The winners of UPEI’s 2015 Co-op Student of the Year Awards in Business, Computer Science, and Physics were celebrated for their achievements at a special event held on March 17 during National Co-operative Education Week.

Fourth-year computer science student Jason Wuertz received the 2015 Co-operative Student of the Year Award for Computer Science. Wuertz was nominated by Deltaware Division MAXIMUS where he worked as a programmer analyst during his final work term in the summer of 2015. He plans to continue his studies in computer science after he graduates in May.

The 2015 Co-operative Student of the Year Award for Physics went to third-year student Deanna Kerry. A top student, Kerry worked as a research assistant in the UPEI Department of Physics. She recently gave presentations at the Canadian Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics at Dalhousie University and at the Atlantic Physics and Astronomy Conference at Memorial University.

Fourth-year business student Adam Lambe won the 2015 Co-op Student of the Year Award in Business. Lambe was nominated by Health PEI where he completed his final work term during the fall of 2015. In his previous work terms, he was a junior business development officer at Innovation PEI and an assistant economic development officer for the City of Summerside.

The UPEI Co-operative Education Program fosters the next generation’s leaders, and provides students the opportunity to expand their skills and contribute to organizations. 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 about the UPEI Co-operative Education program, visit upei.ca/co-op or email co-op@upei.ca.
 

In 1997 a group of UPEI alumni and other Prince Edward Islanders in Calgary, Alberta, was asked to host a dinner to raise a “little money” for UPEI. Since then, that group, known as the Friends of UPEI Calgary, has raised $1 million and distributed $427,000 in scholarships to a total of 228 Alberta students attending UPEI to date.

Calgary lawyer Bill LeClair, founder and chair of the Friends of UPEI Calgary, is one of the UPEI alumni who organized the first dinner, which took place in 1998 and raised more than $25,000. The dinner is now an annual event, held on the first Saturday of November, which includes a silent auction and entertainment from Prince Edward Island.

The funds, which are managed by The Calgary Foundation, are used to provide scholarships for students from Alberta who want to attend UPEI. On average, 20 students from Alberta yearly receive a total of nearly $40,000 in scholarships from funds raised by the group.

One of those students is Jenn Whittingham, of Calgary, who will graduate in May 2016 with her Bachelor of Science in nursing. She says that the support she received from the Friends of UPEI Calgary has been instrumental in her journey toward her nursing degree.

“This scholarship has meant the difference between having to work during the school year and choosing to work when I have time, but it has been much more than that,” says Whittingham. “Every year they fund a dinner in Charlottetown for students from Alberta so that we can meet, make some new friends and get to know the hard-working people behind the scholarships. It has given me a different perspective and allowed me to understand that every dollar we receive is a dollar that someone has graciously fundraised for or donated—private citizens who have a connection to UPEI and want to give back. Words cannot express how thankful I am for the support I have received.”

LeClair is proud of the sustained support that the Friends of UPEI Calgary has provided to Alberta students attending UPEI since that first dinner in 1998.

“It has been a wonderful experience for all of us,” says LeClair. “There are many stories that could be told, but suffice to say, we are very pleased to have been part of the journey for so many students.”

UPEI’s Department of Athletics and Recreation celebrated the 2015-16 season at the 47th annual UPEI Athletic Awards Gala on Saturday, April 2, recognizing outstanding student athletes who have excelled in sport, the classroom, and serving the community.

The event, held at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel, included student-athletes, coaches, staff, along with senior administration, alumni, donors, sponsors, and booster club supporters. The UPEI Panther Celebration and Athletic Awards Gala is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of student-athletes and to thank coaches, team staff, and partners supporters, while reflecting on a great season.

The UPEI Alumni Association’s Outstanding Athlete of the Year awards went to two “co-winners” in each the female and male categories. Women’s rugby’s Alysha Corrigan and women’s basketball’s Katelynn Donahoe shared the top honours while basketball standout, Tyler Scott, and dual-athlete Cole MacMillan (men’s soccer and hockey) were repeat co-winners.

In addition to the Athlete of the Year awards, club and varsity team awards were presented. The MVP and Rookie of the Year award winners from each team include (MVP is listed first, followed by rookie):

Women’s volleyball: Rachel Hughes, Erika Miller
Men’s rugby: Sean Doyle, Kaleb Haque
Women’s rugby: Emily Keen, Anneke Dykerman
Field hockey: Katherine Koughan, Sarah Sear
Men’s soccer: Cole MacMillan, Brett Strba
Women’s soccer: Jenna Jo McDonald, Danielle Younker
Men’s hockey: Marcus Power, Ryan MacKinnon
Women’s hockey: Samantha Sweet, Ashtyn Bartlett
Men’s basketball: Tyler Scott & Bradley States, Amin Suleman
Women’s basketball: Katie Donahoe, Kendra Craswell & Jennifer Newman
Swimming: Rebekah Nitschmann, Callie McAuley; Matthew Smith (both MVP and Rookie)
Cross country: Brandon Higginbotham, Jeremy Thompson
JV women’s hockey: Jill MacIsaac, Brittany Williams

The J.T. “Mickey” Place Awards are presented by the UPEI Student Union to student-athletes who have made a contribution to student leadership on their team and on campus. John Thomas “Mickey” Place was connected not only with Athletics at UPEI, but also with all aspects of campus life. These awards given in his memory were presented to: Lauren Chamberlain (women’s rugby), Emily Ross (field hockey), Harminder Singh (men’s soccer), Kelsie Collier (women’s soccer), Brent Andrews (men’s hockey), Teagan Pringle (women’s hockey), Lorenzo Parker (men’s basketball), Katie Donahoe (women’s basketball), and Katie VanLeeuwen (swimming).

The Gordon and Muriel Bennett Award is given to a student (male or female) who, over four years, best combined athletic achievement and academic excellence. Field hockey student-athlete Katherine Koughan was this year’s recipient.

The W.A. Ledwell Award goes to a student-athlete who has demonstrated outstanding athletic ability in the intercollegiate program, academic excellence, and the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and citizenship. Maggie Grimmer from women’s hockey was the recipient.

One of the evening highlights was the presentation of the Passion for Life Award, originated in memory of Rene Ayangma, a former UPEI soccer player. All nominees were recognized and the overall award winner was Mason Wilgosh from the men’s hockey team.

Congratulations to all of our Panther athletes, the entire UPEI family is very proud of you!

About the UPEI Athletes of the Year

Alysha Corrigan, a 5’4” fullback on the women’s rugby team, is a second-year business student from Charlottetown, PEI. She was named an AUS All-Star, CIS Second Team All-Canadian and is a national team prospect. She is also a talented ringette player.

Katelynn Donahoe, a 5’6 guard on the women’s basketball team, is a fifth-year kinesiology student from Riverview, NB. She was named an AUS Second Team All-Star and led the AUS and CIS in several important statistical categories.

Tyler Scott is a 6’2” guard from Halifax, NS who was a strong performer for the men’s basketball team all season. The fourth-year arts student was an AUS First Team All-Star, CIS Second Team All-Canadian and finished third in the CIS in scoring.

Cole MacMillan, from Stanhope, PEI, is a fifth-year Arts student who plays both varsity soccer and hockey. In men’s soccer, the 5’11” fullback was an AUS First Team All-Star.  In men’s hockey, the forward was key player in the Panthers reaching the playoffs and reaching the AUS semi-finals.
 

On Monday April 11 at 7:30 pm join saxophonist Emily Proude and clarinettist Johanna Vessey for their Junior Recital in the Dr. Steel Recital Hall at UPEI. Pianist Frances McBurnie will collaborate with them as they perform works by Bach, Heiden, Pascal, Messager, Copland,and Semchyshyn. Dr. Richard Covey will also be assisting as a collaborative pianist for one of his own compositions.

Emily and Johanna are both completing their third year in the UPEI Department of Music in Dr. Karem Simon's Woodwind Studio. Both were also two of the top three performers in the 2016 Dr. Frances Gray Performance Competition. Following this academic year, Johanna will be traveling to Saskatoon to participate in the 2016 National Youth Band of Canada, and Emily will be going to Zambia with the Poetice organization.

Admission is free and it is sure to be an evening of exciting music. All are welcome to attend.

The Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI is celebrating National Wildlife Week, April 10-16, 2016!

On Wednesday, April 13, Fiep de Bie, AVC Wildlife Technician, will present “Giving Wings to Wildlife: Wildlife Care at AVC” in Lecture Theatre A at 12:30 pm. Falconer Jamie Stride will bring in two of his raptors and share information on falconry.

Raffle tickets will be available outside Lecture Theatre A from 9 am to 12:30 pm, featuring fabulous wildlife items and artwork (donated by Dr. Spencer Greenwood, Jamie Linthorne, and Jordi Seger). Wildlife cupcakes will also be available for sale. Monies raised will support renovations to the outdoor flight cage.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

The Atlantic Veterinary College's community workshop about pet first aid has been rescheduled to Tuesday, April 26, at 7 p.m., in Lecture Theatre A. The workshop was originally scheduled to take place in March but had to be cancelled due to bad weather. 

Dr. Kathy Ling, AVC Community Practice Clinic, will provide basic information about recognizing and caring for emergencies and injuries in dogs and cats. Topics will include primary assessment, handling an injured pet, bleeding, shock, common toxins, and recognizing signs of pain and distress. 

Admission is free, and everyone is welcome! For information, contact (902) 566-0589.

UPEI students from around the world celebrated the Global Village and Gala on Saturday, April 2 in McMillan Hall of UPEI’s W.A. Murphy Student Centre. Students were encouraged to “discover and experience the world” at an event attended by students from the Caribbean, China, India, Japan, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and elsewhere. The event was hosted by the volunteer Global Village group and the Society of International Students (SIS).

The event featured a scavenger hunt, taking participants to displays and foods from around the world. The evening included performances, including a Lion dance from China, a group dance by students from Nigeria, a fashion show, and musical presentations. Students spoke often during the evening about unity, fellowship, friendship, and the power of students working together to promote peace and harmony.

UPEI’s Senate Committee on the Enhancement of Teaching (SCENT), the Faculty Development Office (FDO), and the UPEI Faculty Association (UPEIFA) have invited Dr. Len Findlay to give a presentation Wednesday, April 27 at 11 am in room 243 of Don and Marion McDougall Hall. Dr. Findlay is a distinguished professor of English at the University of Saskatchewan and a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. His talk is entitled “Pedagogical Authority or Consumer Sovereignty? Academic Freedom and the Academic Mission.”

Dr. Findlay is past head of the academic freedom and tenure committee of Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT). He is a staunch advocate for radical humanities, a strong critic of the contemporary university, and a steadfast defender of academic freedom.

Dr. Findlay’s talk is the culmination of SCENT and FDO’s semester-long focus on academic freedom, pedagogy, and curriculum. 

UPEI is proud to announce that Dr. Colleen MacQuarrie, Associate Professor of Psychology, has been named a Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). Fellows of the CPA are members who have made a distinguished contribution to the advancement of the science or profession of psychology or who have given exceptional service to their national or provincial associations.

“The contributions of Dr. MacQuarrie and her collaborative research, teaching, and service have made tremendous impact in our province, region, and country,” says Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor of UPEI. “The entire UPEI community is proud to see her recognized as a Fellow of the CPA. I congratulate her on this great achievement and thank her for her leadership.”

In her nomination letter to the CPA, Dr. MacQuarrie’s colleague Dr. Annabel Cohen writes: “Dr. Colleen MacQuarrie has had an extraordinary impact in her province, in neighbouring provinces, and beyond, as an educator, researcher, and community advocate, giving voice to those who would otherwise be silent, and improving lives for women and for all. Her impact increases daily through her contribution in feminist research and advocacy as exemplified in her collaborative work and spirit, her co-authored and co-edited books, and roles as conference organizer, mentor, educator, and advisor. This kind of productivity, dedication, scholarship and example merits the honour of the CPA Fellow designation.”

Dr. MacQuarrie received her undergraduate degree from UPEI, her MA from Carleton University, and her PhD from Simon Fraser University. In addition to her teaching and research at UPEI, she has held the position of chair of the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

Her colleague Dr. Philip Smith writes: “Giving voice to these women and finding solutions to their problems became Colleen’s passion and the focus of her research, community involvement, and student mentoring. Her feminist action research program was and continues to be directed to better understanding the multi-determined nature of health and wellness across the lifespan and within diverse community settings.”

“Dr. MacQuarrie has been a tireless and extremely effective advocate for understanding and addressing women's issues, in particular those related to health and wellness,” said Dr. Robert Gilmour, Vice-President Academic and Research. “Her impact has been felt both in the classroom and in the community and has importantly influenced the attitudes of academics, politicians, and the public at large. The University is delighted that her advocacy has been recognized by being named a Fellow of this prestigious organization.”

Dr. MacQuarrie will be officially bestowed her fellowship at a ceremony in June at the opening Plenary Session of the Annual CPA meeting. Later at the conference, Dr. MacQuarrie will deliver an invited address to the Section on Women in Psychology (SWAP), as a consequence of having received its Distinguished Member Award last year. Dr. MacQuarrie has held several positions within SWAP, and becomes chair this summer.

Congratulations, Dr. MacQuarrie!

A team from UPEI’s School of Business took first place at the Saint Mary’s Business Case Competition, held March 4 and 5 at the Sobey School of Business in Halifax. The students had just 18 hours to read, analyze, strategize, and come up with a solution to a business case they had never seen before. Other teams were from Acadia University, Dalhousie University, St. Francis Xavier University, and Saint Mary’s University.

The winning case team was made up of third-year School of Business students Hannah Dawson and Cullen Mullally. Dawson and Mullally presented to a panel of judges, which included representatives from the organization on which the case was based, the Anglican Foundation of Canada.

“Executive director Dr. Judy Rois flew to the competition, giving us the opportunity to directly present our solutions for the Anglican Foundation of Canada and left extremely enthusiastic about our ideas for her foundation moving forward,” said Mullally.

Mullally and Dawson, along with two other team members, competed in September at the Atlantic Schools of Business Case Competition and won first place. They also competed together at Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business Undergraduate Case Competition in February, where they made the final round.

“This has been a phenomenal season for our case team, achieving a top three finish in almost every competition we competed in,” said case coach Mary Whitrow. “It is exciting to cap off the year with another win.”

“Congratulations to Hannah and Cullen on their showing,” said Dr. Juergen Krause, Dean of the UPEI School of Business. “Their results are a testament to the strength of our students and the continuous strengthening of our case competition program here at UPEI.”