Devon Rizzo tees up for Canada

by Carol Truemner

Although she was given a set of golf clubs by her father when she was five, Devon Rizzo admits it took her some time to warm up to the sport.

“I hated the game when I was little,” says Rizzo, a fourth-year management engineering student who grew up in Brantford.  “In beginning it was really frustrating and it took me a long time to actually like playing.”

Now, she not only enjoys golf, she’s competing as part of Team Canada at the 2014 World University Golf Championship taking place in Crans-Montana, Switzerland from June 23 to 27.

Rizzo has been called nothing short of spectacular since she joined the University of Waterloo’s golf team in 2010. In her first season, Rizzo collected three OUA individual gold medals in just five events. This past season, she medalled in six of seven events, and was named an OUA all-star for the fourth straight year. Her lengthy list of prestigious awards includes this year’s Marsden Trophy as the Warrior’s woman athlete of the year.

“Playing golf at Waterloo has given me so many different experiences that I might not otherwise have had the chance to go through anywhere else,” says Rizzo, the captain of the Warrior’s women’s golf team.

Named for the third time to the five-member Team Canada for the Canadian Interuniversity Sport International Program, Rizzo is looking forward to teeing up in Switzerland, an experience she expects will be amazing.

Using engineering skills on the golf course

For Rizzo, golf and Waterloo’s management engineering program have something in common: they’re both challenging.

“The program teaches you how to think and solve problems – skills that are definitely applicable on the golf course.”

Although competing in the World University Golf Championship means time away from the classroom, Rizzo’s classmates and professors are not only supportive, they’re excited about her being part of Team Canada.

“I’ll probably send out some tweets to let everyone know how I’m doing,” she laughs.

 

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Keystone Profile: Joanne M. Stewart

by Karina Graf.

Joanne M. Stewart’s connection to the University goes back to the 1970s, when her mother Margaret worked in what was then known as the Engineering Society’s Coffee & Doughnut Shop (today it’s simply the C&D).

“Twelve years into her career at Waterloo, my mother became quite ill,” says Joanne, who today works as a Development Officer in the Office of Advancement. “I recall how supportive the students were—visiting her and bringing ‘get well soon” cards. It was so special for her, and for me, to see the University community rally around her like that.”

Now as a Waterloo staff member herself, Joanne sees that same culture of support echoed across campus with services such as AccessAbility, which supports students who have mobility challenges. It’s an area that holds special significance for Joanne as she has a legally blind grandson who also has cerebral palsy.

The kindness of the University community and the important work of AccessAbility Services led Joanne and her husband Gary to make a planned gift to Waterloo. “It’s a wonderful way to make a large impact,” she explains. “And with the tax breaks available through a planned gift, Gary and I can leave a legacy without taking away from what we want to leave our own children. It’s easy to do; you don’t have to be a millionaire to do it.”

When she’s not meeting alumni and supporters for her role as Development Officer at UWaterloo, you might find Joanne advocating for the advancement of women at the Zonta Club, mentoring Fair Ambassadors as her role on the Wellesley North Easthope Fall Fair Board of Directors, or helping fund-raise for her Church. Alongside her husband Gary Stewart – who is also involved with the Church, as well as Scottish Rite, Freemasonry, and International Shriners – Joanne works tirelessly to help the community. 

Learn how you can make a planned gift to Waterloo, or how Waterloo faculty, staff and retirees can support the University through the Keystone Campaign.

 

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Immigration and visa manager joins campus

by Kayla Dixon.

Waterloo International is pleased to announce that Yanick Charbonneau has been appointed as the Manager of Immigration & Visa Support Services for the University of Waterloo.

Charbonneau was born in Montreal, Québec and comes to us from Robinson Sheppard Shapiro law firm. He holds an undergraduate degree and LL.B in business immigration law, both from the University of Montreal. Charbonneau has lived in Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and China and takes great satisfaction in developing a networking system in the social and business spheres with citizens of these economically booming regions of the Globe. Yanick is also an active member of the law community, contributing to interviews which were published in the Journal du Barreau and the Journal le Devoir. Yanick has worked as legal counsel before the Québec Court - Small Claims Division, and several community groups such as the Center of Research Action on Race Relations. He has also assisted on a pro bono basis, as a legal aid counsel in business law and in civil law.

Here at the University, Yanick will be responsible for university-wide operational oversight of all immigration and visa support services, including overall strategy, planning, management, and control of all related functions as well as training and coaching of associated administrative staff. Yanick plays a critical role in maintaining the University of Waterloo’s ability to recruit and retain international faculty, staff and students, and safeguarding the university’s international reputation.

We are pleased to have Yanick join the Waterloo community.

 

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Retirement, resources, and other notes

The Engineering Graduate Studies Office will be holding a retirement celebration for Susan Spaetzel on Wednesday, June 25 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in DC 1301. All are welcome.

Community Relations & Events has launched a comprehensive online resource guide for event planners at the University. Please visit the resource online.

This year's month-long Shad Valley program starts on Sunday, June 29 with the arrival of 52 high school students from across Canada, one from Hong Kong, and one from the US.

"Waterloo was the first university campus to host this award-winning program in 1983 and remains the flagship program for the host campuses across Canada,” says Ed Jernigan, Shad Waterloo program director, and director of the Centre for Knowledge Integration, who will be living in residence at Conrad Grebel University College with the Shads, for the 29th summer.

Shad Valley is an enrichment program for teenagers with strong interests and potential in sciences, technology, engineering and entrepreneurship and involves as many as 600 high school students each summer. The first week of July will bring the design thinking workshop, after which small groups will work on a design project, including creating a working prototype. Lectures and workshops offered by faculty from across campus, and from interested companies, are also part of the month's agenda.

The Shads will hold a public open house to show off their achievements on Thursday afternoon, July 24, in the great hall at Conrad Grebel University College.

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