Students sweep national case competition

by Christine Bezruki.

Three student teams from Waterloo’s School of Public Health and Health Systems (SPHHS) beat out 26 other teams from across the country to claim the top spots at the Canadian Evaluation Society’s student case competition at last week’s annual conference in Toronto.

Waterloo teams, taught and coached by Professor Anita Myers from SPHHS, together with Mark Seasons with the Faculty of Environment, have won this competition in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2008 and 2012. However, this marks the first time in history that all three finalist teams were from the same university. This year, Jennifer Yessis, now a scientist with the Propel Centre for Population Impact and herself a Waterloo grad and a member of the winning case competition team in 2000, assisted with coaching the teams. 

Held annually, the competition helps students build skills in evaluating public policies and programs using real examples from public sector. This year, the teams had five hours to respond to a request for proposals issued by the City of Vancouver on how best to evaluate the Vancouver Bikeshare Program.

They then had 20 minutes to present before a live audience to a panel of judges who in turn awarded the contract to the winning team.   

“You only have five hours, where a consulting firm in the real world would have weeks to respond,” said Sarah Sousa, a member of the Synergy Group.

According to Professor Anita Myers, who is a Fellow of the Canadian Evaluation Society and a member   of the Credentialing Board, “The success of our students is a testament of the ability of the SPHHS to train leaders of tomorrow. The competition is a great teaching tool, as well as way to showcase our students and connect them with the leaders in the field and potential employers.”

Nathan Honsberger, a member of the winning group, MTEvaluators, agrees: “It’s not only a a great way to further your knowledge of evaluation practices, but also to get your resume on file at major consulting firms and meet leaders in the field.”  

Pictured above is the winning team, MTEvaluators: (l-r) Wendy Rowe (Vice President of CES), Jennifer Yessis (assistant coach), Beverly Hoekstra, Nathan Honsberger, Corrie Vincent, Anita Myers (head coach), and Bea Courtney (from Goss Gilroy Inc.).

Speaking of the experience Jasmin Bhawra, a member of the Evaluation in Motion team said, “The case competition was an amazing opportunity. A year ago I didn’t even know what evaluation was, and now it is something that I really hope to practice after completing my Master’s.”

The Canadian Evaluation Society is a non-profit, bilingual association dedicated to the advancement of evaluation theory and practice. The work of the society, including training and credentialing, highlights the increasing demand for results and accountability in public policy and programs across the country.

 

Back to top

Volunteers needed for contact lens studies

A message from the Centre for Contact Lense Research (CCLR).

The Centre for Contact Lens Research at the School of Optometry and Vision Science is seeking people to participate in a variety of studies:

• Children (ages 8-12) who are currently wearing glasses for the correction of myopia (need help seeing far) and who want to try contact lenses;
• Current contact lens wearers 17+ with contact lens discomfort;
• Current spectacle wearers ages 18-38; and
• People who wear toric contact lenses (for astigmatism)
  
  

Participants receive $20 per hour for their time commitment.

If you are interested in participating, please call for more details or to book your appointment at 519-888-4742. You will be provided with all relevant study information prior to study enrollment and you are under no obligation to participate.

All studies conducted at the CCLR have been reviewed and received ethics clearance through the University of Waterloo Office of Research Ethics. If you have any questions or concerns resulting from your participation in this study, please contact Dr. Maureen Nummelin (ORE), at 519-888-4567, ext. 36005.

 

Back to top

Conrad students showcase innovations

The Conrad Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology Centre is hosting an innovation showcase today that will feature students presenting new and emerging technologies as they give the campus community a preview of their start-ups.

Students from the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology and the Enterprise Co-op programs will be showcasing their companies and participating in a pitch competition for a chance to win $500, $1,000 and $1,500 prizes.

The event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Student Life Centre. Pitches begin at 11:00 a.m.

 

Back to top

Feds Used Books sidewalk sale next week

by Jacqueline Martinz, Federation of Students.

Whether you’re hoping to find a classic novel to read this summer, or acquire a cheap copy of the textbook for your upcoming class, Feds Used Books is the place to go shopping.

From Monday, June 24 to Wednesday, June 26, Feds Used Books will be holding a sidewalk sale from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Student Life Centre’s Vendor Alley. A variety of books will be available for one to two dollars. Only cash will be accepted and no tax will apply. Feds Used Books is operated by the Federation of Students.

More information about its products and hours is available online.

 

Back to top

National Aboriginal Day and other notes

Today is National Aboriginal Day in Canada, and among the celebrations is a special luncheon hosted at the Waterloo Aboriginal Education Centre (WAEC) at St. Paul's University College. Traditional food including bannock, venison roast and Three Sisters Soup will be served, and there will be a drumming demonstration, raffles, and giveaways. The event take place from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Up the street at Wilfrid Laurier University's Aboriginal Student Centre, the opening of an Aboriginal Community Garden will be celebrated from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Events are also taking place at WLU's Brantford campus, and on Saturday in Kitchener at the KW Multicultural Festival.

Summer has arrived, and International Student Connection wants you to enjoy the sunshine while canoeing on the Grand River. The trip will occur on June 29 and no previous canoeing experience is required. The price for uWaterloo students is $35 and this covers transportation to and from the canoe site, the canoe, paddles, safety gear, lessons and an all you can eat BBQ lunch. The International Student Connection is a program by the Federation of Students. More information about the trip is available online.

And finally, a reminder that electrical power to the 6th floor of the Math & Computer Building will be shut off from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. tomorrow as renovations continue. Plant Operations notes that computer equipment, particularly UNIX systems, should be shut down in an orderly fashion by end of day today.

 

Back to top