The University of Prince Edward Island's Board of Governors recently accepted the recommendation of the search committee for the Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College. Dr. Greg Keefe was successfully appointed.

'On behalf of the University, I congratulate Greg on his appointment as Dean,' says President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. 'UPEI will certainly benefit from his leadership ability and his longtime service to AVC and to the broader community. I thank the Vice-President Academic and other members for their serving on the Search Committee.'

'I look forward to working with Greg as the AVC embarks on a period of increased funding stability with the recent signing of a 10-year interprovincial funding agreement,' adds Vice-President Academic Christian Lacroix. 'There are a number of initiatives that, under Greg's leadership, will be advanced to enhance the College's teaching, research, and service excellence.'

Dr. Keefe holds a Master of Business Administration, specializing in Agriculture, and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Guelph; and a Master of Science in Epidemiology from the University of Prince Edward Island.

After contract positions at AVC and the Ontario Veterinary College, Dr. Keefe returned to UPEI as a tenure-track associate professor in 1996 and was awarded accelerated tenure in 2000, becoming a full professor in 2005.

Widely published, Dr. Keefe's areas of research expertise include milk quality and mastitis, dairy production medicine, infectious disease epidemiology and Johne's Disease. He is an Innovation PEI Industry Chair and as Director of Maritime Quality Milk (MQM), he has grown the research and service program into one of the leading dairy health centres in Canada. In addition to farm-focused research activity, MQM develops and evaluates new animal health technologies and offers productivity and disease surveillance services to the industry, improving raw milk quality at the farm gate and decreasing health costs.

The University is very grateful to Dr. Dan Hurnik for his leadership and commitment while serving as Interim Dean over the past year.

Dr. Keefe will begin his new role for a six-year term effective March 1, 2015.

Congratulations, Dr. Keefe.

The University of Prince Edward Island Women's Hockey Panthers have received commitments from two recruits for the 2015 season.

Coach Bruce Donaldson announced today that he has signed Ashtyn Bartlett and Andie Boeckman.

Bartlett is an honours student at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. The Durham Bridge, New Brunswick native started her hockey career at age five with the Stanley Bulldogs organization and has lived for the game ever since. Team Captain of the Bobcats, Bartlett is having a very strong start to her season, scoring nine goals and earning nine assists to date. Her team is currently in first place in the Lakes Region Prep school division. Bartlett earned a coveted spot on the All Tournament Team at the New England prep school Cushing Tournament in Ashburnham, Mass in December.

Bartlett comments, 'I'm thrilled to be returning to Canada to attend a first rate university like UPEI and play with a hockey team that will develop and become a top AUS contender'.

'Ashtyn will be a big addition to our program', says Coach Donaldson, 'She is gifted offensively and is presently playing in the US with Brewster Academy. Current Panther Jessie Howard played at Brewster as well. It's a strong program in a very competitive league. Ashtyn is a team leader who has great hands, see's the ice well, and is very creative in her playmaking skills'.

Bartlett is enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts program and plans to earn her Bachelor of Education degree.

Coach Donaldson is excited to also add Andie Boeckman, a forward from The Edge Hockey Academy in Calgary. 'Andie will be great for our program-she brings a strong skill level and will add size, speed and offensive talent to our lineup.' The Edge program plays in Western Canada's Junior Women's Hockey League (JWHL), one of the most competitive leagues in the country.

For Boeckman, a move to Cochrane, Alberta in 2007 gave her the opportunity to make the jump from male to female hockey. 'I then played on my local female team until getting the chance to play on a bantam AAA team out of High River-the Rocky Mountain Raiders, ' she says. 'After winning the Alberta provincials with them, I was given the chance to play with the Edge School in my grade 10 year.'

She added about her decision to play for UPEI, 'All my life as a hockey player I have been working hard to see where hockey would take me, and I can't think of a better place to have ended up, it's the accomplishment of past goals, and the beginning of new ones. I cannot wait to start my life at the University of Prince Edward Island'. Boeckman is enrolled in the Bachelor of Science program.

The Panthers are in the hunt for a playoff position with three games remaining in the AUS regular season schedule.

About UPEI Athletics and Recreation

• Nine varsity sports and six club team programs
• Proud member of the AUS and CIS
• Athletic facilities include: Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place
• Home of Panther Sports Medicine
• Other facilities available to students and the community at large include: fitness centre, squash and racquetball courts, competition and leisure pool with hot tub, and two ice arenas

The UPEI Music Department's "Dr. Frances Gray Music Performance Competition Finals" were recently held at the Dr. Steel Recital Hall. The six music students chosen from the preliminary round to perform in the finals were: Rebecca Apps, soprano; Jillian Clow, mezzo soprano; Leah Inman, piano; Lucas MacPhail, alto saxophone; Kailey Norris, clarinet; and Hannah Rollwage, mezzo soprano.

After an exciting evening of performances, the judges' decision was announced by Dr. Karem Simon, coordinator of the 2015 competition and Dr. Andrew Zinck, Department Chair. Soprano Rebecca Apps was named the winner, while pianist Leah Inman came in second place and saxophonist Lucas MacPhail in third.

Originally from St. Catharine's, Ontario, Rebecca Apps is currently in her final year of the Bachelor of Music program at UPEI, majoring in voice under the tutelage of Professor Sung Ha Shin-Bouey. She holds a Diploma in Musical Theatre Performance from St. Lawrence College (2010).

Rebecca has been a featured soloist with the UPEI Concert Choir, the UPEI Chamber Ensemble, the UPEI Jazz Ensemble, the Kirk of St. James Senior Choir, and the Charlottetown Jazz Ensemble. Rebecca's master-class experience has allowed her to work with some of Canada's top classical musicians. Her hard work and dedication to the craft have led her to numerous competitive opportunities, including the CFMTA National Voice Competition (2013), the Atlantic Young Artist Tour Competition (2014) and the UPEI Music Performance Competition.

Congratulations to all finalists and winners!

UPEI Athletics and Recreation has scheduled the eighth annual Shoot for the Cure fundraiser for Friday, February 6 with a series of activities leading up to, and during, the UPEI women's basketball game starting at 6:00 pm versus the Acadia Axewomen.

Shoot for the Cure is a fundraising initiative by the CIS Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) to raise money for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) and other related charities.

The women's basketball team is honoured to have breast cancer survivor Marg Connolly, a long-time booster of the UPEI Green and White basketball club along with other members of the Connolly family, participate in the game's ceremonial tip-off.

Connolly says, 'I am thrilled to have been singled out for this great honour. It is through initiatives like this student-athlete fundraiser that we are paving the way toward a cure for breast cancer. I encourage all Islanders to visit the donor website and help the UPEI Panthers achieve success with this campaign.'

The entire Panther team is involved in the local fundraising effort, with a committee led by student-athlete Danielle MacDonald. The campaign goal has been set at $6,000 and will be achieved through the sale of Shoot for the Cure t-shirts and paper icons, a bake sale, a 50/50, ‘chuck a puck', and a ‘Gofund' donation webpage. In addition, the men's and women's hockey teams are showing their support once again by hosting 'Pink at the Rink' nights at home games. The women's hockey Panthers host Université de Moncton on Wednesday, February 4, while the men's team host CIS number-two ranked UNB on Friday, February 6.

The national campaign has been an overwhelming success since it was launched in the fall of 2007, raising over $760,000 in donations. This season, for the fourth year in row, all 47 CIS women's basketball schools are participating.

At the 2014 CIS championship in Windsor last March, the WBCA presented a cheque for $112,898 to the CBCF while an additional $25,463 was collected by universities that donated their raised funds to local or provincial organizations. The overall Shoot for the Cure total of $138,361 in 2013-14 made it the most successful edition to date. Overall donations since 2007 now stand at $761,309, including $633,304 to CBCF.

Everyone is encouraged and welcome to attend.

About UPEI Athletics and Recreation

• Nine varsity sports and six club team programs
  
• Proud member of the AUS and CIS
  
• Athletic facilities include: Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place
  
• Home of Panther Sports Medicine
  
• Other facilities available to students and the community at large include: fitness centre, squash and racquetball courts, competition and leisure pool with hot tub, and two ice arenas

The UPEI Panther Athletes of the Week for the week of January 26-February 1 are Kiera Rigby, Women's Basketball, and Ellis Ffrench, Men's Basketball. UPEI Athletics and Recreation showcases these talented athletes to recognize their hard work and dedication to their respective sports. UPEI Athletes of the Week are also nominated to Atlantic University Sport and Canadian Interuniversity Sport for possible recognition in the region and/or country.

Who: Kiera Rigby, Women's Basketball, and Ellis Ffrench, Men's Basketball

What: UPEI Panther Athletes of the Week

When: Week of January 26-February 1

Where: University of Prince Edward Island

Why: Rigby, a second-year Bachelor of Science student from Charlottetown, PEI, had a great weekend for the Panthers. The 5'11' forward had a breakout game in Saturday's 69-67 win over Cape Breton finishing with 14 points, 5 rebounds and scoring the game winning basketball with under 45 seconds remaining in the game. During Friday's 66-60 loss to Cape Breton, Rigby had 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals.

Ffrench, a fifth-year student from Wolfville, Nova Scotia, was pivotal in both Panther games this weekend. In Friday's 98-85 loss to Cape Breton, Ffrench recorded 12 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals. On Saturday, with his team battling injuries and sickness, Ffrench led the way with 37 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists , and 1 steal while playing all 40 minutes, only committing 1 turnover and going 154/16 from the foul line.

About UPEI Athletics and Recreation

• Nine varsity sports and six club team programs
• Proud member of the AUS and CIS
• Athletic facilities include: Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place
• Home of Panther Sports Medicine
• Other facilities available to students and the community at large include: fitness centre, squash and racquetball courts, competition and leisure pool with hot tub, and two ice arenas

The University of Prince Edward Island swimming team leaves for Halifax today to compete at the 2015 Subway AUS Swimming Championship.

The UPEI Panthers varsity swimming team has had a strong year and looks to perform well at the three-day championship meet being hosted by Dalhousie University at DALplex, February 6-8th. Six teams will compete: UPEI, Dalhousie, Acadia, University of New Brunswick, Mount Allison, and Memorial University of Newfoundland.

The Panthers are sending seven enthusiastic swimmers who will strive for lifetime bests. The top 16 finishers in every race will score points to determine the team's overall ranking for the championship. On the women's side, the goal is to place fifth overall ahead of rival Memorial. On the men's side, with only two male athletes, the goal for the Panthers is to score as many points as possible and gain experience for future championships.

Team Captain Rebekah Nitchsmann will lead the team in the freestyle events. She will look to continue her early season success by taking a stab at placing top 8 in the 200 Freestyle. Fellow second-year swimmers, Joël Legault and Katie VanLeeuwen, will be both shooting for final swims especially in their best events, the 100 Butterfly and 200 Freestyle. These team veterans have a strong chance to land in the finals in each of their events.

The team has a great group of rookies who will all challenge for final spots. Martin Sobey has been improving all season and will take on the mile in the 1500 Freestyle. Hannah Jenkins will look to break her own UPEI Panther records set earlier this year in the breaststroke events. Brittany Hill will challenge for 'finals' spots in the butterfly events. Freestyle specialist Emily Swaine will make her mark in the 400- and 800-freestyle, potentially in record fashion.

The relay team of Nitchsmann, Swaine, Jenkins, and VanLeeuwen will also seek to break the UPEI 4x100 Freestyle record, held by a team that included Panther alumnae, AUS Champion and Olympian Janet Gamble. The current team has a good shot to take out the record of 4:12:02, although it will require all four swimmers to be on their 'A' game.

The UPEI Panthers are up for the fierce competition in the pool. The preliminary session starts at 10:00 am each day with the finals beginning at 6:00 pm.

About UPEI Athletics and Recreation

• Nine varsity sports and six club team programs
• Proud member of the AUS and CIS
• Athletic facilities include: Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place
• Home of Panther Sports Medicine
• Other facilities available to students and the community at large include: fitness centre, squash and racquetball courts, competition and leisure pool with hot tub, and two ice arenas

Sport PEI named UPEI Men's Soccer player Jared Murphy as "Intercollegiate Male Athlete of the Year" at its amateur sport awards presentation last night at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel. The provincial sport federation also presented the UPEI Men's Soccer team with the "SCORE! Team of the Year" award, as was announced previously.

The UPEI Men's Soccer team earned the nod based on its CIS bronze medal performance at last November's CIS Men's Soccer National Championship. The team made history as the first Panther soccer squad to win a national CIS competition medal, defeating the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) Citadins 2-1.

Murphy, a fifth-year business student from Charlottetown, PEI was one of two Panthers named to the tournament's all-star team in addition to be being named UPEI Athlete of the Week three times during the 2014 regular season.

Congratulations to Jared and the UPEI Men's Soccer team! Go Panthers Go!

The Climate Research Lab at the University of Prince Edward Island is hosting a day of Living Shorelines Training with Kevin M. Smith of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The training takes place Wednesday, February 19 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Registration is required.

'Living shorelines are the result of applying erosion control measures that include a suite of techniques and maintain coastal process,' said Smith. 'Techniques may include the use of fibre coir logs, sills, groins, breakwaters, or other natural components used in combination with sand, other natural materials and/or marsh plantings. These techniques are sued to protect, restores, enhance, or create natural shoreline habitat.'
Discussions during the day of training include the causes and outcomes of shoreline erosion, an overview of traditional control practices, the origins of living shorelines, and many more topics.

The cost of the training is $10, which includes lunch and breaks. For more information, or to register, email climate@upei.ca.

Prince Edward Island writers are invited to submit an 'Expression of Interest' for this year's Writers Exchange with Tasmania. The successful applicant will be offered a three-week residency in Hobart this September.

Writers must have:

• a high calibre of published work in any genre(s);
• a background in teaching creative writing;
• public speaking skills; and
• the ability to travel to Tasmania in September, 2015.

Applicants must submit:

• a completed Expression of Interest;
• a sample of their work; and
• the names and contact details of two referees.

Applications must be received by 28 February, 2015 and be sent to: director@tasmanianwriters.org. The successful applicant will be contacted in mid-March.

The Prince Edward Island and Tasmania Writers' Exchange is supported by the University of Tasmania, the University of Prince Edward Island, the PEI Writers' Guild, and the Tasmanian Writers' Centre. For more information, contact Richard Lemm, professor and chair of English, UPEI, at rlemm@upei.ca.

A new book by celebrated Island author and teacher Deirdre Kessler was recently launched at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery as part of the P.E.I. Literacy Alliance's Family Literacy Day. 'Born! A foal, five kittens, and Confederation' is published by the Acorn Press in both English and French.

Watch a video of 'Born!' here:

Deirdre Kessler teaches children's literature and creative writing in UPEI's Department of English. 'Born!' is illustrated by Brenda Jones