Guelph science student receives major award for international study
Graduating student Adam Lewandowski has won a Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, considered among the most prestigious awards in the world for international study and professional development. He will study cardiovascular medicine at the University of Oxford and its John Radcliffe Hospital beginning in September.
Lewandowski says his interest in cardiovascular research was sparked by the human anatomy class he took with human health and nutritional sciences professor Lorraine Jadeski. He also credits the opportunity he had to conduct ovarian cancer research with biomedical sciences professor Jim Petrik and doctoral student Nicole Solinger.
Lewandowski says the graduate program at Oxford will allow him to combine his interests in cardiovascular clinical research with medicine, to work both as a researcher and a medical doctor.
Academics are just one area where he ranks highly. Growing up, he was a competitive figure skater, placing seventh at the National Junior Championships when he was 12. When a hamstring injury forced him into “retirement,” he traded in his skates for a pair of running shoes. At Guelph, he was a member of the Gryphon track and cross-country teams that captured national championships in 2006 and 2007.
Through running, he met 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, who collected 1,400 pairs of running shoes to donate over two years.
Last spring, he volunteered in Tanzania and since then has raised more than $5,100 to send a Tanzanian student to university.
On campus, Lewandowski has also 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.
“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.
A University of Guelph education mobilizes leadership
● Guelph is the hub of the largest agri-technology cluster in Canada
● biggest employee fundraising campaign for United Way Services of Guelph and Wellington, contributing $490,000 in 2008
● grad students post one of the best results for securing grants from Canadas research institutes
● more than 20,000 distance education enrolments each year
● voted No. 1 campus by Canadian university students.
Commercialization centre opens
One of the newest additions to the University’s 12-hectare Research Park is the Agri-Technology Commercialization Centre (ATCC), which opened in 2008 to commercialize new agricultural products. The centre is intended to help turn new ideas in biofuels, bioproducts, clean energy, waste management and health into products quickly and successfully.
In addition, U of G continues to work with the City of Guelph to develop marketing strategies and strengthen brand recognition for life sciences and agri-food opportunities in Guelph and Wellington County.
U of G also continues to work with Toronto’s MaRs Discovery District ― Ontario’s biotechnology centre ― to link agri-food innovations with medical sciences and health advances.
Grad student receives national
Guelph graduate student Brae Anne McArthur was one of eight scholars nationwide to be named a Desjardins Academic All-Canadian by Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) for 2008. The award recognizes both athletic and academic accomplishment. To be eligible, students must maintain an average of at least 80 per cent while competing for a varsity team.
McArthur is a two-time Guelph track-and-field MVP and holds the University’s record in the pentathlon. In her last season, she was the CIS pentathlon bronze medallist, the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) high-jump bronze medallist, the OUA pentathlon silver medallist and an OUA All-Star.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from U of G in 2006 and is now completing the master’s portion of a PhD in child clinical psychology.
Hillier honoured by University
Rick Hillier and
Alastair Summerlee
Retired Canadian general and chief of defence staff Rick Hillier received the Lincoln Alexander Outstanding Leader Award Jan. 13 from the University’s College of Management and Economics. He was the second person to receive the honour since it was created and first awarded in 2006 to the Hon. Lincoln Alexander, who served as Guelph’s chancellor for 15 years.
Hillier was honoured for his exceptional abilities as a communicator with soldiers, the public and the media; for promoting the image and sustainability of the Canadian Forces; and for his efforts to lobby the federal government for increased military funding.
Signs of leadership
● University of Guelph chancellor Pamela Wallin was appointed to the Senate in 2008 by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Wallin, one of the country’s most accomplished and esteemed journalists, diplomats and entrepreneurs, has served as U of G’s chancellor since June 2007 and will continue her role at Guelph along with her Senate duties.
● College of Management and Economics master’s student Ashley van Herten is one of 10 Canadian students to receive a $5,000 Futures Fund Scholarship supported by Canada’s outstanding CEO of the Year Award program.
● Two University of Guelph professors have been recognized for their success in mentoring: Prof. Tom Nudds, Integrative Biology, was honoured by the Society of Canadian Ornithologists, and Prof. Nathan Perkins, Environmental Design and Rural Development, was named a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
● Joanne Shoveller, U of G’s vice-president (alumni affairs and development), has been named to the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s Commission on Philanthropy. She was selected for the prestigious post from a pool of international nominees and will be the sole Canadian on the commission during her three-year term.
● In 2008, mathematics professor Herb Kunze was named one of Ontario’s most outstanding university teachers by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations. Students who supported his nomination said his superior technical skills combined with excellent personal skills made him the best educator they have encountered.
How to launch a business
The University of Guelph has teamed up with the Guelph-Wellington Business Enterprise Centre to offer an entrepreneurship program that helps students launch their own businesses. Up to 20 third-year business students are taking part in the initial 2009 winter semester. They will receive academic credit as they would for many other U of G courses, but will also get help in developing a business plan from training workshops, staff advisers and business mentors through the enterprise centre.
Students know how to help others
More than 80 Guelph students spent Reading Week volunteering. Four teams of students worked with the AIDS committee of Wellington County, travelled to the Nawash Unceded First Nation in Georgian Bay to explore economic development challenges, helped with an elementary school literacy program in downtown Vancouver, and worked on hurricane relief projects in Mississippi.
Co-op puts grads a step ahead
“Co-op programs work,” says U of G sociology professor David Walters, who used Statistics Canada data to demonstrate that graduates of university and college co-op programs are more likely to find full-time work and earn more money than their counterparts in conventional programs.
The study also looked at how the outcomes are influenced by gender differences. “Co-op programs pay off more for men than women,” says Walters, “but they still pay off tremendously for women, especially women who graduate from university co-op programs.”
University is part of the Guelph brand
The University of Guelph, the city of Guelph and local biotech companies are teaming up to encourage people to “Grow Guelph.” Guelph mayor and U of G graduate Karen Farbridge says the new slogan and marketing strategies are designed to build greater brand recognition for the life sciences and agri-food opportunities. “Guelph and Wellington has been a recognized centre for agricultural innovation for more than a century. Grow Guelph will position us to build on our strengths and attract new research activities, businesses and tourism.”
great leaders, outstanding performance…
● strategic financial planning
● productive partnerships
● research intensity
● student focused
● accountability
● expertise and wisdom
There’s a positive side to an economic downturn
Although the University’s endowment funds have been severely affected by the decline in global markets ― decreasing $39 million in market value since May 2008 ― alumni and friends continue to recognize the University of Guelph as a good investment. U of G received $11.6 million in donations in 2008, including gifts to establish new scholarship endowments. One example is the William Campbell Ontario Graduate Scholarship Fund established by Campbell, a 1955 alumnus, and his wife, Dorothy. The first recipient was Edward Olale.
Financial reports
See audited financial statements for fiscal 2007/2008 at www.fin.uoguelph.ca. To monitor the University’s ongoing budget challenges and decisions, visit www.uoguelph.ca/president/budget.
Board of Governors
Chair: Evan W. Siddall, Chief financial officer, Irving Oil
Vice-chair: Kathy Bardswick , President and CEO, The Co-operators Group Ltd.
Vice-chair: Tye Burt, CEO, Kinross Gold Corporation
Chancellor: Pamela Wallin, OC, SOM, Senate of Canada
Brian W. Barrington, President, Barrington & Associates
Peter J. Devine, President, Devine Securities Inc.
Dick Freeborough, Corporate director
Kevin Golding, President, Rothsay (Member of Maple Leaf Foods Inc.)
Jonathan Guss, CEO, Ontario Medical Association
Joel Harnest, International development BA student
Ric Jordan , Manager, The Arboretum
Karen Kuwahara, President, Nestle Purina PetCare
Jeff Lozon, President and CEO, St. Michael’s Hospital
Rohan Mathai, Bachelor of arts and sciences student
Virginia McLaughlin, President, Helmhorst Investments
Barbara Miller, President, Barbara Miller & Associates Inc.
Graeme Morton, Professor, Department of History
Pat Shewen, Professor, Department of Pathobiology
Alan Sullivan, Professor, Department of Plant Agriculture
Alastair J. S. Summerlee, President and vice-chancellor, University of Guelph
Bill Teesdale IT Support, Department of Physics
Hon. Lyle Vanclief, P.C., Agricultural and agri-food consulting
Trish Walker , Associate director of business development, ACCE International
Joel Wood, Economics PhD student
Board of Trustees of the University of Guelph Heritage Fund
Chair: Douglas W. Dodds, Executive vice-president and chief strategy officer, Maple Leaf Foods Inc.
Vice-Chair: David Weinberg, Retired executive
Chancellor: Pamela Wallin, OC, SOM, Senate of Canada
H. Anthony Arrell, Chairman and CEO, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.
Douglas L. Derry, Chairman, Poplar Lane Holdings Ltd.
John N. Dickey, President, John Dickey and Associates Ltd.
Steven Diener, President, Stevelyn Holdings Limited
W. Robert Farquharson, Vice-chairman and CIO, AGF Management Limited
Mary-Elizabeth Flynn, CEO, F.N. Financial Corporation
Warren Jestin, Senior vice-president and chief economist, Scotiabank
E. John Latimer, Managing director, Aldert Chemicals Ltd.
Keith Laver, President, Springwood Consultants Ltd.
Tanya Lonsdale, Partner, Braun Consulting Engineers Ltd.
Robin-Lee Norris, Partner, Miller Thomson LLP
Evan Siddall, Chief financial officer, Irving Oil
Jeffrey D. Stacey, Managing director, Jeffrey D. Stacey & Associates Ltd.
Alastair J. S. Summerlee, President and vice-chancellor, University of Guelph
F. Michael Walsh, Retired executive
University Administration
Alastair J. S. Summerlee, President and vice-chancellor
Maureen Mancuso, Provost and vice-president (academic)
Kevin Hall, Vice-president (research)
Joanne Shoveller, Vice-president (alumni affairs and development)
Nancy Sullivan, Vice-president (finance and administration)
Serge Desmarais, Associate vice-president (academic)
Kathy Hay, Associate vice-president (advancement)
Steven Liss, Associate vice-president (research services)
Rich Moccia, Interim associate vice-president (research) agri-food and partnerships
Brenda Whiteside, Associate vice-president (student affairs)
Bob Carter, Assistant vice-president (physical resources)
Anthony Clarke, Assistant vice-president (academic) and interim dean of Graduate Studies
Martha Harley, Assistant vice-president (human resources)
John Miles, Assistant vice-president (finance and services)
Brian Pettigrew, Assistant vice-president (institutional research and planning) and registrar
Don Bruce, Dean, College of Arts
Julia Christensen Hughes, Dean, College of Management and Economics
Michael Emes, Dean, College of Biological Science
Robert Gordon, Dean, Ontario Agricultural College
Alun Joseph, Dean, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences
Elizabeth Stone, Dean, Ontario Veterinary College
Anthony Vannelli, Dean, College of Physical and Engineering Science
Michael Ridley, Chief information officer and chief librarian
Vicki Hodgkinson, University secretary
John Walsh, Vice-provost and CAO, University of Guelph-Humber
University of Guelph
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario Canada N1G 2W1
519-824-4120
www.uoguelph.ca
Contributors
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2009 Graduate
Adam Lewandowski
"leadership is part of our mandate commercialization scholar athletes role models university leaders business savvy compassion for others experiential learning agri-food innovation "
