Putting their education to work

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This article was published 10/06/2011 (5412 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Alas, Nicki Ferland won’t walk across the stage at the University of Winnipeg’s Duckworth Centre to pick up her degree in human rights and global studies — she’s already putting her studies to work in Indonesia.

Ferland is one of 1,085 undergraduates and 21 master’s degree recipients receiving their degrees at U of W’s spring convocation ceremonies held Thursday and concluding today. Graduation ceremonies begin this morning at 9:30 a.m.

Ferland was appointed through the Youth Employment Network to a six-month tour with the International Labour Organization of the United Nations.

“I’m going to work on youth employment issues, gender parity,” said Ferland just before she left Winnipeg to go overseas.

A native of Lorette and a graduate of Collège Jeanne-Sauvé, Ferland was studying biology and psychology at the U of W when she decided to take a year off and work in England. When she returned, she was delighted to hear that U of W was introducing a new human rights and global studies program that seemed to be right up her alley.

“What I loved about it was that it was so interdisciplinary — it covered so many areas,” Ferland said.

Her focus early on was on Africa and Asia, but as a Métis woman, her studies in transitional justice led her to advanced research on settlers and indigenous people. “They spoke to what was happening in Canada to the truth and reconciliation commission,” she said.

Ferland was part of a research project on what reconciliation means in Canada, which may be published soon.

She’s always planned on law school, but is also considering grad school. “There’s a growing field of indigenous rights law,” Ferland said.

 

Diego Contador arrived in Winnipeg six years ago to visit his uncle, coming here as a 22-year-old professional basketball player whose English wasn’t the best.

“I had absolutely no plan,” Contador recalled with a laugh.

Now he’s graduating with a degree in criminal justice and sociology, plans to become a Canadian citizen and hopes for a career in the RCMP — after grad school or a law degree.

Contador left his uncle’s place in 2005 to make some money in Norway House, then enrolled in English as an additional language program at U of W, where then-basketball coach Dave Crook heard he had a player on campus.

“I got recruited by coach Dave Crook,” said Contador, who went on to play some point guard for the Wesmen, though only after first doing some serious academics. “I had to do an entire year of (academic) eligibility,” he said.

He met department head Michael Weinrath, who convinced Contador to give criminal justice a look.

“I decided a long time ago that my life is in Canada. I really like policing work, and how the criminal justice system works in Canada,” Contador said. “I asked myself ethical questions: would I be a good police officer, would I be a good corrections officer?

“I would love to join the RCMP.”

 

We’d love to tell you what Mathias Pielahn will spend his life doing, but only a handful of people can understand his research on black holes.

They’re welcome to ask Pielahn directly.

“Matter is falling in, Hawking radiation is going out. I’m looking at the strength of gravity on the outer surface. I look into the dynamical properties of black holes — I work with theories and models that others proposed,” said Pielahn.

“It is pretty cool,” said Pielahn.

This is his fourth summer of conducting research into black holes, doing the work in his office on the U of W campus. Yes, research studies as early as the end of first year and yes, an office for an undergraduate.

That’s one reason he picked the U of W, said Pielahn, who came to Canada from Germany when he was 12 and attended Transcona Collegiate. “At U of W, everything goes to undergraduate, whereas, at University of Manitoba, everything goes to the graduate programs,” he said.

Transcona Collegiate was never into science fairs, said Pielahn. “I was always more into theoretical physics.”

Needing a little more challenge, “In Grade 11, I taught myself first-year linear algebra,” he said.

“A PhD is definitely on my list — I would love to stay in academia,” said Pielahn, who’s weighing several possibilities for grad school.

 

HONORARY DEGREES

Dr. Jonathan F. Fanton has devoted his professional life to promoting innovation in higher education, global justice, and philanthropy, through Canadian-led initiatives such as the Ottawa Treaty banning antipersonnel landmines, creation of the International Criminal Court and formation of the doctrine of “Responsibility to Protect.”

David A. Golden is a Rhodes Scholar, a war veteran, and survivor of a Japanese prisoner of war camp. Golden’s distinguished career in public service spans close to half a century — he played a significant role in making Canada a world leader in science, advanced technology and telecommunications.

William Roberts is a visionary who has demonstrated skills as a journalist, broadcaster, public policy analyst and educator. He has consistently advanced freedom of the press and freedom of expression and has championed the cause of women and multiculturalism in Canada and abroad.

Leslie Spillett has made vast contributions for more than three decades to Winnipeg’s inner-city and Indigenous community as an activist and advocate on a wide range of issues that include many aspects of the human spirit and dignity by bringing Indigenous and non-Indigenous Manitobans together.

 

TEACHING AWARDS

The Erica and Arnold Rogers Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship — Prof. Louesa Polyzoi, who has spent more than 20 years researching healthy child development, attracting national and international funding for studies investigating adolescents at risk, the relationship between respiratory illness in children and school absenteeism rates, and talent development in at-risk children in Russia and Canada.

 

The Clifford J. Robson Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching

— sociology Prof. Parvin Ghorayshi, a social justice advocate and feminist, Ghorayshi has devoted herself to research that touches a wide variety of domains including gender, the Middle East, feminism, economic sociology, and community development.

 

AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

The Robin H. Farquhar Award for Excellence in Contributing to Self-Governance — Ingrid Truderung, who has served students, faculty, staff, and the senior management team at U of W for 35 years.

 

ALUMNI AWARD

The University of Winnipeg Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award — Winnipeg Free Press Editor Margo Goodhand (BA Hons. ‘79).

 

GOVERNOR GENERAL’S MEDALS:

The Governor General’s Gold Medal for the highest standing in a Master’s Degree — Kristin Jonasson

The Governor General’s Silver Medal for the highest standing in an undergraduate degree — Saskia Christine Hildebrandt

 

GOLD MEDALS:

Arts (Honours course) — Sarah Grace Livesey

Arts (four-year course) — Leezann Freed-Lobchuk

Arts (General course) — Jean-Pierre Roger Deniset

Business and Economics (four-year course) — Jiamin Liu

Business and Economics (General course) — Dongmei Zhang

Science (Honours course) — Alannah MacKenzie Hallas

Science (four-year course) — Megan Lee Seddon

Science (General course) — Saskia Christine Hildebrandt

Education — Carolyn Roberta Ann Huebner

 

MAJOR MEDALS AND AWARDS

The University Silver Medal for the second highest standing in Arts (Honours course) — Zoe Eileen Gross

The University Silver Medal for the second highest standing in Arts (four-year course) — Suzanne Lynn Siemens

The University Silver Medal for the second highest standing in Arts (General course) — Theresa Roxanne Wolfe

The University Silver Medal for the second highest standing in Business and Economics (four-year course) — Michael J. Long

The University Silver Medal for the second highest standing in Business and Economics (General course) — Takeshi Ochiai

The University Silver Medal for the second highest standing in Science (Honours course) — Zachary Thomas Corso

The University Silver Medal for the second highest standing in Science (four-year course) — Donna Sookzen Lee

The University Silver Medal for the second highest standing in Science (General course) — Claire Siobhan McKibbin

The University Silver Medal for the second highest standing in Education — Laura Jennifer Davey

The O.T. Anderson Award (for distinguished academic and extra-curricular performance) — Janna Michelle Barkman

The Mayor’s Medal (for contribution to the community) — Arthur G. Ladd

 

Medals for Achievement in an Honours Course:

Anthropology — Rosylyn Genevieve Graham

Applied Computer Science — Craig David Klassen

Biochemistry — Zachary Thomas Corso

Biology — Chantal Joanne Carrier and Phillip David Grayson

Biopsychology — Allyson Kate Menzies

Chemistry — Alannah MacKenzie Hallas

Classics — Joseph Victor Daniel Gerbasi

Criminal Justice — Hennadiy Kutsenko and Caitlyn Dee Cassell

Dance — Rebecca Holly Sawdon

Economics — Natalia Giraldo-Gomez

English — Sarah Grace Livesey

French Studies — Lauren Nicole Partridge

History — Owen Peter Bradshaw

International Development Studies — Ellen Susan Smirl

Mathematics — Mathias Pielahn

Philosophy — Grant Mitchel Poettcker

Physics — Dylan Earl Hedges Buhr

Politics — Dylan Jon Barg Roberts

Psychology — Gillian Alexandra Harlos

Sociology — Jacquie Nicholson

Student-Designed Major — Alana Rachel Westwood

Theatre and Film — Heather Anne Russell

Urban and Inner City Studies — Alissa Esther Rappaport

Women’s and Gender Studies — Zoe Eileen Gross

 

Medals for Achievement in a Four-year Course:

Bioanthropology — Kalyna Nadya Horocholyn

Biochemistry — Donna Sookzen Lee

Biology — Megan Lee Seddon

Biopsychology — Matthew James Pierce

Business Administration — Jiamin Liu

Combined Major — Wesley Flett Johnston

Conflict Resolution Studies — Allison Zoe Groening

Economics — Pamela Dawn Ormonde

English — Leezann Freed-Lobchuck

Environmental Studies — Megan Seddon

Geography — Justin Michael Waito

History — Bonnie Jessica Dowling

International Development Studies — Raenna Penner

Kinesiology and Applied Health — Susanne Lynne Siemens

Philosophy — Nick Jordan Tanchuk

Physics — Jesse Isaac Marantz

Politics — Kathleen Elizabeth Cook

Sociology — Allison Zoe Groening

Statistics — Katherine Anne Forsyth Galloway

Women’s and Gender Studies — Kristin Lynn Sheffield

 

Medals for Achievement in a General Course:

Applied Computer Science — Cian John Joseph Whalley

Bioanthropology — Jonathan Kirupakaran

Biochemistry — Saskia Christine Hildebrandt

Biology — Claire Siobhan McKibbin

Biopsychology — Adriana Kristin Muc

Business and Administration — Dongmei Zhang

Chemistry — Iyvan Wasyl Chuchman

Classics — Curtis James Burbella

Combined Major — Robin Micheal Bryan

Conflict Resolution Studies — Linda Mae Wiebe

Criminal Justice — Michiell Joy Victoria Lopez

Dance — Loa Jorunn Olafson

Economics — Jean-Pierre Roger Deniset

English — Krystin Larissa Cullum

French Studies — Catherine Michelle Fouillard

Geography — Meaghan Elene Oakley

History — Lee Evelyn Gregg

International Development Studies — Gaelene Elizabeth Askeland

Kinesiology and Applied Health — Teresa Roxanne Wolfe

Mathematics — Michael David Johnson and Fabien Jeremie Bruel

Philosophy — Bryan Benjamin Kehler

Physics — Reiner Carlos Padilla

Politics — Dana Mandy Tucker

Psychology — Katherine Marise Rackham

Religion and Culture — Jared Marshall Rombough

Rhetoric and Communications — Cailey Kathleen Brown

Sociology — Carol Ann Chabbert

Theatre and Film — Kelly Ann Cochrane

 

Other Convocation Awards:

The Certified General Accountants Association of Manitoba Prize in Business and Administration — Jiamin Liu

The Dr. Dan A. Chekki Prize for Excellence in Sociology — Kyla Doll

The Bill Gadsby Pre-Service Teaching Award — Joanne MacDonald and Mark Behrendt

The Ron Norton Prize in Psychology — Teresa McIvor

The Swiss Ambassador Book Prize for Distinction in French Studies — Liam Seth Edginton-Green

Lost Prizes Award — Jerald J. Wake