Monday, August 17, 2026

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• Fun Run's winning formula is back for Homecoming
• Attention, attention! Bella Chen wins big at ARC Pitch Day 2026
• Monday's notes

Fun Run’s winning formula is back for Homecoming

It’s got a winning formula for everyone: options for a fun, social walk or a timed, competitive race. The Fun Run, which began in 1985, takes place again this year during Homecoming on September 19, bringing together alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends for a 2.5 or 5 km jaunt around Ring Road. Hosted by the Faculty of Health, everyone is invited to join in.

The serious runners can race and be timed officially, while others walk, jog, meander with friends, wear goofy costumes or even push strollers – whatever gets you across the finish line. In other words, “Move. Run. Just have fun.”

Joining us this year from the Toronto Tempo is alum Russell Kovshoff (BA ‘14), who will serve as Grand Marshall. The former varsity football player and Recreation and Sport Business graduate joined Canada’s first WNBA team this year as Director of Game Presentation, and he’ll bring his passion for creating unforgettable experiences back to Waterloo.

He brings 15 years of experience in game entertainment, working with professional sports teams and at major international sporting events. His impressive portfolio includes the Super Bowl, Pan Am and Parapan American Games, NBA All-Star Weekends, and the Invictus Games, as well as experience with teams including the San Francisco 49ers, LA Clippers, Toronto Raptors, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Saskatchewan Roughriders.

“I'm elated to be joining the Fun Run as Grand Marshal!,” Kovshoff says. “This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the past, the present and the future of the fun-makers who continue to shape our world, evolve the ways we seek joy, and inspire how the future is shaped.”

Come to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, compete for prizes and raise funds for the University’s Healthy Waterloo initiative in the process. Then head over to the rest of the Homecoming activities to make more memories.

Join the Fun Run

Join other Homecoming activities 

Attention, attention! Bella Chen wins big at ARC Pitch Day 2026

This story was originally published by the Cheriton School of Computer Science.

Computer science PhD student Bella Chen wins big at the Academy of Research Commercialization’s (ARC) inaugural Pitch Day.

She is being recognized for her technology that supports neurodivergent children.

This year, the University of Waterloo’s Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business launched ARC, an initiative for PhD students who are interested in commercializing their deep-tech research.

Throughout three months, participants learn key skills and concepts in venture creation and commercialization, including market discovery, intellectual property, idea validation, and business pitching. Ultimately, students can push their research beyond the lab and into the world of start-ups.

ARC culminates in Pitch Day, where participants present their venture to a panel of industry experts, ecosystem partners, and investors. Not only can they receive invaluable feedback and lifelong connections, but some may have the chance to win $10,000 in seed funding.

Leading up to Pitch Day, there were many things Bella had to unlearn as an academic. For example, she had to explain her work in layman’s terms— which felt like a completely different language.

“Research is usually evidence-based. We only claim what we can prove,” Bella adds. “But a lot of business models are built on assumptions, something you cannot fully validate. Learning to present ideas based on assumptions was challenging”.

“I’m an introvert, so I feel shy sharing my work. But ARC taught me that you must have more confidence in your product than other people in the room. Because that’s the only way others will believe in it.”

These challenges paid off, as Bella was among 11 recipients to win ARC. She was also part of Velocity’s two-week sprint program, Cornerstone. There, she received Velocity’s Outstanding Validation Award for her efforts in consulting potential users and using their insights for launching her startup.  These were major milestones as it was Bella’s first-ever business pitch and her first time presenting her work to the public.

Bella created AttentionGo, a home-based program that helps children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) strengthen their attention skills. People with ADHD may struggle with focus, time management, and organization, which can impair their academics, professional performance, and personal relationships. Although people with ADHD can take medication to improve their focus, it may lead to side effects like stomach issues or sleep difficulties.

Read the full story.

Monday's notes

Register for the following workshops taking place today.

Virtual Reality in the Classroom: An Introduction for Instructors - In Person (TII5020)

Monday, August 17, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., LIB 329 (Tech Sandbox)

In this one-hour hands-on workshop, instructors will be introduced to the Meta Quest 3 VR headsets and explore how virtual reality can support teaching and learning across disciplines. Participants will learn the core functions of the headset, review examples of educational use cases, and discuss considerations for classroom integration. The session concludes with guided free exploration time, giving participants the opportunity to test applications, experiment with the technology, and imagine how VR might fit into their own courses.

Teaching with Tech: A Practical ViewBoard Workshop - In Person (TII5010)

Monday, August 17, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., LIB 329 (Tech Sandbox)

Part of the EdTech Sandbox series, this introductory workshop helps instructors build confidence using ViewBoard Interactive displays. Participants will explore touch, pen, erase, whiteboard/annotation, casting, and collaboration tools, and connect these skills to active learning. They will also learn ways to support collaboration, formative assessment, multimodal teaching, and student-generated content.