Beginning this year, both new and returning UPEI students will be able to register earlier for 2015-16 courses than in previous years.

Incoming, first-year UPEI students can register for first-semester classes as early as March 2 through group sessions or individually by appointment with a first-year advisor. Students can also register for courses during 'Open Class Day' on March 6.

Open Class Day is an on-campus daylong event that provides incoming UPEI students with an overview of the Arts, Business, and Science programs through a variety of sample lectures along with on-site admissions and first-year advising. Students can sign up to attend at upei.ca/openclassday.

Registration for returning UPEI students opens in June as follows:

June 2 - fourth-year students
June 3 - third-year students
June 4 - second-year students
June 5 onward - registration remains open to all students

For more information about early registration dates for the 2015-16 academic year, visit upei.ca/registrationdates.

University of Prince Edward Island women's basketball coach Mark English is pleased to announce that Grimsby, Ontario, native Haille Nickerson has committed to join the Panthers for the 2015-16 season.

At 5'7', Nickerson is a standout guard who played with the Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School team for the past four years and was selected for the Niagara High School All Star game this year. She is currently a top player for the No Limit Performance team in the Canadian Youth Basketball League where her team has a record of 7-1, asserting herself as an offensive threat and leader.

Nickerson says, 'I'm very excited to be attending UPEI this fall and becoming part of the Panther family. Coach English is building a flourishing basketball program and I can't wait to be a part of it. The tight-knit community of UPEI will make it feel like home for me. The team and coaches there were so welcoming when I visited. I'm also looking forward to the small class sizes and academic opportunities-it is a great fit!'

Coach English comments, 'We are very excited to have Haille commit to our program. She is a very talented guard with an incredible work ethic. With her current team, No Limit Performance, she is training with one of Canada's top trainers, Mihai Raducanu. She is a worker and a winner on and off the court, and these are the qualities needed for UPEI to be a top basketball program in Canada.'

Haille will be entering the Kinesiology program at UPEI.

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

Case competition teams from UPEI's School of Business continue to make their mark on the 2015 event circuit regionally, nationally, and now internationally.

The UPEI team of Shanice Sproule, Jeremy MacAulay, Luke Gaudet, and Kaitlyn Lord won the silver medal on Friday, Feburary 20 at the prestigious 20th annual NIBS Worldwide Case Competition, hosted by Carleton University in Ottawa.

President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz said, 'On behalf of the entire UPEI community, I congratulate Shanice, Jeremy, Luke, Kaitlyn, and coach Mary Whitrow, on this tremendous achievement. These students truly exemplify UPEI's vision of providing pathways for our students through experiential learning opportunities. I am so proud of their accomplishments at this international competition.'

'Congratulations to Shanice, Jeremy, Luke, Kaitlyn,' added Juergen Krause, dean of the School of Business. 'Their success is the culmination of great effort and dedication by the team and its coach, Mary. UPEI is enjoying fantastic results this season which is a testament to the quality of our Business Administration program and case competition courses.'

This is the third time a UPEI team has both attempted and qualified to compete at the Network of International Business Schools championship event. In 2013, the UPEI team tied for third place in the semifinals, while in 2014 UPEI finished in the quarterfinals.

The NIBS case competition consists of a qualifying round and a championship round. In the qualifying round, students received a business case that they had never seen before, to read and analyze. They then had to submit, within eight hours, a written report that included strategies and recommendations to solve issues facing the business.

Of the over 30 teams from around the world that attempted to qualify, UPEI placed third in the qualifying round and was one of 16 teams that advanced to the championship round, a weeklong series of head-to-head, round-robin style competitions.

During the championship round week, each team was again challenged to come up with the best, strategic solutions for business problems, this time in under three hours. They then presented and defended their plan to a judging panel of professional and academic experts. Though six rounds of competition, UPEI earned their way to the final versus Universidad del Istmo from Guatemala on Friday afternoon.

In the first five rounds, UPEI competed against and defeated Colegio de Estudios Superiores de Administración (Columbia), London South Bank University (UK), Dublin Institute of Technology (Ireland), Satakunta University (Finland), and Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics (China).

The UPEI team is coached by Mary Whitrow, a recent UPEI graduate and case competition veteran who is now working in the School of Business. Whitrow and the student team members are grateful for the chance to compete at the international level. 'The students dedicated many long hours to secure their spot in the championship round,' she said. 'We couldn't have done it without the support from the faculty, staff, and the entire UPEI community.'

'Participating in an event with other business schools from all over the world was a phenomenal experience,' said team member Luke Gaudet. 'We had the opportunity to learn so much over the course of the week from industry professionals and academics on the judging panel, and we were able to develop so much as a team as a result. On top of that, we had the chance to meet a ton of fantastic people from Carleton and other competing schools. I am very grateful to my coach, teammates, faculty and Dean for making such a week possible.'

Another UPEI case team is currently competing at the international John Molson Undergraduate Case Competition in Montreal, Quebec.

The UPEI Recital Series continues on Sunday, March 8th at 2:30 pm with 'Prelude to Spring for Organ and Brass' at Trinity United Church, Prince Street, Charlottetown.

Organist Ruth Ann Read-Clay's solo work for this afternoon concert will include the Fantasie in G by J.S. Bach, Prelude by Pierne and works by Canadian composers Healey Willan and Mark Sirrett. The works for organ and brass, arranged by Dan St. Amand and Laura MacLeod, will include works by J.S. Bach, Handel, Charpentier, Albinoni and Jeremiah Clarke.

Ruth Ann Read-Clay studied organ with Dr. Alan Reesor and with Dr. John McIntosh (UWO) and is a graduate of the UPEI Music Department. She pursued further studies in piano accompanying and chamber music at Acadia University and the University of Brandon. Ruth Ann has held positions as Music Director of churches in Fredericton, N.B., Brandon, Manitoba and in Charlottetown. She is an experienced accompanist and founder/conductor of The Amabile Singers, a Charlottetown based chamber choir.

Dan St. Amand holds degrees in music and education from UPEI. He has been principal trumpet with the PEISO since 1974, and performs regularly with the UPEI Wind Ensemble and the Charlottetown Jazz Ensemble. Dan has performed with the orchestra at the Conderation Centre of the Arts and in Handel's Messiah. Retired after many years in the public school system, Dan continues to teach privately and is active as a free-lance musician both locally and off Island.

Laura MacLeod will be graduating from the UPEI Music Department this spring. She is a member of the UPEI Wind Symphony and was the featured soloist with the group this past November. She is also a member of the PEI Symphony, has performed with Confederation Brass for 8 years and was Principal Trumpet with the National Youth Band in 2011.

Filling out the brass ensemble will be Henry Orford (trumpet) and Daniel MacDonald (trombone). Henry is a grade 11 student at Colonel Gray High where he is part of the band program. He also plays with the UPEI Wind Symphony and has performed with the PEISO. Daniel is a third-year music major at UPEI where he performs with the UPEI Wind Symphony, the UPEI Jazz Band and as a member of the quintet Tonas Brass. He is also a member of the PEI Regiment Band and has performed for two seasons in bands for the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo.

Tickets for the recital are $15 Adults/ $10 Seniors & Students and are available at the door or online at www.upeirecitals12.bpt.me

One of PEI's most popular literary events, the annual reading by participants in UPEI's Creative Writing Master Class, will take place on Monday, March 23, at 7:00 pm in the Confederation Centre Art Gallery. Some of the Island's most talented new writers will read excerpts from their fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction.

This year's featured writers are Chris Bailey, Michelle Barton, Charity Becker, Keith Burgoyne, Sarah Glassford, Ben Hartley, Santana Hourihan, Jessi McKellar, Debbie MacLellan, Bobby Madigan, Ruby Madigan, Olivia Robinson, Rhonda Schofield, and Allyson Trainor.

The public is invited and admission is free. Contact: Dr. Richard Lemm at (902) 566-0389, rlemm@upei.ca.

One of Atlantic Canada's finest poets and creative writing teachers, Dr. Brian Bartlett, will be UPEI's writer in residence during March 11-14. Dr. Bartlett has also distinguished himself as an expert on nature writing, especially poetry with an environmental focus, sometimes called eco­poetry.

Dr. Bartlett will read from his new book Ringing Here and There: A Nature Calendar on Thursday, March 12, at 7:30 pm in the Confederation Centre Art Gallery. His reading is hosted by the UPEI English Department and Dean of Arts with support from The Canada Council for the Arts and the Art Gallery.

A professor of Creative Writing and Literature at Saint Mary's University, Dr. Bartlett will also give two workshops-nature writing and poetry-on Saturday, March 14 at UPEI. For further information about the workshops and to register, contact the English Department: tjohnston@upei.ca or 566­0389. His workshops are co­sponsored by the PEI Writers' Guild and the UPEI English Department and Dean of Arts.

Bartlett was born in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, grew up in Fredericton, lived for fifteen years in Montreal, and moved to Halifax in 1990. His poetry collections include The Afterlife of Trees and Wanting the Day: Selected Poems, which won the 2004 Atlantic Poetry Prize. A playful as well as serious poet, he wrote an entire chapbook of haiku about Charlie Chaplin, and used the haiku form to capture the cityscape of Halifax's West End: 'Oh for X­rays to show / all the trees roots holding / these streets together.' Bartlett's poetry and workshops have that X­ray quality.

2015 is sure to be a year of important elections for both PEI and Canada. In preparation, UPEI's Vagabond Productions plans to throw its audience a hardball. After going old-school with a Greek classic last year, Vagabond now tackles a controversial Canadian political play called Captives of the Faceless Drummer by George Ryga, best known for The Ecstasy of Rita Joe. When asked about his choice, Dr. Greg Doran, Coordinator of Theatre Studies at UPEI, said, 'I chose Captives because it is a bit of a forgotten Canadian classic. Also, when rereading it, I was struck by how contemporary it feels, despite being written in 1971.'

The play opens in a near-future dystopian Canada. Harry, a respected diplomat, is hostage to a violent revolutionary cell led by the enigmatic Commander. The action bounces between past and present and offers glimpses into Harry and the Commander's memories as they struggle to find common ground, despite overwhelming differences between them. When asked about the biggest challenge for the cast, Dr. Doran had an immediate response. 'The style of the production is new to the cast. We are breaking down the fourth wall, putting the audience on three sides, and defying conventional theatre practices. It is really cool, but very challenging for the cast.'

The show runs on the UPEI campus, in the Faculty Lounge of Main Building, March 10 to 14. The doors open at 7 pm for a 7:30 pm curtain. Admission is pay-what-you-can, so there are no advanced sales. The play deals with mature subject matter and includes mature language, so it may not be appropriate for everyone. For more information, call (902) 566-6013 or email gdoran@upei.ca.

The Honourable Allen Roach, Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning, signed a proclamation today presented by UPEI co-op student Kylie Ford to recognize next week, March 16 to 20, as National Co-operative Education Week. National co-op week is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Canadian co-operative education students.

'Providing students will real work experience and mentorship is an important part of building the leaders of tomorrow,' said Minister Roach. 'Co-operative education at UPEI is a win-win proposition where students gain valuable experience to prepare them for their careers, and Island businesses and organizations, through investing in co-op education, contribute and gain access to a skilled labour force.'

UPEI will recognize the accomplishments of its co-op students during their work terms at its annual awards ceremony on March 18. Presentations will be made to the Co-op Student of the Year in business, physics, and computer science and who have demonstrated high academic achievement, a valued contribution to their employer and community, and displayed personal and professional development. Employer Recognition awards will also be announced.

Pat MacAulay, Director of the Office of Skills Development & Learning said, 'The UPEI Co-op Program gives students the opportunity to apply classroom theory and practice in the workplace. This blending of strong academic programming and applied work experience gives our co-op students a competitive advantage in the job market and supports their transition from University to workplace.'

UPEI is among 130 colleges and universities across Canada that is actively involved in developing their students into workplace professionals through co-operative education. UPEI's Co-operative Education Program fosters next generation's leaders, and gives students the opportunity to push themselves, while, at the same time, giving back to the local community. Through real-life experience and guidance from employers and co-op coordinators, students gain valuable knowledge and skills that will be used throughout their career upon graduation.
For more information on UPEI's Co-op Program, visit upei.ca/co-op or email co-op@upei.ca.

Tyler Scott, a guard with the UPEI Men's Basketball team and Reggie Traccitto, defence with UPEI Men's Hockey, were both named 2014-15 CIS Second-Team All-Canadians this week.

Scott, a second-year Bachelor of Business Administration student from Halifax, NS, enjoyed a strong season, earning several 'The Wave Athlete of the Week' honours and being named an AUS First-Team All-Star. Read CIS release.

Also an AUS First-Team All-Star, fifth-year Arts student Traccitto, from Oakville, Ontario has been a go-to for his UPEI squad since he arrived in 2010. He was UPEI Panther Male Athlete of the Year for 2013-14. Traccitto will graduate this spring with his sociology degree. Read CIS release.

CIS awards and the first, second, and all-rookie CIS All-Canadian teams were named last night in the lead up to CIS championship tournaments this weekend for Men's and Women's Hockey and Men's and Women's Basketball.

University of Prince Edward Island Women's Hockey coach Bruce Donaldson is excited to announce that Emily March, with the Etobicoke Dolphins in the Ontario PWHL, and Gabrielle Gray, with the Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA league, have agreed to join the Panthers in September 2015.

March was born and raised in the city of Toronto. She started playing hockey when she was six years old and fell in love with the game. At 5'10' tall and 165 lbs, she is a formidable presence on the blue line. March has been with the same team and head coach at the Etobicoke Dolphin Association for the last three years, one year in midget AA as a forward, and the last two years, playing defense.

Coach Donaldson says, 'Emily has great size and presence on the blue line and will bring additional strength to our back end. The fact that she has played up front at times is also an added feature in her game.'

March is an honours student at Loretto Abbey Catholic Girls School in Toronto where she also plays on her school team that has won two city championships.

Comments March, 'Not one day goes by where I don't have the opportunity to excitedly tell someone that I will be attending the University of Prince Edward Island and playing as a Panther for the women's hockey team. What an honour! Go Panthers Go!'

Emily is enrolled in the School of Business at UPEI and has a career aspiration to become a lawyer.

Gray plays defence for Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats. In 28 games, Gray has two goals, five assists, and 46 penalty minutes.

Gray grew up on a mixed grain and cattle farm near Brownlee, Saskatchewan. She played lacrosse, basketball, volleyball, fastball, rugby, and figure skated and ran cross-country growing up, but her true passion has always been hockey. Gray began her hockey career in the small town of Craik, playing on boys' teams until grade nine when she was given the opportunity to play for the Wildcats. Gray moved to Swift Current and has lived with a billet family for the past four years.

Coach Donaldson remarks, 'We looked to add some size to our lineup and at 5'9" Gabrielle adds both size and versatility to our defence. She moves the puck very well, reads and reacts to the play making a great first pass and is a ‘team first' type of player.'

Gray comments, 'My goals have always centered around academics and hockey. The opportunity to attend UPEI and play for the Panthers not only fulfills some of those goals but it opens up a whole new set of challenges and possibilities. I can't wait to wear the green and white for the UPEI Panthers.'

Gray is enrolled in UPEI's new School of Sustainable Design Engineering.

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