MacLauchlan family endows program of UPEI writing awards
The family of H. Wade MacLauchlan has made a leadership gift to the University of Prince Edward Island to create a major program of awards for student writing. The gift is to honour MacLauchlan's twelve years of service as UPEI president and to recognize the importance of effective writing as a foundational skill for academic success and lifelong learning. The MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing will be the largest such student-oriented program in Canada, distributing more than $30,000 annually in awards.
On behalf of the family, Mrs. Marjorie MacLauchlan said, 'We are proud of what UPEI has achieved over the past twelve years, and to honour Wade's part in that success. We are especially pleased to encourage the writing skills of UPEI students and graduates through this gift.'
UPEI President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz expressed appreciation to the MacLauchlan family for their generosity, saying, 'The MacLauchlan family has a remarkable history of leadership giving at UPEI and we are extremely grateful for this further, significant gift that supports the development of such an important skill as writing in our students. This donation will enrich the exceptional quality of education that we offer to our students and lead to their lifelong success.'
Dr. Barbara Campbell, director of the Webster Centre for Teaching and Learning, which houses the UPEI Writing Centre and other academic support programs, said, 'We at UPEI recognize the need to enhance the writing ability of our students, to enable them to compete and excel.'
Campbell added, 'This generous gift from the MacLauchlan family in Wade's name encourages student writing throughout our programs, and will provide incentives for effective writing as the foundation of teaching and learning.'
Beginning in the fall of 2012, there will be 60 MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing awarded to students who have demonstrated writing achievement in a variety of formats, in their academic programs and in community-oriented work, as well as to UPEI faculty or staff members for leadership and innovation in writing instruction and program development.
UPEI's Vice-President Academic Jim Randall said, 'Writing is often such a natural extension to our lives, we may not realize the tremendous role that this form of communication plays in our personal and professional growth. Moreover, success as a knowledge-based society depends on a population that is able to communicate effectively. By celebrating writing excellence, these awards send a powerful signal to our students and our province regarding the collective importance of writing.
The MacLauchlan family has made previous contributions to the Harry W. MacLauchlan Scholarships in Entrepreneurial Leadership, MacLauchlan Arena, Robertson Library, athletic scholarships, and student prizes in mathematics and entrepreneurship. Wade MacLauchlan completed his tenure as UPEI's fifth president and vice-chancellor on June 30, 2011.
