In This Issue
Student Oxford-Bound With Commonwealth Scholarship
CBS student credits U of G profs, classes for interests in research, medicine
BY REBECCA KENDALL
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| Student Adam Lewandowski ranks highly in academics, running and volunteering, on and off campus. Photo by Rebecca Kendall |
When he was six, fourth-year biological sciences student Adam Lewandowski wanted to be Elvis Stojko. Stojko had just won the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships, and Lewandowski set his sights on becoming a nationally ranked figure skater, a goal he achieved at age 12 when he placed seventh in his category at the National Junior Championships. Little did he know that he’d one day become one of the country’s top scholars, too.
Lewandowski was recently named the recipient of a prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan. The award is given to students with high intellectual promise who are expected to make significant contributions on their return to their home country. The scholarship covers all major expenses, including airfare, tuition and living costs.
He plans to study cardiovascular medicine at the University of Oxford and its John Radcliffe Hospital beginning in September.
“Last September, there was no way I could have imagined receiving a scholarship like this,” he says. “I have a lot of people to thank for convincing me to apply and telling me I had a good chance. I’m extremely excited to enter this new chapter of my life.”
Over the past few years at Guelph, Lewandowski’s interest in cardiovascular research has grown. He says he was particularly inspired by a human anatomy class led by Prof. Lorraine Jadeski, Human Health and Nutritional Sciences.
“It was such a unique experience that very few undergraduates get to have,” he says. “Dr. Jadeski goes above and beyond for everyone and has been a mentor for me in the past year. Being able to see the variability between individuals and the different disease states made me realize that I want to pursue clinical re- search in cardiovascular medicine.”
He also credits the opportunity to do ovarian cancer research with Prof. Jim Petrik, Biomedical Sciences, and PhD student Nicole Solinger.
“This experience has really allowed me to develop skills and ways of thinking that will prepare me for future research work. Nicole is a great role model, and Dr. Petrik is always willing to answer questions. He makes sure everyone is on track and genuinely cares about those around him.”
At Oxford, Lewandowski will study the relationship between endothelial dysfunction during early life and the emergence of insulin resistance in adulthood.
“Insulin resistance is closely linked with endothelial function and is a key cardiovascular risk factor,” he says. “In the future, I want to combine my interests in cardiovascular clinical research with medicine, to work both as a researcher and a medical doctor.”
Academics are just one area where Lewandowski ranks highly. When a hamstring injury forced him into “retirement” from competitive skating as a youngster, he traded in his skates for a pair of running shoes and an athletic career in cross-country and track.
Here at Guelph, he was a member of the varsity track team and the Gryphon cross-country team that captured national championships in 2006 and 2007.
Not only has running been a great physical activity for him, he says, but it has also exposed him to a variety of social and humanitarian opportunities and created many long-lasting friendships. One of those friendships is with a Kenyan-born runner who now lives in Canada and who routinely sends his worn-out running shoes back to his family in Kenya. This inspired Lewandowski not only to donate his own running shoes but also to initiate a drive that collected 1,400 pairs of running shoes over two years.
“I care a lot about the well-being and lives of others and want them to be as successful as possible and achieve their dreams,” he says. “Being able to be a part of that and seeing the joy in others when you help them out is an extremely rewarding and fulfilling experience for me.”
On the U of G campus, Lewandowski has left a lasting impression as a volunteer teaching assistant, an anatomy road-show demonstrator, a tutor for first-year biology and chemistry students, and a leader for the Run and Read program, which pairs Gryphon athletes with students at Willow Road School to promote literacy.
He also volunteered with a number of local organizations and at a variety of community events, including the Welcome In Drop-in Centre, the “Extreme Team” youth program, the Run for Choices Race and Relay for Life.
Last spring, Lewandowski volunteered in Tanzania, where he taught English and computer skills, helped with environmental projects and worked with children at Malaika Orphanage in Dar es Salaam.
On his return to Canada, he began working to send a Tanzanian student to university and has since raised more than $5,100 to cover tuition expenses.
“I became aware of the financial hardships that limit many Tanzanians from seeking an education,” he says. “Chris has been taking care of his mother and three younger siblings since his father died in 2004. He finished his equivalent of high school with very good grades but couldn’t afford to go to university.”
Lewandowski, who is currently taking a break in Costa Rica, leaves May 12 for a nine-week placement with Students Without Borders in Botswana, where he will train locals in sport and health education so they can become community youth mentors. This will be followed by a return to Tanzania to once again volunteer for a couple of weeks at Malaika Orphanage.
En route to Africa, he will make a brief stopover at Oxford to visit the campus and meet with his faculty adviser.
“I’ve been in contact with a few current Oxford students and alumni, and the more I hear, the more excited I get. I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to go there and work with so many incredible people from so many different countries with so many different interests and amazing intellectual qualities.”