Having attended the University of Waterloo after growing up in Kitchener, I always had the urge to get out and see the world. The opportunity finally came when I was accepted into the computer science master’s program at University College London in London, England. While London is not ‘the world’, the world does come to London … literally.
Have you ever benefited from philanthropy? If you went to the University of Waterloo, the answer is yes. In reality, tuition only covers approximately 1/3 of the cost of our post-secondary education. The rest is covered by government funding and private donations. A huge portion of these donations come from Waterloo alumni.
What do basketballs, inflatables, and paper airplanes have in common? Fantastic Alumni Day.
Saturday, January 26 saw the PAC gymnasium filled with hundreds of smiling faces for our 14th annual event. And wow, what a fantastic day it was! More than 630 spirited Waterloo alumni, staff and faculty members, retirees, and their families cheered on the women’s and men’s Warriors basketball teams as they battled the Windsor Lancers.
As a student, life is simple. For all you students reading this - don’t freak out, simple does not mean easy, it just means straightforward. As a student you have one main goal and that is to graduate. Everything you work for during your time at school is to get you closer to that goal. But then it happens, you graduate. Now what?!
We’re kicking off our 2013 blog series with our first-ever guest blogger. Next week you will meet Katelyn, a hardworking young alumnus whose journey after graduation offers great insight into the power of determination and sticking to your goals.
Maria’s Social Development degree from Waterloo along with her passion for people and professional drive (pardon the pun) has transformed KIA Canada into one of the industry’s most socially responsible corporations. So what exactly IS ‘Drive Change’? It is a challenge - for individuals, communities and even KIA dealers to make their communities a better place.
My road trip is of a different type. My colleague Jenn and I (“the beauties”) have embarked on a two city tour in what we have affectionately nicknamed “the beast”, a Nissan Pathfinder that, to two girls who normally drive compact cars, seems enormous! The first stop on our trip was Kingston Ontario, home of the Royal Military College of Canada, Fort Henry, and the best Caesar salad I’ve ever had.
For one night, Studio 180’s production of The Normal Heart at the Buddies in Bad Times Theatre was an event for uWaterloo alumni and students to come together to support a theatre company which got started right here at the university. Not only that, Studio 180 is also celebrating its’ 10th anniversary, so celebrating this milestone with the uWaterloo community was only fitting.
From Nov. 2-11th I had the opportunity to travel to Asia with the Director of Alumni Affairs, Jason Coolman, and an amazing team of staff from across campus. We hosted a total of four Alumni events in Asia, with each one being unique to the host city and the alumni in the area!
Convocation is a very personal experience for all those involved – the graduates, their supportive families, friends who are proud of their accomplishments, and of course, Waterloo’s faculty and staff members (it’s the whole reason we come to work after all). It takes on a different meaning and significance for everyone. Some see it as the end of a chapter; others see it as the most exciting time in their life. Whatever the perspective, there are moments from the day that will be remembered for a lifetime and I’d like to share a few that stand out for me.