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President announces Community Impact Awards
In honour of the University of Waterloo’s 60th anniversary in 2017, President Feridun Hamdullahpur has announced the creation of the University of Waterloo President’s Community Impact Awards.
President Hamdullahpur made the announcement at the President's Community Breakfast held this morning at THEMUSEUM in downtown Kitchener.
The awards will launch in 2017, and will be awarded annually as part of the legacy of this year of celebration.
The President’s Community Impact Awards recognize individuals or teams of community members, students, staff or faculty who embody the University’s spirit of innovation and contribute to making Waterloo Region strong and prosperous.
Award winners may be distinguished through such community service activities as volunteer work, public speaking, school outreach, or other outstanding community service.
Up to four awards will be handed out in two categories each year:
Community Leader awards - A Community Leader is a current University of Waterloo student, faculty or staff member.
University Champion awards - A University Champion is an individual or organization from Waterloo Region and the city of Stratford who has demonstrated a commitment to championing the impact of the University in the community either through partnership with the institution or in working with individual students, faculty or staff of the University.
Terms of reference and nomination guidelines can be found on the Office of the President's website.
The nomination period will open on June 1. In the meantime, feedback about the awards can be sent to impactawards@uwaterloo.ca.
The Federation of Students at 50
This week, the Federation of Students marks 50 years since its incorporation as the student government for the University of Waterloo’s undergraduate students.
The Feds celebrated the occasion with a gala held, appropriately enough, at Federation Hall on Saturday, April 22 that was attended by 150 guests from the organization's past and present.
The event featured remarks from General Manager Suzanne Burdett, Vice-President, University Relations Sandra Banks, Federation of Students President Chris Lolas, Director of Alumni Relations Alison Boyd, and John "JJ" Jongerius, who worked with the organization from 1974 to 2015.
A special address was delivered by Richard Van Veldhuisen, who presided over the writing of the organization’s original constitution in 1966. Van Veldhuisen served as President of the Students' Council in 1964 and 1965 and recalled the long process involved in writing the constitution and charter of the nascent Federation of Students and getting it passed by a raucous Students' Council literally at the eleventh hour.
The Federation of Students represents the interests of undergraduate students both full- and part-time, operates several businesses including the Bombshelter Pub and Feds Used Books, manages the affairs of the Student Life Centre, and administers a number of services and an ever-increasing array of student clubs.
A Feds General Meeting in the Campus Centre Great Hall. Dig those light fixtures!
Feds traces its roots back even further beyond its initial incorporation as a non-profit organization to the Students’ Council, organized in 1960 with representatives from Engineering, Arts, Science, and St. Jerome’s at the governing table. This Students’ Council, with its attendant committees, boards, and other operations, was christened the Federation of Students in 1965 and dealt mainly with issues relating to student life, publishing a student newspaper (The Coryphaeus, later the infamous Chevron), that is at least until “The ‘60s” decided to show up, with all the radical student shenanigans that implies.
Even at the heights of their radicalism, student leaders at Waterloo have more often than not been pragmatic in the causes they chose over the years, from protesting high textbook prices to championing student spaces on campus like the Campus Centre (now the Student Life Centre) and Federation Hall (built in 1984 with funds contributed by students and controlled by the Feds until its lease expired in 2012), to student health and dental plans, universal bus passes, expansions to Health Services, changes to municipal rental bylaws, diversity campaigns and student-focused business operations in more recent years.
"This is an exciting milestone for the Feds," says outgoing president Chris Lolas. "It’s a great opportunity to look back at the last half-century and see where we’ve come from and what we’ve accomplished. As we celebrate our history, we’re all looking forward to the new ideas and initiatives students put forward in the next fifty years."
Tap into student innovation to build a better campus
Each week in 2017, the Daily Bulletin will be featuring content highlighting the University of Waterloo's 60th Anniversary. Co-op students in University Relations were asked to write about their vision for the University's next 60 years. This article was originally posted on the Innovation60 website.
by Zoey Hu.
The University of Waterloo has spent its first six decades constructing academic success, developing innovative technology and strengthening the student community. As a student at the university, I can’t wait to find out what the next 60 years hold for us.
With advanced technology, fast-growing startups and strong collaboration between Faculties, the University of Waterloo is on its way to becoming one of the most well-known universities in the world.
In my vision for the University’s future, innovation in reusable energy will see Waterloo make big steps forward in creating a more sustainable campus. All Faculties and programs will collaborate on this goal, contributing ideas and expertise to help make the dream into reality.
Students in urban planning can design the layout of reusable energy. Engineering students can work on the actual construction of the plan. Science and environment students will utilize their knowledge to add depth to the process. Arts students can take part in design and use-case studies. Collaborations between the faculties make our university a stronger unit, and accelerate development in scientific, technological and social cultural areas.
Zoey Hu is a 2nd-year student in the Arts and Business program at the University of Waterloo, scheduled to graduate in 2020. She has an interest in psychology and law, and is discovering her career paths through the university’s co-op program, working this term in University Relations.