Ontario University Fair a "tremendous success"

The 2014 Ontario Universities’ Fair took place last weekend and by all accounts it was a tremendous success.

"It was truly a team effort to bring it all together and the result was fantastic," writes Jody Berringer of Marketing and Undergraduate Recruitment. "As a group we were able to show prospective students why Waterloo is an amazing choice."

That group, according to Berringer, included more than 600 volunteers drawn from Waterloo's students, faculty and staff who represented the University at the fair. "On average we had 210 Waterloo staff, faculty and students working at any one time," writes Berringer.

The centrepiece of the recruitment efforts was the famous Waterloo booth, which continues to impress visitors. This year, however, a new and improved presentation room (pictured above) wowed visitors and representatives from other institutions alike.

"It stood out from the competition and really kept the audience's attention," Berringer writes.

In terms of numbers, total attendance at the OUF was up this year, increasing to 129,709 from 121,091 in 2013.

Waterloo volunteers collected 4,310 leads, up 57 per cent from 2013's total of 2,740. Most of those came from the revamped presentation room (3,047) and the rest came from tablets in the booth (1,263).

A total of 5,246 people visited the Waterloo booth over the course of the three days, up 14 per cent from 2013.

A collage of photos from the OUF is online.

Photograph by Amy Meredith.

 

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Top student athletes honoured

by Dan Ackerman.

On Monday, September 22, the Office of the President recognized the 2013-14 Warrior student-athletes who are on the academic honour roll. This award is handed out to those students who have maintained an average of 80% and higher while competing for an interuniversity sport. The University of Waterloo annually enjoys one of the highest percentages of academic all-Canadian student-athletes in the country.

This year, 189 student-athletes were honoured for their accomplishment which makes up 34% of the student-athlete population at UWaterloo. Consistently, UWaterloo student-athletes have demonstrated an excellence both in the classroom and on the playing field and it is something to be proud of.

"Within a department and campus culture that stresses the importance of academic excellence, it is great to see the academic success of our student-athletes being celebrated," says Athletic Director Roly Webster. "It is amazing to see our student-athletes model the importance of wellness that contributes to the vibrant student experience inside and outside of the classroom that we want all of our students to experience."

The proud student-athletes received their awards in front of their fellow teammates, influential professors, coaches, and distinguished individuals at the University of Waterloo.

Four student-athletes were recognized this year as the top academic achievers in the classroom. These students include Jason Elzinga (Men's Volleyball), Adam Neale (Men's Track and Field), Alexandra McDonald (Figure Skating), and Halyna Tepylo (Women's Curling).

Jason Elzinga is a fourth year Kinesiology student now playing in his fourth season with the men's volleyball team who has enjoyed tremendous success on and off the court. Elzinga reached the top grade of all athletes with a 95.4% average and will be looking to lead the Warriors to their four straight OUA final four.

Adam Neale is a fourth year Electrical Engineering PhD candidate who is an integral part of the Warriors track and field team. Adam has been a strong contributor both in competition, as well as in the classroom, posting a 95% average. Adam will be looking to lead the Warriors into their season kicking off in November.

From the women's side, Alexandra McDonald, a second year Mathematics student representing the figure skating team, has shown poise both at the rink and in her academics. Alexandra surpassed a 93% average while representing the Warriors. Alexandra will continue to represent the Warriors for her second season this coming winter.

Joining Alexandra was Halyna Tepylo, the masters recreation and leisure standout who acted as the skip for the women's curling team. Halyna boasted an impressive 90.1% average while completing her graduate degree. Alexandra hopes to lead their team to an OUA championship this winter.

See the complete list of honour roll students.

 

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Going Northwest the roundabout way

Construction has begun on a roundabout on Westmount Road that will provide access to the University's Northwest Campus.

The roundabout will link to a road known in the north campus development plan as "Street B", and is located between Columbia Street and Bearinger Road.

The portion of Street B that cuts across the Northwest Campus (the thick red dotted line in the image to the right) has been officially named a continuation of Laurelwood Drive, and future street signs will refer to it as such.

Construction of this roundabout is one of the first stages of new development in this area. The roundabout will provide access to the Northwest Campus on the west side and new City of Waterloo sports fields on the east side.

The City of Waterloo leased land from the University to construct three fields and amenities on a portion of land that borders Laurel Creek as part of a proposal first inked in 2006 that included the construction of the Harper Public Library and YMCA. The Region of Waterloo is footing the bill for the roundabout construction.

The Northwest Campus Development Design Guidelines, last approved in October 2012, envisioned that Street B would connect to the Laurelwood neighbourhood to the west by way of the Stork Family YMCA/Harper Library, and make connections eastward to the R+T Park. The extended Laurelwood Drive will function as the Northwest Campus's main street, linking the adjacent neighbourhoods.

"Multi-use trails will be provided along both sides to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists, and it is anticipated that this street will be a transit route," says the guideline document.

The roundabout's construction will be completed this fall.

 

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Fun Run traffic disruptions and other notes

Grand River Transit, GO Transit, and Greyhound bus pick-up locations will be altered on Saturday, September 27 for the annual AHS Fun Run, which is being held as part of Reunion 2014.

Beginning at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, all traffic around Ring Road will be routed to the outer lane only until approximately 12:00 noon. Police and Parking Services will be managing traffic during this time.

• Greyhound will be picking up in front of Parking Lot R for their 9:00 a.m. and noontime departures.
• GO Transit will be picking up on the iXpress stop across the street from its regular pick-up location for the following morning departures: 6:50 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 8:35 a.m., 8:45 a.m., 9:35 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 10:35 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11:35 a.m.,. and 11:45 a.m.
• Grand River Transit has been notified of the change to ring road and will adapt their pick-ups accordingly.

If anyone has questions about the transportation diversions, please contact Alumni Advancement Officer Mari-Beth Davis by email or at extension 32610.

Former Waterloo president and current Governor General of Canada the Right Honourable David Johnston was in town this week to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation and to hand out 13 Caring Canadian Awards to local community-builders that included former Vice-President, University Relations Tim Jackson.

Tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Conrad Grebel University College's Great Hall, Lisa Schirch will deliver a public lecture entitled "Celebrating International Day of Peace: Taking Peace to the Pentagon." More details are available online.

While we're on the subject of public lectures, today is also the date of the David Sprott Distinguished Lecture featuring Eduardo Schwartz of the UCLA School of Management. The lecture is entitled "The Real Options Approach to Valuation: Challenges and Opportunities" and the lecture takes place at 2:30 p.m. in MC 4061. More details are available online.

Be sure to stop by the Office of Research for its annual United Way Bake Sale this morning in NH 1043. It runs until 2:30 p.m., or until the supply of tasty treats runs out.

 

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