Announcing the 2025 Alumni Award Honorees: Keith Canning ’83 & Jo-Hanna Rifai ’13

Established in 1985 by the Vermont Academy Alumni Association, the Florence R. Sabin Class of 1889 Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes and honors Vermont Academy alumni who, through their diligence and efforts, have used the basic academic and life skills acquired at the Academy to achieve significant success in their professional careers or have made outstanding contributions in community involvement thereby bringing honor to themselves and to Vermont Academy. This award is named for Vermont Academy alumna and health pioneer Florence Sabin.

Keith Canning ’83 is the founding principal of Sawyer Island Consulting, bringing more than thirty years of supply chain experience to his work with each client. 

After graduating from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in Economics, Keith joined the family business, Pine State Trading, at the age of 22. He started in the warehouse in 1987 and worked his way up to become the vice president of sales, and eventually purchased the company alongside his sister and a cousin. 

Through his career with Pine State Trading, one of Maine’s largest convenience brand, tobacco, and convenience product distributors, Keith has worked closely with manufacturers, brokers, mass marketers, and convenience chains to develop, introduce, promote, and merchandise new and existing brands to mass-market consumers.

In 2020, Keith was inducted into the Convenience Distribution Association’s Hall of Fame, which is presented to the industry's most valued participants, at the Convenience Distribution Marketplace in San Antonio, TX. 

The Vermont Academy Alumni Association established the Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 2023 to recognize a graduate of the past 20 years for their significant contributions to Vermont Academy, in their community, or in their professional field. 

Jo-Hanna Rifai ’13, a Canadian diplomat from Montréal, will be the second honoree to receive this award. Jo-Hanna earned her bachelor’s degree in Economics from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI. Before embarking on her diplomatic career as a Foreign Service Officer, she worked as a Senior Statistical Analyst in development finance statistics.

Her first diplomatic assignment took her to Honduras, where she served as Second Secretary for Canada’s Central Development Program. She focused on economic growth and food security in the Dry Corridor, a region of Central America highly vulnerable to drought and climate change. Since joining Global Affairs Canada in January 2019, she has gained extensive experience in statistical analysis, emergency response, international development, and trade. 

In 2020, during a period of incredible uncertainty, Jo-Hanna served as a Surge Responder in the Emergency Watch and Response Center before supporting the COVID-19 Emergency Loan Program through the Consular Crisis Operations Division at Global Affairs Canada. For this important work, she was recognized with a certificate of appreciation by the minister of foreign affairs and deputy minister of foreign affairs.

Following her return to Canada, Jo-Hanna took on the role of Investment Officer, working to attract foreign direct investment in the country. She is now preparing for her next diplomatic assignment as a Trade Commissioner, with responsibilities in both the Republic of Peru and the Plurinational State of Bolivia in August 2025.

For these reasons and many more, the Vermont Academy Alumni Association celebrates Keith Canning ’83 as the 2025 Sabin Distinguished Alumni Award honoree and Jo-Hanna Rifai ’13 as the Outstanding Young Alumni Award honoree.

The Vermont Academy Alumni Association takes nominations for both awards on a rolling basis. If you wish to submit a nomination, please visit www.vermontacademy.org/alumni/alumni-recognition.