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��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ experience proves to be the tie that binds

trevor.kenney — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:18:21 +0000

It took 19 years and thousands of miles traversed across the globe before alumna Robyn Schilling (BEd '92) and Gloria Irani-Patterson (BA '93) again crossed paths. And while the stories of their post ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge lives took divergent routes, the former roommates shared a sense of discovery and willingness for adventure that eventually led them back together – in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Schilling's story began with a move away from Lethbridge shortly after graduating with a bachelor of education degree in spring 1992. Quickly finding work as a teacher, she spent the next 11 years of her life teaching high school business education, English and computer science in Dawson Creek, Courtenay and Vancouver, B.C. schools.

"In 2003, I was somewhat disillusioned with how things were with George Bush Jr. and the leadership of the United States and truly disillusioned with how little money I could use to travel on a B.C. teacher's salary that I decided to give international education a try," says Schilling.

Gloria Irani-Patterson, left, and Robyn Schilling reconnected in South Africa, 19 years after being roommates while studying at the U of L.

After attending a job fair for international educational opportunities, she accepted a position at the American School of Bombay in Mumbai, India. For the next five years, Schilling taught computer science and implemented a one-to-one program for middle school students. She also worked towards her master's degree in educational leadership, attending The College of New Jersey's global graduate program for three summers in Mallorca, Spain.

Having worked her way up to become associate principal of the middle and high school, Schilling, with her master's degree in hand, was ready for another challenge and turned her gaze to South Africa.

In the meantime, Irani-Patterson had completed her bachelor's degree in English and entered the world of journalism. She finished a Cinema, Television, Stage and Radio Arts diploma at Calgary's Southern Alberta Institute for Technology and took up a position with CBC Newsworld-Calgary.

"After that, I worked for a couple flagship live television shows on ACCESS-The Education Station in Edmonton before I decided to go overseas for a year and tour Asia and the Caribbean," says Irani-Patterson.

In 1998, she returned to Canada and tackled a new challenge, finding work at a diamond mine in Canada's north. It was there she met here future husband and six years later, with a family started, the couple moved to Suriname, South America.

Two moves later (including a stint in Houston, Tex.), Irani-Patterson found herself walking down the tiled hallway of the American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ), wondering if South Africa was the right fit for her family.

"I was unsure of so many things," she says. "Are the kids going to be OK here? Am I going to be OK here? And then a thunderbolt of certainty hit me straight between the eyes. From behind me I heard a voice that I will never forget – Robyn Schilling – my roommate from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, now the middle school principal of AISJ."

It wasn't long before Irani-Patterson was ending her 10-year role as a stay-at-home mom and back in the workforce, alongside Schilling as the school's assistant to the activities coordinator.

Their relationship picked up virtually where it left off some 19 years previous, the shared experiences of their ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge education having inspired the duo to boldly branch out and find their respective paths, all the while bringing them back together with an unbroken bond.

"Although it is still unclear to me why our paths have crossed again," says Irani-Patterson, "reuniting with Robyn has taught me that even though the world around me changes, and I embrace that change, the relationship I began with Robyn at the U of L is a familiar and comfortable beacon in my changing world."

This story first appeared in the June 2013 edition of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Blake finds balance in burgeoning musical career

trevor.kenney — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:01:38 +0000

Ask Pronghorns men's basketball guard Terrence Blake who he looks to emulate and Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Chris Paul or Rajon Rondo won't be on the list. No, Blake is more likely to drop names such as Lil Wayne, Drake and Akon, because as much as basketball is his game, music is his passion.

"Music started for me when I was in junior high," says Blake, who just recently hit the urban rap charts with his first single, Ima Get Paid. "I've always written, done poetry, and I started turning it into music in high school. From there it's just been a passion I've had and continued on with – it'll probably never stop."

Terrence Blake and Evrlove are making waves in the rap industry

In fact this could just be the start for Blake, who literally came out of nowhere to stun the rap world. Working with his team, Evrlove Music (Corey F and Artafacts), he'd had a number of singles mixed and produced locally. But if the fourth-year marketing major has learned anything during his studies in the Faculty of Management, it's how to promote himself.

"I've been blessed in a way," he says. "Through networking and just talking to people I got my demos out and really I was just looking for feedback. As an artist, I just wanted to learn about the business but within 24 hours of getting my music into the hands of the right person, I was flown out to Los Angeles and started in the studio."

Working with Larry Dee Entertainment (www.larrydeeentertainment.biz) and Grammy Award winning producer Bob Horn (Brandy, Akon), they put Ima Get Paid into the mainstream and it hit big.

"It's still getting a lot of rotation on record stations down in the States," says Blake, who's single is available on iTunes. "The first few weeks it got a lot of buzz and ended up on the Rickett's chart based out of New Jersey. I actually was the only non-signed artist to a major label who made the chart."

He says he draws his inspiration from everywhere, and by simply observing people.

"You could say I'm inspired by Lil Wayne, I admire his talent and most of all how he built something from nothing. He is not only an artist but a businessman as well," says Blake.

Ima Get Paid can be taken literally as a song about making money and Blake says that's fine if people connect with it that way, but to him, it's so much more.

"My intention on this song was the idea that in life we all chase dreams and have aspirations," he says. "This song was more like an anthem stating that I will get my goal, I will make it, I will live the way I want to, Ima get paid."

Blake in action with the Horns. Known as a lock-down defender, he is a valuable role player and veteran presence. PHOTO by Paula Gorman.

An Edmonton native, Blake was highly recruited out of high school and spent two seasons at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary before suffering a devastating ankle injury. After recuperating, he looked south to the U of L, joining the Horns this past fall when good friend Dominyc Coward moved across the river from the Lethbridge College program.

"The atmosphere around here is great, there's a ton of support, I've noticed it's a pretty tight knit community and I've enjoyed it a lot," he says, admitting there was a phase of culture shock moving to a smaller city.

"It's been a positive adjustment though because I've found more time for myself. There's less things to distract you around here so you kind of focus a little more. I think it's definitely helped me with my schooling."

Blake is considered a valuable role player with the club, and played an integral role in the team achieving its best regular season in 12 years. He's earned the respect of his teammates and his coach.

"He's a guy that's mature and had a lot of things that have happened in his life to bring him to this point," says Horns head coach Dave Adams. "The thing I love about Terrence is that he always has a perspective and always brings something into the program that's good for everybody."

As far as his off-court activities, Adams pleads ignorance.

"As a 54-year-old white guy who lives in Lethbridge, Alberta, (the non-demographic for his music) I really have no comment on his music," he laughs. "I have no idea whether it's good or bad but they tell me it's very good."

How good remains to be seen – and heard. Blake will likely see some touring opportunities this summer, opening for bigger acts in California, Ohio and the southern U.S.

"I want to just keep creating buzz and following my passion, and maybe it'll lead to a co-sign or a sign with a label, just a chance to keep doing what I'm doing."

After that, he intends to get back on the court and help the Horns return to the Canada West playoffs. Whether his future is in music or business, he's confident he's setting himself up well either way.

"If I'm not signed by the time I graduate, I'm looking to do some public relations work or some direct marketing, maybe point of sales," says Blake. "I love marketing, really all aspects of business. I love to talk in front of people, so hopefully if I'm not in front of the microphone, I'm in front of a crowd doing something with that."

This story first appeared in the April 2012 issue of the Legend. To view the entire issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Fitzpatrick accepts Regina post

trevor.kenney — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:57:23 +0000

Dr. Dennis Fitzpatrick, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry and the Vice-President Research Emeritus at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, has accepted a position as the Vice-President, Research at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina, beginning in July, 2011.

Fitzpatrick joined the U of L in 1999, and significantly expanded the research footprint of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in many directions.

"This is an excellent opportunity for Dennis. His contributions here were significant, and we wish him well in this new role at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina," says U of L President Mike Mahon.

During his time at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Fitzpatrick made a significant contribution to expanding the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's research beyond grant management to include strategic planning, team building, project development and the funding of numerous large institutional research initiatives in all three of the Tri-Council research domains.

Notable successes included the development of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's first industry partnership with the Alberta Terrestrial Imaging Corporation, the funding of the Albert Ingenuity Centre for Water Research, a SSHRC Community ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Research Alliance Grant, an NSERC Capacity Development Grant and the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Polaris Award.

Prior to becoming Vice-President (Research) at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Fitzpatrick held a series of academic and administrative appointments at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba. He began his academic career at that university after graduating in 1981 with his PhD from Rutgers ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in New Jersey.

Latin American Film Series event, Wednesday

trevor.kenney — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:50:35 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Latin American Film Series presents "Without Name", Wednesday night, 7 p.m. at the Lethbridge Public Library.

In this award-winning film, Cary Fukunaga tells the connected stories of Sayra and Willy. Sayra is a young Honduran woman traveling with her father and uncle on the tops of freight trains in the hopes of entering the U.S. illegally and reuniting with family members in New Jersey. Willy is a member of a Mexican gang who rides the train tops to rob aspiring immigrants.

Beautifully filmed and powerfully told, the movie narrates the immigrants' journeys in pursuit of elusive goals.

Dr. Omar Rodríguez of the U of L's Department of Modern Languages will lead an oral discussion following the screening. Admission is free.

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��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ experience proves to be the tie that binds

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��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ experience proves to be the tie that binds