sense for Donoghue to come out on stage, as he would be in the green room to give comments on the show's progress.

"It is really gratifying to see him up and around," said Cudmore. "It was a spontaneous show of affection, respect and hope," he said.
Asked how it felt to receive such an out pouring of support and respect Donoghue said it "felt great", and that he has missed the students most since having to leave due to health issues.

"Some students have come to visit me in the hospital but it has never been anything like that," he said.

Donoghue is currently receiving therapy at Belleville General Hospital and is expecting to return to work this coming December, after his recovery.

Jesse Makort, a third-year television and new media student, said the highlight of the night for him was seeing Donoghue on stage.

"It was really good to see Kevin Donoghue again. We all love him here and we all miss him," he said. "He's been such great inspiration and such a help to us over the years," Makort said.

Makort was pleased to hear Donoghue was planning on returning in December, and is eager to have him teaching classes again.

The other highlight of the evening came with the presentation of the Dome Excellence Award presented by Mary Ellen Carlyle, senior vice-president and general manager of Dome Productions. The award is meant to encourage and help the student recipient and is traditionally given to a first-year student as it is most often first-year students who drop the course. The award also comes with a $2000 scholarship.

Jody Dowdall, winner of the 2008 Dome Excellence award, said winning came as a shock, but also an honour.

"It's been the best seven months of my life, and this just caps it off," said Dowdall. "I've worked really hard but I've enjoyed every bit of it."

Dowdall said that the $2,000 scholarship was welcome and will help out a lot, but that he would have been just as happy with having received only a trophy.

"It's a celebration of a lot of hard work...and effort," said Jane Harrison, acting dean of media studies when asked what the Sparkie represent to the television new media staff and students.

Before the idea of the Sparkies were concieved four years ago, students, mostly graduates of the program, would hold a wrap party she said, but then the decision was made collectively to involve all television and new media students and the Sparkies were born.

Loyalist's television and new media program holds the yearly event to acknowledge the hard work of students and continued improvement with such awards as best overall second-year student, and best overall third-year student.

Jodi Cooper won best overall second-year student award, and Carin Havekes won best overall third-year student award.

See the full list of this year's Sparkies winners