UNews - Aaron Tamayose

Making a difference in the lives of others, Tamayose awarded Young Alumnus of the Year honour

trevor.kenney — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 21:34:25 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association (ULAA) is excited to announce two-time graduate Aaron Tamayose (BA ’09, MC ’17) as the 2019 Young Alumnus of the Year.

Tamayose, who worked nine years in the U of L’s Accommodated Learning Centre, is currently a registered psychologist and Canadian certified counsellor for Forensic Assessment and Outpatient Services (FAOS) with Alberta Health Services.

“We are very proud of Aaron’s work in the community and his commitment to bettering society. Our U of L alumni make valuable contributions throughout our communities every day and his impact both at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and now with Alberta Health Services is tangible,” says Matthew McHugh, Chair of the ULAA Recognition Committee. “He’s very deserving of this honour.”

Young Alumnus of the Year - Aaron Tamayose

From his work as a registered psychologist to his commitment to bringing his expertise into the larger community, Aaron Tamayose’s precise care and innovative approaches have established him as a positive force for change in the lives of many.

Upon completing his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, his experience and community involvement earned him a position working in the U of L’s Accommodated Learning Centre (ALC). During his nine years there, Tamayose grew the scope of services available to students who required additional learning supports. From expanding the accessibility and understanding of the services available at the centre to minimizing the associated stigma, his efforts broadened greatly the impact of the ALC’s work.

While at the U of L, Tamayose completed his Master of Counselling in Applied Psychology and entered a practicum at Alberta Health Services. He gained firsthand experience providing assessments and treatments to clients accessing the services there and was soon offered a position with their team.

Today, he works as a registered psychologist (forensic and clinical) and Canadian certified counsellor for FAOS and the Rocky Mountain Program. In his role, Tamayose provides assessment and treatment of offenders and assists clients with the transition from prison to a community setting. He helped develop the Rebound Program, which is for offenders who have been diagnosed with intellectual abilities, and provides applied therapies that aim to prevent re-offense for those who are not otherwise suited for traditional forms of therapy. In addition, Tamayose works as a sessional instructor at Reeves College, helping to support the future endeavors of students in the field.

Between his active involvement in the community and his various roles on community boards of directors, to his recent launch of a private practice, it is abundantly clear that Tamayose is generating a substantial impact on Calgary’s social services landscape.

Tamayose will be honoured at 2019 Fall Convocation on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019 at 10 a.m. in the 1st Choice Savings Centre gymnasium.

Open Mike - Coming together to support one another

trevor.kenney — Mon, 16 May 2016 20:31:18 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon discusses the latest issues and events at the U of L

There’s no denying that it has been a very difficult last few weeks for our community.

I want to extend personally my sincere condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of Cameron Stea and Rob Kern, dedicated staff members who we lost in the last week. We are all thinking of you during this difficult time.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon.

When you think about it, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is much more than our place of work, but rather it is a small community. When we have our full complement of students on campus, our population is greater than 10,000, which is essentially a small southern Alberta town. It is not unexpected then when we are met with challenging circumstances as we have seen in the last week.

I urge anyone who is having difficulty dealing with the happenings of the last few days to talk to your co-workers or access the services available through the Employee and Family Assistance Program at 1-800-663-1142.

Despite all we’ve been through, there are some very positive things taking place here on campus, including the upcoming Spring 2016 Convocation, the excitement around finally breaking ground on the Destination Project and the celebration of some of our outstanding staff and faculty.

We recently presented an excellent group of people with the annual President’s Awards for Service Excellence. I often remark to others how committed our faculty and staff are and these annual awards are one way I can say thank you to a select few. Congratulations to this year’s winners, Rosemary Howard, Aaron Tamayose, Jadranka Smiljanec and the staff of the Teaching Centre. You can read more in their citations on UNews.

I want to thank the staff in Housing Services for quickly readying five suites to host evacuees from the Fort McMurray wildfire. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ put its best foot forward in 2013 and served as an outstanding host to more than 250 people displaced during the High River flood event and we are once again ready to help out. I’m extremely proud of how welcoming our community is and I expect the evacuees who do make their way to campus will take great comfort in being amongst our U of L family.

Late last year, the Government of Alberta passed the Public Sector Compensation Transparency Act, which requires the disclosure of public sector employees (including those working at post-secondary institutions) who earn over $125,000 per year. The U of L is working towards implementing this new legal requirement and will inform affected employees of the process and timelines of disclosure as well as potential impacts and exclusions. More information will be posted on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ website. Also, a letter has been sent to all affected employees.

Spring 2016 Convocation takes place June 2-3 and I urge everyone who is on campus to come down to the 1st Choice Savings Centre to take in some part of the ceremonies. If you have never been a part of Convocation, you really should take some time to experience the event, as there is a certain energy associated that is unique to anything we do here. We can all take pride in the roles we play in helping our students realize their aspirations and Convocation is a truly memorable celebration each and every year.

Lastly, I want you to save the date for the Destination Project groundbreaking ceremony. Unfortunately, the previous date of May 24 had to be postponed and we don’t yet have another date confirmed by the provincial government, but keep in mind we will be celebrating the beginning of construction on this transformational project soon. The future of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ will be forever altered by this project and we all have the opportunity to witness the first shovels in the ground. I urge you to come out to take part in history.

President's Awards celebrate outstanding service

trevor.kenney — Fri, 06 May 2016 19:58:50 +0000

The President's Awards for Service Exellence were handed out at the annual Long Service Awards & Retiree Recognition celebration on May 4, 2016, and once again they reflect some of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's most outstanding individuals and teams.

The award winners are listed below.

Teaching Centre Staff - Team

Said to be one of the most positive and upbeat places on campus, the Teaching Centre is home to a team that consistently provides exceptional service and support to those who teach at the U of L. Committed to customer service and creating a sense of ‘home’ on campus for instructors, the Teaching Centre is a highly valuable, yet rarely celebrated, resource that enhances the teaching experience and the impact our teaching staff has on students.

The Teaching Centre staff form a powerhouse; each member performs a crucial role to support the whole. First point of contact Jill Payant organizes events, triages questions and concerns; provides administrative assistance and all other duties as assigned; Bernie Wirzba and Victoria Holec strive to improve the effectiveness of learning environments; John Kometz and Alyssa Di Rocco support and keep Moodle and other technologies running; Tyler Heaton evaluates and supports classroom technologies; Brad Reamsbottom organizes events and works collaboratively with Glenda Martens to develop the many publications of the Teaching Centre such as the ‘Light on Teaching’ Magazine; Todd Doucette's work in video production has expanded the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s reach into the broader Lethbridge community through his Ed Talks TV show airing regularly on Shaw; Doug Orr and Jeff Meadows' work with faculty, graduate students and instructors to provide support for their teaching; and David Hinger’s remarkable leadership empowers those he works with to take initiative and go above and beyond their job requirements. This is a group of individuals fully dedicated to teaching excellence and customer service.

This remarkable team provides exceptional service to the community, works together to help advance one of the central functions of this university, and is committed to innovation and leadership. All this is done with a spirit of professionalism, enthusiasm and genuine passion for this institution.

Rosemary Howard - APO

A proud ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge graduate, Rosemary Howard (BASC ‘73) began working full time in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Library in January of 1973 and shortly thereafter moved into the Interlibrary Loan department.

Rosemary has led the interlibrary loan team at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ for more than 40 years. She works diligently to find research, articles and books for students and faculty members. Rosemary is known for her ability to acquire the “almost impossible” for members of the university community. She has requested and received interlibrary loans for very rare and difficult-to-locate materials, found titles in foreign languages, and found and requested items from libraries all over the world. Rosemary is quite the detective; it is a rare request that goes unfilled. She can track down incomplete citations, make sense of improper bibliographic information and find items that have been mis-shelved for years. She leaves everyone with the feeling that she and her team did everything they could to meet the research request.

The technology in libraries has changed dramatically since the 1980s. This is no less true than in the field of interlibrary loans. From a world of paper catalogues, fax machines and postal mail, to one that employs integrated systems to deliver content directly to email inboxes, Rosemary has moved with the times. Through all the changes, she has adapted and evolved with the environment — learning and mastering the new technologies critical to successful outcomes in her work to become one of the best in her field.

Jadranka Smiljanec - AUPE

As a housekeeper with Housing Services for 30 years, Jadranka (Jay) Smiljanec is an unsung hero who demonstrates an inspiring work ethic and positive attitude. She truly cares for the students who live in residence, and takes on physically demanding tasks to ensure the health and well-being of our residents. Her efforts have a direct impact on the reputation of our institution, and are deeply connected to resident satisfaction and success.

Since joining the Housing Services team in 1986, Jay has witnessed tremendous growth and change at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. From one residence building with 200 students living on campus to seven buildings housing more than 1,000 residents, Jay continues to arrive every morning with a smile on her face and the resolve to tackle the never-ending task of keeping residence clean. Jay has been quoted as saying, “I do love what I do because of the ‘before’ and ‘after’. I feel so much better just seeing it all clean.”

When asked about working with Jay, colleagues all share similar experiences —they are warmly welcomed, respected and appreciated. Jay has provided both professional training and valuable life lessons with hundreds of housekeeping employees, and is a true constant in an industry with high turnover rates.

Jay truly cares for residence students and contributes positively to on-campus student life. She treats our students as her own family and treats our living spaces as if they were her home. She is a motherly figure and a tremendous role model for residents and Residence Assistants.

Jay is someone you meet and never forget. Between her naturally welcoming presence, her willingness to go out of her way to smile and say hello, and her highly sought-after baklava, she is integral to the residence experience and the Housing Services team.

Aaron Tamayose - APO

As manager of the Accommodated Learning Centre, Aaron Tamayose (BA ’09) serves students with enthusiasm, caring and open-mindedness. Aaron ensures students are connected to learning supports, receive necessary accommodations and have access to a myriad of funding resources. He works tirelessly to guarantee that all students supported by his team are treated equitably, with esteem and dignity.

Aaron is thorough, patient and compassionate; he is able to quickly assess when adaptations are needed in a variety of situations. His passion for assisting people is apparent when interacting with students of varying disabilities and mental health concerns. In fact, Aaron treats everyone — students, parents and employees — with integrity and respect regardless of circumstance.

A passionate alumnus, Aaron is deeply committed to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. From his determined quest for knowledge to his ambitious involvement with multiple committees and organizations, Aaron's professionalism and dedication to the U of L is exemplary. Some of the groups Aaron is involved with include: the People Plan, Disability Parking working group, multiple subcommittees for mental health programs, co-chair of the Harassment and Discrimination consulting group, and the anticipated Integrated Post-Secondary Experience Program.

In addition to the work arising from his position and his volunteer responsibilities, he is actively pursuing a master's degree in counselling psychology.

Accommodated Learning Centre supporting students, changing perceptions

trevor.kenney — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 22:39:40 +0000

The services and support they offer are the same – and so is the location – but it’s a brand new day at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Accommodated Learning Centre (ALC).

Formerly the Disabilities Resource Centre, the ALC has rebranded itself, and the reason is simple.

The Accommodated Learning Centre staff, (L to R) Aaron Tamayose, Sheila Gilker, Dale Pulvermacher, Mallory Smith and Catherine Drenth.

“I think the name represents the student population that we serve a little bit better,” says Aaron Tamayose, a specialized support coordinator for the ALC. “Really, that’s all there is to it.”

Manager Sheila Gilker says the name change better reflects how the office and her staff support U of L students and their learning needs.

“It speaks more to what we do in terms of support for students,” she says. “It uses more person-centred and person-friendly language as well, which is important in reducing any negative stigma that may have been associated with the previous name.”

In fact, says Tamayose, the split between students who have actual diagnosed learning disabilities and those with psychiatric conditions is fairly even. Therefore, using a blanket term like disability is not representative of the office’s clientele, which now measures about 5 per cent of the total student population.

“The feedback we’ve received so far has been great,” he says, referencing a consultative e-mail that was sent to their student base as well as other stakeholders about the name change.

“The students have been very positive about it and especially those who use our services that don’t necessarily fall under a disability label, it better represents their needs.”

The ALC supports students in a variety of ways, from simple tutoring assistance, to helping those with exam anxiety to assisting others with auditory and visual disabilities. Whether it’s a physical or medical condition, Gilker’s group is charged to give students every opportunity to succeed in their studies.

“It will take a little bit of time but I think the new name will give us a better opportunity to recreate the culture surrounding our operation,” adds Tamayose.

In the end, if it brings more students to their front door (B760), everyone profits.

Japan Study Tour holds special significance

trevor.kenney — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:04:34 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has been sending students on Japanese study tours for more than 20 years, but you would be hard-pressed to find two students more appreciative of the opportunity to visit Japan than cousins Aaron and Taryn Tamayose.

The duo will accompany education professor Dr. Lance Grigg as part of the 15-student group selected to participate in the Hokkai-Gakuen ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ exchange program. Fourth-generation Japanese, or Yonsei, the two will finally realize a lifelong dream of visiting their ancestral homeland.

"This trip is an opportunity of a lifetime, and there's no words to explain how excited I am to be a part of this with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and my cousin," says Aaron, a psychology major.

"I feel very strongly about my heritage, I like to express it, and what better way to learn a little bit more about the culture?"

Their grandfather's family moved to Canada shortly before the Second World War and was born and raised in Hardieville, just north of Lethbridge. Their grandmother, who had visited Canada as a small child but returned to her native Okinawa, was eventually forced out of Japan after the Battle of Okinawa. Her family eventually wound up in Hardieville and the Tamayose legacy was born.

Over the years, both Aaron and Taryn have experienced the Japanese culture through their grandparents and are eager to see it firsthand.

"We have a really strong family relationship. Growing up, we kept a lot of traditions but I know a lot of them have been westernized as well," says Aaron.

"One advantage we have is our Japanese background but at the same time, that background is a more westernized or assimilated view. A lot of our traditions are related to traditions in Japan, but I expect they are nothing like what it is there."

Taryn, a new media major, says her grandmother would often relate stories of the war years and how her family was forced to live in caves during the 82-day long Battle of Okinawa. She won't get to visit Okinawa on this trip but feels it will lay a foundation for future visits.

"This is a life experience for me and an opportunity to really get immersed in the Japanese culture," she says. "It's already a part of me and this has been a lifelong dream to go there, so I expect to take a lot away from it."

The Tamayose's say they were aware that travel opportunities existed for students at the U of L but never expected to participate. Once the Japan trip became a possibility, they made it a priority.

"I felt that this was worth the sacrifice to delay my convocation because the rewards would be greater to go to Japan and experience something I might never get the chance to do again," says Aaron, who will now convocate in the fall.

"I understood there were a lot of applied opportunities for U of L, students but I never really thought I'd be a part of it. In the last few years, I've really engaged myself with the applied learning process. It's one of those things that enriches the educational experience the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ offers."

That they will live this dream and get to share it with one another only enhances the experience.

"I've never been away for a month so it's comforting to go with someone who's grown up in the same family and has learned many of the same things about our culture," says Taryn.

Japan Study Tour holds special significance

trevor.kenney — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:50:29 +0000

The duo will accompany education professor Dr. Lance Grigg as part of the 15-student group selected to participate in the Hokkai-Gakuen ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ exchange program later this month. Fourth-generation Japanese, or Yonsei, the two will finally realize a lifelong dream of visiting their ancestral homeland.

"I feel very strongly about my heritage, I like to express it, and what better way to learn a little bit more about the culture?"

Over the years, both Aaron and Taryn have experienced the Japanese culture through their grandparents and are eager to see it firsthand.

"We have a really strong family relationship. Growing up, we kept a lot of traditions but I know a lot of them have been westernized as well," says Aaron.

The Tamayose's say they were aware that travel opportunities existed for students at the
U of L but never expected to participate. Once the Japan trip became a possibility, they made it a priority.

"I understood there were a lot of applied opportunities for U of L, students but I never really thought I'd be a part of it. In the last few years, I've really engaged myself with the applied learning process. It's one of those things that enriches the
educational experience the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ offers."

That they will live this dream and get to share it with one another only enhances the experience.

"I've never been away for a month so it's comforting to go with someone who's grown up in the same family and has learned many of the same things about our culture," says Taryn.

UNews - Aaron Tamayose

Making a difference in the lives of others, Tamayose awarded Young Alumnus of the Year honour

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