In the pink of condition: The Faculty of Mathematics held its annual Pink Tie Ceremony Wednesday, where first-year mathematics students receive their pink ties, as part of Orientation Week. The ceremony is marked by a procession of faculty, including the Dean, Ian Goulden (above centre), through the crowd of students to a stage where the ceremony takes place. Resplendent in the Faculty colours from head to toe, the Dean is.

I give the Dean's costume three out of four Peltons.

Photograph provided by Alison Zolian.

 

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Students awarded Schulich Leader Scholarships

Two incoming first-year students at the University of Waterloo are recipients of the Schulich Leader Scholarships worth $80,000 and $60,000 each.

Amanda Rampertab from Oakville, Ontario won the award worth $80,000 for a student pursuing a degree in an engineering program. A graduate of Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School, Rampertab will be entering mechatronics engineering this fall. She was selected on the basis of her outstanding admission average of 95.2 per cent, and her demonstrated leadership in school life and within the community.

“I selected Waterloo because of its awesome co-op program,” said Rampertab, whose brother is also an engineering student at Waterloo. “I became interested in engineering after participating in robotics challenges in high school, but chose Waterloo engineering when I saw the great co-op jobs my brother and his friends had. I appreciate the options and opportunities this scholarship provides to me.”

Emily Pass, from Charlottetown Rural High School in Charlottetown, PEI won an award worth $60,000 for students pursuing a degree in a science, technology or mathematics program. She enrolled in physics and astronomy, with a co-op option. She is receiving the scholarship based on her outstanding admission average of 98.5 per cent, her demonstrated leadership in school life and her strong interest and talent in entrepreneurship.

“I was in Junior Achievement and helped to found a decal-making business, so Waterloo's reputation for innovation and entrepreneurship definitely gave the school an even greater appeal in my eyes,” said Pass. “Winning this scholarship means the freedom to explore and learn and be where I choose to be–an opportunity for which I am incredibly grateful.”

Seymour Schulich, Canadian business leader and philanthropist, created the scholarship program three years ago, which encourages high school graduates to embrace science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines in their future careers. Scholarship winners are known as Schulich Leaders and this year there were 40 selected from 1,147 nominees.

“Fostering leadership in STEM fields is vital to Canada’s economic prosperity,” said Seymour Schulich. “A scholarship of this size will motivate high school students from across the country to pursue their dream and in the process help to ensure our country’s competitive position. This scholarship, now in its third year, has positively impacted 120 students from across the country in 10 provinces distributing more than $7.6 million to Canadian Schulich Leaders since 2012.”

Open to every high school, secondary school and CEGEP across Canada, Schulich Leader Scholarships recognize Canadian students who plan to study one of the STEM disciplines during their undergraduate years at university.  These students demonstrate two of the following attributes: academic excellence, outstanding community, business or entrepreneurial leadership or financial need.

 

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Students answer the question #WhyWaterloo?

This is the latest in a series of #UWCommunity weekly features that highlight Waterloo in the community.

Each year over 31,000 students attend the University of Waterloo and call Waterloo Region their home.

On September 3, as part of Orientation week, Waterloo's Student Success Office and the Federation of Students planned an evening of fun and activities out in our community called World of Waterloo.

World of Waterloo offered new students an opportunity to get off campus and into the community experiencing all the great things that our community has to offer. As part of these activities students participated in a temporary public art project co-hosted by Button Factory Arts, the City of Waterloo and the University of Waterloo which showcased the impact of students on our community.

Participants were asked to complete tags which answered the question Why Waterloo?. President Feridun Hamdullahpur got things started and throughout the night students and members of the community completed tags and hung them on trees in Public Square.

Check out our Storify for a complete recap of the evenings activities.

 

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Black and Gold Day tomorrow

Black and Gold Day takes place on Saturday, September 6 as the Waterloo Warriors football team squares off against McMaster University.

It will be the Warriors' second game of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Warrior Field.

There will be a pre-game carnival taking place on the CIF fields starting at 10:00 a.m. for all faculties, and the usual orientation leader dance will happen at half time. The ceremonial kickoff will feature Federation of Students President Danielle Burt, with the game ball being delivered by Swoop Skydivers.

As part of the event, Athletics is running a #MyWarriorSelfie photo competition. Unleash your inner Warrior, strike a pose and upload your selfie to the usual places (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook) and tag @wloowarriors to score some black and gold swag. Among their tips for producing a winning photo? No duck face.

Tickets to Black and Gold Day are available online.

 

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Ring Road closed next week near PAC

Construction work in the Physical Activities Complex's laneway will force a rare closure of the Ring Road next Wednesday, weather permitting.

Work in the laneway will begin on Tuesday, September 9 and continue for approximately two weeks, which means there will be no access for motorcycle parking or service spots. Pedestrian access will not be affected.

However, on Wednesday, September 10, the portion of the Ring Road at the PAC laneway will be closed in both directions as a new storm sewer line is connected. Vehicles will need to turn around in the Village residence driveway, or if coming in the opposite direction, the main PAC entrance while the work is carried out. Signs have been posted notifying drivers of the closure.

Other upcoming closures include Parking Lot M, which will be closed from Monday, September 15 to Friday, October 24 for underground service work. Mobilization work on the construction site for an expansion in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences in a portion of M lot will begin on Monday, September 8. The existing entrance to the parking lot will be closed. A new entrance to the parking lot will be constructed.

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PAC Pool update, Orientation wraps

The pool in the Physical Activities Complex is back in action after being out of commission this week due to some emergency maintenance. Its regular schedule has resumed, and Athletics thanks everyone for their patience.

Orientation will conclude this weekend. Events include:

• Applied Health Sciences, AHS Olympics at 7:00 p.m.;
• Arts, Arts Award ceremony in the ML Theatre at 7:00 p.m., and A Night Under the Stars on the Arts Quad starting at 8:30 p.m.
• Environment, Environment Goes Wild at 7:00 p.m. on the St. Paul's Green, bonfire at 10:00 p.m.;
• Engineering, scavenger hunt at 7:00 p.m.;
• Mathematics, scavenger hunt at 7:00 p.m.;
• Science, Gogglepalooza, 7:00 p.m., Science Night Life at 8:30 p.m.

Update: Orientation is reporting that all outdoor events have been "cancelled for now" due to inclement weather.

Various Saturday night events will be happening across campus.

 

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