"The United Way Fundraiser and Dance on Saturday, February 11 with the School of Optometry's Lost Faculties band was a great success," writes event organizer Marilyn Thom. "Thanks to the uWaterloo Special Initiatives Grant fund which sponsored the cost of THEMUSEUM (including an hour of exploration at the ARENA hockey exhibit), GUSTO catering, and free parking."

The Kitchener-Waterloo United Way will be receiving $3,391.00 from ticket sales, raffle tickets, a $100 donation from VIQUA, a Trojan Technologies Company, and a $500 donation from the Lost Faculties Band.

"The venue was wonderful, the food delicious, the parking handy, the raffle prizes overwhelming, and the band amazing," Thom writes. "A big thanks to the 29 local companies who donated towards raffle prizes." Thom also thanks emcee Marilyn Smith, helpers Morensa Lam, Sammie Hwang, Verna Keller, and Miriam Heynen, photographer Alex Muntz, and Nick Lorentz, whose cake pops "were a hit."

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Waterloo students win innovation challenge

a media release from the Conrad Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology Centre

For the second year in a row, University of Waterloo students from the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology program dominated the RBC Next Great Innovator Challenge, taking home first prize and $20,000 in cash.

Of the five finalist teams this year, Waterloo students championed over impressive competition from Queen’s University and the Rotman School of Management.
The winning idea from Waterloo students focused on mobile banking and the creation of a new platform that will allow young Canadians to set financial goals, seek advice and budget effectively in order to achieve long term financial security.

Since 2006, RBC has issued the challenge to university students across Canada, asking groups to present an innovative concept or idea with commercial potential. Submissions go through qualifying rounds, with the last round involving the finalists pitching to a panel of judges comprised of RBC senior level executives.

“Waterloo lives and breathes innovation,” said Dr. Rod McNaughton, Director of the Conrad Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology Centre at the University of Waterloo. “We’re shaping the next generation of business leaders, and it’s crucial for students to embrace new venture creation and be more entrepreneurial in today’s economy. The RBC challenge provides a great platform for the exploration and development of student ideas, and we are absolutely thrilled to celebrate this win.”

This year’s winning team from Waterloo, named “the Inspirators”, was comprised of Ehsan Daneshgar, Amber Manzoor, John Zupancic, Amro Gushaah, and Xuexia Sophia He. At right, the winning team poses with Morteza Mahjour, Chief Information and Operations Officer, RBC (left) and Avi Pollock, Vice President, Innovation and Strategic Planning, RBC.

Students from the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology program at Waterloo have enjoyed great success in the competition in past years as well. In 2011, three of the five finalist teams in the RBC challenge were MBET teams. In the end, Waterloo’s MBET student teams scored first, second and third place.

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Curator wins Ontario Heritage Award

by Sharon McFarlane, interim Communications Officer, Faculty of Science

Peter Russell (left, the one flashing the smaller set of teeth), curator of the Earth and Environmental Sciences Museum, was named a recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award.

This prestigious annual award recognizes volunteers and communities for outstanding contributions in the identification, preservation and promotion of Ontario’s heritage over a period of 25 years.

“Conserving our heritage is an integral part of preserving the quality of life we enjoy here in Ontario,” said the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. “I’m delighted to recognize these volunteers and communities for their outstanding achievements.”

In addition to helping found the museum, Peter also volunteers his time teaching and introducing children to the wonders of the geological exhibits in the museum and at the Waterloo Wellington Children’s Groundwater Festival. He has written several books on related topics and founded the stunning rock garden here on campus. Most recently Peter has been instrumental in the creation of the simulated mining tunnel which connects Biology 1 and EIT.

Russell was nominated by the Region of Waterloo, which was also awarded a Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award in the Community Leadership category.

The Lieutenant Governor presented the awards to the Peter and 14 other recipients at an awards ceremony at Queen’s Park on Friday, February 24.

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Mid-Cycle update tomorrow; other notes

The Mid-Cycle Review Campus Update event is set for tomorrow, February 29, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Humanities Theatre in Hagey Hall. A live webcast of the event will be available online and those who choose to participate in the event via webcast can send their questions to midcyclereview @uwaterloo.ca. The session will also be available for live viewing on screen in the Student Life Centre's Great Hall.

Feridun Hamdullahpur will be joining Conestoga College president John Tibbits, University of Guelph President Alastair Summerlee, James Milway, Executive Director, the Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity, and the Honourable Glen Murray, Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities at a panel discussion in Toronto this morning at the 2012 Ontario Good Roads Association (OGRA) and The Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Combined Conference being held at the Fairmont Royal York. The title of the discussion is "Academic Potential 101: Partnering Ontario Communities with Institutions of Higher Learning."

For the third year running, the UW Management Consulting Club is hosting its annual Management Consulting Case Competition, a business case competition that will be taking place on Saturday, March 10, with a cash prize of $240 up for grabs. The competition will be judged by industry professionals from top global management consulting firms such as Deloitte Consulting, IBM Global Business Services, McKinsey and Company, and ZS Associates. To enter, first register as a club member for the term and pay the $15 fee, and then register for the competition as an individual or as a member of a team of 3 or 4 people by Friday, March 2 at 11:59 p.m. A case competition prep session has been scheduled for next Tuesday night. More details are online.

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