University of Winnipeg Report to the Community 2012

Our Student Leaders of Tomorrow

The University of Winnipeg continues to be one of Canada’s top undergraduate universities, particularly in the areas of diversity, quality of teaching, environmental commitment, and nurturing Leaders of Tomorrow, according to national surveys in both the Globe & Mail Canadian University Report 2012 and Maclean’s magazine University Rankings 2011. Meet some of our outstanding students:

Abigail GreavesTHEATRE - ABIGAIL GREAVES
The World is Her Stage

Seventeen-year-old Abigail Greaves came to study theatre at UWinnipeg the long way ‘round. She started out in Devon, England; went to high school at Shevchenko Collegiate in Vita, Manitoba; and now finds herself centre stage at UWinnipeg’s Asper Centre for Theatre and Film. Greaves is the first recipient of UWinnipeg’s Garnet Kyle Scholarship, worth up to $40,000 — the largest offered to a Canadian student at UWinnipeg. “My parents had a midlife crisis four years ago and decided to leave England to become farmers in Manitoba,” laughs Greaves, whose family settled near Vita in 2007 to raise sheep. ”I came from a small high school in Vita with a graduating class of just 26 people, so I was scared coming to UWinnipeg at first. But I am finding the atmosphere is strict but laid back at the same time.” The Garnet Kyle Scholarship is achievement-based, awarded to a grade 12 student with an average of 90 percent or higher.

Angel ComptonINDIGENOUS STUDIES - ANGEL COMPTON
Creating Opportunities for Youth

Angel Compton grew up in Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation surrounded by the legacy of residential schools. Her aunts, uncles, grandparents — all were residential school survivors “and it affected us a lot,” said the 26-year-old UWinnipeg student. “Yet even though my family went through that, they always stressed that it was important to get a good education. So here I am.” Compton is one of two students awarded a unique UWinnipeg Scholarship in honour of the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. She is working towards her Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies. “My goal is to return to my home community and hopefully, create a community centre for youth,” said Compton.

Matthew MorisonSCIENCE -  – MATTHEW MORISON
Tackling Climate Change

Twenty-two year old Matthew Morison is a science student in his fourth year of a double major in math and geography. Last summer he worked in Churchill as a research assistant and at the Saving York Factory project, established in 2007 by Parks Canada. A multidisciplinary team of experts — including historians, engineers, archaeologists and local First Nations — are studying the historic site’s soils, permafrost, vegetation, river erosion, and drainage. Morison is now completing an undergraduate thesis on groundwater hydrology as a result of his work with the project. Morison’s career goal is to make a difference by working to improve climate change models. He recently received a $6,500 Sir William Stephenson scholarship* to assist him in his studies. Morison is also an avid drummer with the band Salinas, and loves the arts — volunteering at the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival, Winnipeg International Children’s Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, and Jazz Winnipeg Festival.

Natalie FitkowskyEDUCATION - NATALIE FITKOWSKY
Inspiring Young Minds

Natalie Fitkowsky’s dream is to be the kind of teacher who really inspires teenagers. She has completed her fourth year in the integrated Bachelor of Education program and in March travelled to Greece through UWinnipeg’s Faculty of Education for her final teaching block, at the American Community School of Athens. She recently received the $6,500 Dr. and Mrs. Roderick Hunter Scholarship, established in memory of Dr. R.O.A. Hunter, and his wife Doris Hunter. “I very much hope to do a Master’s degree at some point,” she said. “As an educator I want to inspire my students to learn, strive for excellence and become engaged in their community. I hope they become globally aware citizens who embrace the opportunities to discover and question their surroundings.”

Ethan BaronBUSINESS - ETHAN BARON
The Biz Whiz

UWinnipeg business student Ethan Baron won a coveted spot in The Next 36, an elite program that selects and supports the next generation of high-impact entrepreneurs with $50,000 in start-up cash plus high-level CEO mentoring. Baron is the only Manitoban to make the cut from over 1,000 leading Canadian undergraduate students from 62 schools across North America. “This has been an incredible opportunity,” said Baron, who at 19 is already in his fourth year of a double major at UWinnipeg, studying international business and economics and finance. “I am in a team of four people tasked with developing a mobile venture. We have $50,000 in cash and two high-level CEOs to advise us. I feel as though I am receiving the equivalent of an MBA education .” Baron credits his time at UWinnipeg with helping him achieve this milestone. “In our business faculty, we interact with our professors in a way that is unmatched; I have learned as much outside the classroom as inside it. And our classes are small. That is the biggest advantage.”

Paul SarteCHEMISTRY - PAUL SARTE
Our Future Professor

Paul Sarte grew up in a new immigrant household in Winnipeg’s West End with a single mother, an experience that encouraged him to work hard. “My mother was born in the Philippines and she taught me to save my money to pay for university,” said Sarte. In December 2011, Sarte’s hard work was rewarded as he received the prestigious Sir William Stephenson Scholarship* valued at $6,500 to assist him in completing his degree. Paul shares his love of science by volunteering with “Let’s Talk Science”, which engages inner city youth. He also likes to work with new immigrants and volunteers at UWinnipeg’s Global Welcome Centre, helping neighbourhood teens with their high school chemistry problems. “I love teaching, and because I am fluent in French I am able to help some of the teens from Africa. It’s good to have a place to come and learn.” Paul is completing a four-year Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and three-year Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. He plays piano, soccer and hopes to become a chemistry professor in the future. 

* In 1984, Sir William Stephenson made a significant gift to The University of Winnipeg to establish the scholarships in his name. Known by the code name Intrepid, Sir William Stephenson started off as a poor Winnipeg hardware salesperson and ended up a Second World War spy legend and the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s hero, James Bond.