Daily Bulletin

Heckman legacy supports students

After his death in March, 1997, his family and friends decided to continue his work with the establishment of the Gerry Heckman Scholarship Fund in Electrical and Computer Engineering. "I had a feeling that Gerry was guiding me toward Waterloo," said his wife, Terri, in considering where to establish the $90,000 endowment fund. "Gerry was always enthusiastic about his association with Waterloo."

Initiated by Mrs. Heckman, her daughter, Heidi, and members of the Canadian Business Telecommunications Alliance, the fund will generate interest to provide scholarships of $3,000 or more to be "presented annually to outstanding undergraduate students in the fourth year of UW's Electrical and Computer Engineering program who have demonstrated academic excellence in the area of telecommunications and/or computer enabling technology," reports Insights, a publication of UW development and alumni affairs.

Since the fund had not yet generated income for the awards when it was set up last year, Mrs. Heckman made an additional gift of $9,000 to provide the first three scholarships in November, 1998. "It's very important to me that the awards start this year," she explained. "I believe, as Gerry did, that helping students is a good way to invest in the future of Canada." Recipients were Glenn Cowan, Hung Yiu Michael Chan and Marshall Haching Ho.

Notes Insights,"These new awards target an urgent need on the Waterloo campus for permanent endowment resources which will support student awards now and in the years to come. This is especially important as tuition fees continue to rise, and enrolments are being increased to meet the demand for highly-trained graduates in mathematics, computing, science, and engineering."

Bake sale helps fund field trip

The class of nine students and a chaperone, led by instructor Larry Lamb may be arriving just in time for Mardi Gras, but they'll be bypassing the festivities in favour of forays into local parks, cemeteries, bayous and an egret colony as part of their environmental explorations. Topics selected for research papers required for the half-credit course include ethnobotany, the influence of geography and culture on the development of jazz, global warming and the sinking of New Orleans, and the impact of invasive plant species on the natural environment.

In addition to beginning their research in preparation for the field trip, students are conducting a marathon of fund raising events to help pay for the adventure -- just over $5,000 in total. That includes rental of a UW van and accommodation, with meals the responsibility of each student. Besides the bake and garage sale which runs today and tomorrow, students are conducting a birdathon, with sponsors pledging on a per-species basis for sightings during the trip. A raffle of prizes donated by a "wide range of generous donors" in the community is underway, and a coffee house recently raised $480.

A highlight of the two-day bake and garage sale -- in addition to Lamb's famous rum cakes and pecan pies -- will be the silent auction of one of photographer Robert McNair's prints, 'Grand River, Winter near Doon". The framed black and white print will be on display near the main entrance on the second floor just outside the ES1 courtyard, with the auction starting today and running until Wednesday afternoon.

Notes on "the great one's" birthday

Unless skilled at eating with your eyes closed, those attending a seminar on relaxation today at noon are advised to nosh before or after the presentation. Wendy Hatch from counselling services will speak on "Exploring the Art of Relaxation: Developing relaxation skills through muscle relaxation and guided imagery" from 12 to 1 p.m. in Hagey Hall room 373. The event is sponsored by the Women's Association of UW. All are welcome.

Gardening with First Nations communities is the topic of a talk today from 12:15 to 1 p.m. in the blue room, Conrad Grebel College cafeteria. Hosted by the peace and conflict studies program, the event will feature Rick Cober Baumann speaking about the MCC's summer gardening project, and PACS student Jennie Krueger showing slides of her gardening internship in British Columbia.

The co-op department will hold a workshop on Interview Skills: Preparing for Questions this morning from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Co-op 101 career development seminars from 1:30 to 3:30 today in EL 101 will examine "Critical Incidents in the Workplace and Workplace Safety: Know the Issues."

Graduate students who don't want to pay the $10 Grad House fee can get a rebate this week from today through Thursday, between 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. at the Grad House. To obtain the refund, students will need to show their Winter 99 fee statement and Watcard. The money raised from the fee is being used "for much needed capital and operation improvements at the Grad House," reports Daniel Piche, vice president of operations for the GSA. This is the last installment of the Grad House fee, he adds, and urges "all members to help us support the Grad House, and to consider their choice very carefully before reclaiming the fee."

For graduate students with legal questions, the GSA is sponsoring a legal aid clinic on Friday, starting at 1 p.m. For an appointment, contact Bob Sproule at ext 3634.

Today is the deadline to register for The Quest -- Havenger Scunt Winter '99. "Do you possess the true heart and spirit of a warrior? Are you brave and courageous and noble? If you answered yes to these questions, take on The Quest," advises the 2A systems design class, hosts of the "24-hour marathon of wits, skills, knowledge and fun" which takes place this weekend, starting at 1:30 p.m. Friday. The theme of the event is King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. It includes a road trip, on-campus events, games, an acquisitions list and ingenuity contests, and is open to students from all faculties for a fee of $50 per team or $5 per person. For more information, email alaw@engmail.

Some delays may be in store for those requesting services from the registrar's office today, which is internal moving day. The office "apologizes for any inconvenience and interruption of services this may cause."

Name that eatery and win a $100 Watcard deposit, compliments of food services. The contest celebrates the official grand opening of the new improved Village 1 eatery on February 5, with the ribbon cutting ceremony slated for 12:15 p.m. To enter the name contest -- open to students, staff and faculty -- visit the food services Village 1 name contest web site, or email an entry to Joanne Buchholzer at jbuchhol@mc1adm.uwaterloo.ca. The contest closes January 31.

Barbara Elve
bmelve@uwaterloo.ca

Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
credmond@uwaterloo.ca | (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
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