Monday, January 27, 2020

Schulich doubles down

by Robyn Clarke. This article was originally published on Waterloo Stories.

This fall, 100 top-ranking high school students across Canada will begin their University journey with the award of a lifetime: a Schulich Leader Scholarship.

Established in 2012 by businessman and philanthropist Seymour Schulich, the Schulich Leader Scholarship is the largest of its kind in the nation, offering $80,000 and $100,000 awards to high-performing high school students pursuing undergraduate studies in science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics (STEM). This year, Schulich has doubled his investment to $200M, increasing the upcoming cohort from 50 to 100.  Out of a pool of more than 300,000 potential candidates across Canada, 1,500 high school students are nominated annually, of which only 100 will receive the prestigious honour.

“These future leaders will make great contributions to society, both on a national and global scale,” Schulich says. “With their university expenses covered, they can focus their time on their studies, research projects, extracurriculars and entrepreneurial ventures. They are the next generation of technology innovators.”

The University of Waterloo currently holds the largest average eligible applicant pool for these scholarships. The increase in funding will see 10 incoming Waterloo students get a chance at the honour, versus four in previous years.

“We are delighted to combine the vision of the Schulich Leader Scholarship program with Waterloo’s innovation culture and push for excellence to attract the best and brightest in Canadian talent for the biggest impact,” Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor says. “These major philanthropic donations are transforming the lives of our most promising STEM students and actively helping Canada retain these vital future leaders and problems solvers of tomorrow.”

The nomination deadline for the 2019/2020 program is January 29, 2020. Additional eligibility and selection criteria for prospective applicants can be found on the Undergraduate Entrance Awards website and on the Schulich Leader scholarship website.

Bechtel Lecture series looks at the intersection of food and faith

The 2020 Bechtel Lectures in Anabaptist-Mennonite Studies at Conrad Grebel University College will examine Mennonite agriculture around the world and how this vocation directly impacts the lives of farmers. The Bechtel Lectures provide an opportunity to gain understanding of Mennonite history, identity, faith and culture across disciplines. “Food & Faith: Mennonites Farming Locally and Globally” will explore these themes in a film screening and a breakfast panel.

On Friday, January 31at 7:30 p.m., Grebel will welcome filmmaker Paul Plett for a film screening and discussion. Plett is known for telling stories that examine the human condition. His films have been official selections at numerous film festivals, including the Global Peace Film Festival and the Canadian International Film Festival. His film, “Seven Points on Earth,” looks into the faith and lives of Mennonite farmers in Manitoba, Iowa, Bolivia, Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Siberia, and Indonesia. This free event is a valuable opportunity to enjoy a unique look at the world of agriculture globally and locally while engaging in meaningful discussion with the filmmaker. The film screening will be followed by a reception.

The Farmers Breakfast Panel on Saturday, February 1 takes place at 9:00 a.m.. This event includes a full ‘farmers’ breakfast and panel discussion with Ontario Mennonites in agriculture.  “We are all impacted by agriculture, whether it is through production or consumption,” says Professor Marlene Epp who researches the role food plays in faith and culture. “We’re pleased to welcome anyone to the breakfast who is interested in farming from a Mennonite perspective.” Registration for the breakfast is required.

Six panelists will each bring their unique experiences in agriculture to the table. They include: Sarah Martin-Mills, founder of Growing Hope Farm, a not-for-profit operation; third generation farmers-Lloyd & Shirley Frey of Goldenview Holsteins/Frey Farms,; Angie Koch, who runs Fertile Ground Farm, an organic CSA (Community Supported Agriculture); Chris Mullet Koop of Elmwood Farms, a commercial egg and grape grower; and Mark Reusser, farmer and Vice President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.

While both of these events are free for the public, registration is requested, and required for the breakfast, through the Grebel website: grebel.ca/bechtel.

Monday's notes

"W Store worked closely with the incredible team at the Office of Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion to curate a selection of titles to feature in W Store | Course Materials + Supplies for Consent Week," says a note from Print + Retail Solutions. "The books featured as part of the display focus on topics of consent, positive relationships and gender-based violence and include such titles as Chanel Miller's 2019 groundbreaking autobiography Know My Name. Be sure to take a look the next time you're in SCH!"

Undergraduate students can select their spring 2020 courses anytime during the Course Selection Period that runs from 8:15 a.m. on Monday, January 27 to 11:59 p.m. on February 6, according to a message from the Student Service Centre and the Registrar's Office.

Students are invited to review the Course Selection Period web page for details, including setting course priorities and get familiar with their Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar. "For certain majors, core/required courses will have been pre-selected for you," says the note from the Centre. "Do not drop these!"

Students can view the Course Selection Offerings List to see what is being offered and contact their academic advisor with any questions.

Selecting courses is as easy as signing in to Quest (course selection is not available on Quest Mobile) and following the course selection instructions. If Anyone with questions is invited to send an email to askthecentre@uwaterloo.ca.