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On March 12, 2025, three University of Waterloo students based at Conrad Grebel University College competed in the Annual C. Henry Smith Oratorical Speech Contest established by the late C. Henry Smith in 1974. Each student presented their speech to a panel of judges along with an audience of staff, faculty, and students. Teena Faust, a second-year Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) and Philosophy student, was awarded first place and a cash price of $1000. She will represent Grebel and the University of Waterloo at the bi-national speech competition later this year. Ella Funk, a fourth-year English Creative and Professional Writing student, won second place and a cash prize of $500. Finally, in third place, winning a cash prize of $300, was Lucas Shumaker, a third-year international student studying Environment Engineering.

If there’s anyone who likes breaking down barriers and seeing what’s on the other side, it’s Benny Skinner (BA 2019, MA 2023). They are a human rights advocate, award-winning rugby player on an inclusivity-driven Premier League team, and Indigenous Research Advisor who positively affects the world through activism. Benny’s commitment to social justice was enhanced by Conrad Grebel University College’s Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) program, the place where they learned how to challenge and change a society where injustice runs deep. 

Conrad Grebel University College’s Student Council prepares to present the Canadian premiere of The Clockmaker’s Daughter, a musical written by composers Micheal Webborn and Daniel Finn, this March. The musical's producer, Thao My Vu, and the lead, Maya Valdez, gave insight into the production and shared what makes Grebel musicals unique and worthwhile.