Arts takes the stage at today's convocation

Convocation continues today with two ceremonies for the Faculty of Arts as 1,364 degrees are awarded.

Addressing convocation at the morning ceremony, which starts at 10:00 a.m., will be Tom Jenkins, executive chairman of OpenText, who is receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws. Jenkins joined OpenText, Canada's largest software company, in 1994 after playing a major role in several Canadian technology start-ups. He co-founded the Canada 3.0 forum, chairs the board of the Canadian Digital Media Network, and was one of the first champions and donors for the University of Waterloo Stratford Campus.

Sasha Lee Henry, who completed a BA in Speech Communication, will deliver the valedictory address.

Wendy Mitchinson, Canada Research Chair in Gender and Medical History in the Department of History, will receive the Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision.

In the afternoon ceremony, which starts at 2:30 p.m., John McKnight, who has achieved worldwide acclaim as a community organizer, will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters. McKnight is the founder of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute at Northwestern University, and has a formidable track record for research and community activities related to neighbourhoods, marginalized populations, and community mobilization.

The valedictory address will be delivered by Lina Sinan, who completed a BA in Honours Psychology, Arts and Business Co-op.

Richard Ennis of the Department of Psychology will be given a Distinguished Teacher Award.

Muneeba Omar (BA '05, Honours Political Science) is the recipient of the 2013 Faculty of Arts Young Alumni Award. The award is given to young Arts alumni (those who have graduated within the last decade) who have made outstanding contributions to their professional field and in community or public service. Omar (right) is a multiple Queen Elizabeth II Aiming for the Top Scholarship winner who started her career in Pakistan as a current affairs columnist with a leading English newspaper, returning to Canada to pursue an MA in International Affairs at Carleton University, graduating in 2008. After holding several government positions as a policy analyst and economist, she now works as an economic development officer with the Federal Economic Development Agency of Southern Ontario.

Daniel Brady will receive the University of Waterloo Alumni Gold Medal for outstanding academic achievement.

Siobhan Torrie will receive the Governor General's Silver Medal for highest standing in an undergraduate degree program.

The Reginald Haney Award for outstanding academic achievement in the Legal Studies Program will be given to Marco Yim.

The winners of the departmental awards for distinguished academic achievement are:

• Accounting and Financial Management Studies – Jenny Wing Yan Wong
• Anthropology – Craig Michael McNeill
  
• Classical Studies – Brett Bartlett
  
• Drama – Adèle Gillian Carmen Robert
• Economics – Lu Liang
  
• English Language and Literature – Amanda Jean Ross
  
• Fine Arts – Tiffany Dawn Fehr
  
• French Studies – Evana Delay
  
• Germanic & Slavic Studies – Fabienne Hargreaves
  
• History – Taylor Alexandra Currie
  
• Independent Studies – Tatiana Lynn Faith Emanuel
  
• Legal Studies – Marco Yim
  
• Medieval Studies – Kelly Victoria Leffler
  
• Music – Katharine Jenny Honek (Fall 2012)
  
• Peace and Conflict Studies – Nadine Janelle Hiemstra
  
• Philosophy – Michael Charles Kelly
  
• Political Science – John Zelenbaba (Fall 2012)
  
• Psychology – Siobhan Torrie
  
• Religious Studies – Stefania Pallotta (Fall 2012)
  
• Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies – Carolyn Baran
  
• Social Development Studies – Joscelyn Guindon (Fall 2012)
  
• Sociology – Lindsay Patricia Hicks
  
• Spanish and Latin American Studies – Mehrnoush Mohammadi
  
• Speech Communication – Helena Marie Foulds
  
• Women’s Studies – Marianne Wylie (Fall 2012)

Also today, Lisa Birke of Fine Arts will receive the Outstanding Achievement in Graduate Studies (Master's) award, and Grayden Solman of Psychology will receive the doctoral achievement award.

 

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Co-op Career Achievement award for staff

by Shannon Tigert, Co-operative Education and Career Action.

The 2013 Education at Work Ontario (EWO) Co-op Career Achievement Award has been awarded to Kirk Patterson (Business Developer, Co-operative Education and Career Action). Patterson has been a member of EWO and the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE) for over 25 years, and has dedicated his career to furthering the success of co-operative education programs in Ontario.

Education at Work Ontario strives to promote and foster co-operative education of the highest quality, while ensuring an integral partnership between students, employers and post-secondary educational institutions. EWO has a membership of over 180 co-op educators, working with more than 40,000 co-op students, at 37 colleges and universities.  Their mission is to advocate and facilitate co-operative education as an essential component of post-secondary education, while providing quality service and support to its stakeholders.

During his time with CAFCE and EWO, Patterson served as President of the organizations (CAFCE: 2004-2005; EWO: 1999-2000, 2012-2013).  He also chaired many successful conferences, served on committees, and attended retreats and conferences. After spending 25 years with Fanshawe College’s Co-operative Education department, Patterson joined the University of Waterloo in 2008 as a field co-ordinator and is currently working at CECA as a Business Developer. 

Always passionate and dedicated to helping students, Patterson has focused on developing relevant jobs for students in Ontario, as well as across Canada and worldwide.  Ross Johnston, (Director Employment Relations, CECA) notes: “The co-op world is a better place for Kirk Patterson having chosen to work within our industry back in 1983.”  Many students that Patterson supported have gone on to become employers hiring co-ops, truly bringing co-operative education full circle. 

He was told he was going to be presenting an award, but at the ceremony Patterson was honoured with the Career Achievement Award.  “I was shocked.  I just couldn’t believe that I was getting this award.  There’s still so much more for me to do, especially for Waterloo, at this point in my career.  To me, it’s giving back to co-op.”

Since starting at Waterloo, Patterson has continuously shown how much he does for co-operative education.  Scott Davis (Faculty Relations Manager, CECA) appreciates his hard work: “Kirk is a source of inspiration for new co-op staff.  He’s a true believer in the power of collegiality and collaboration.”

For Patterson, the most rewarding aspect of working in co-operative education “has always been seeing the success of the students and knowing that there are employers out there for them.  All employers can benefit from having a co-op student.”

 

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Wednesday's notes

Lifetouch Photography is taking convocation photos in the Student Life Centre during convocation week. Graduands can sign up on the spot for photos.

The Federation of Students is inviting students, faculty, and staff to join the uWaterloo marching contingent at the 2013 Toronto Pride parade. Tickets (for bus transportation to and from the event) for participants and spectators wishing to enjoy the parade from the audience are available online, at the Federation of Students' front desk, and at the Engineering Society office while supplies last.

 

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