UNews - Lethbridge Symphony Association

2013 Alumni Honour Society inductees

trevor.kenney — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:54:29 +0000

Introduced in celebration of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's 35th anniversary in 2002, the Alumni Honour Society recognizes the achievement of successful alumni within the global community. The alumni inducted into this prestigious group have served as role models to our students and the broader ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community through success in their vocation, outstanding community service or superior accomplishment in their avocation.

Sarah Amies (BASc '88)

A vigorous and compassionate human rights advocate, Sarah Amies has more than 20 years of experience in the not-for-profit and education sectors. Since becoming the program director of Lethbridge Family Services – Immigrant Services in 2001, Amies has had a positive impact on new immigrants in the Lethbridge community. Under her leadership, Lethbridge Family Services has grown in programming and services, and expanded its resources. She has worked closely with many volunteer boards, such as the Alberta Association of Immigrant Services Agencies, the Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination, Family Violence and Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention Committee and Social Housing in Action. The YWCA recognized her in 2012.

Sylvia Campbell (BEd '79)

Through her many years as an educator and mentor, Sylvia Campbell has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to environmental issues and human rights. She has served on numerous committees and boards, including the Lethbridge branch of the Canadian Federation of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Women, the Southern Alberta Group for Environment and the Lethbridge Network for Peace. Campbell was a longtime member of the Raging Grannies, a group through which she worked to raise awareness of social justice issues related to peace, the environment, gender, human rights, world equality, Canadian unity and social programs. In 2003, she was recognized by the YWCA.

Frank Gnandt (BASc '74, BEd '79)

Frank Gnandt has been an exceptional educator in Lethbridge School District No. 51 for more than 30 years and has instilled a passion for the arts in many students. Gnandt, currently the choir director for Chinook High School in Lethbridge, is recognized by his peers as an accomplished adjudicator, instructor and conductor. His influence and passion for music have spread to students and audiences locally, provincially, nationally and abroad. Gnandt has been a guest conductor and performed at numerous prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall and at the Vatican. Gnandt is a recipient of both the Governor General's Award for Community Service and the ATA Teacher of Excellence Award.

Michelle Hogue (MEd '04)

An assistant professor and co-ordinator of the First Nations Transition Program at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Dr. Michelle Hogue has helped ensure the success of many students at university, particularly in science-related programs. Hogue's research blends required curricular and institutional demands with narrative and arts practices that, with holistic knowledge, have the potential to change science education for Aboriginal learners. In addition to her research, Hogue develops new and innovative teaching practices with high school students, educators and administrators on the Blackfoot (Kainai) Reserve in southern Alberta. Hogue has been the recipient of many awards and scholarships, including most recently the Canadian Education Association Pat Clifford Award.

Douglas McArthur (Certificate in Mgt '90)

Douglas McArthur is well known for his enthusiastic support of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and particularly the U of L Alumni Association (ULAA). An investment advisor by profession, McArthur served as ULAA president from 2003 to 2005. His leadership played a key role in advancing the ULAA, strengthening its affinity with alumni and establishing a foundation that the association has continued to build upon. McArthur remains an active member of the ULAA and is currently serving on the U of L Board of Governors. McArthur has invested in his community by volunteering his time with organizations such as Rotary, Crime Stoppers and the Lethbridge Symphony Association.

Diane Randell (BN '91)

Throughout her career, Diane Randell has worked diligently to make a difference in her community. Since beginning her career in nursing in the 1970s, Randell's care and compassion for others has expanded from individual patients to entire communities. Currently the manager of the community and social development group at the City of Lethbridge, Randell's work addresses large-scale issues such as social policy, homelessness, poverty and racism. Randell is a founding member of the Abreast of Bridge Dragon Boat Team, a founding board member and past Chair of the Lethbridge Dragon Boat Festival and a member of the U of L Senate. She has been recognized by Rotary International, the YWCA and is a recipient of the Queen's Jubilee Medal.

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

Campus Kudos

trevor.kenney — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:27:00 +0000

Lana Gabor (Art Gallery) is part of a group exhibition at the Hungarian Multicultural Center in Budapest. The exhibition is a follow-up of AIR (International Artists in Residencies program) in which Gabor previously participated. Her website can be found at www.lana-ing-gabor.com

Dana Inkster (New Media) presented a workshop entitled, The Art of Biography, on May 2 as part of StoryCatchers at the Galt Museum.

Dr. Janet Youngdahl's (Music) recording of Songs by Bellerofonte Castaldi (c. 1623) titled 'Battaglia d'amore' has just been issued by the Toccata Classics label (London, England). The disc was recorded in Italy with the group Il Furioso and features songs with lute and harpsichord accompaniment.

Pronghorn athletes Jim Steacy (track and field) and Ashley Patzer (rugby) were named Kinsmen Sportspersons of the Year recently at the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony.

Dr. David Renter (Music) has organized a small jazz festival at The Slice on June 19 & 20 in conjunction with the Medicine Hat Jazz Festival. The community big band called Contemporary Works Jazz Orchestra, which he recently started, is the headliner on Friday, June 19. Joel Miller, a jazz saxophonist from Montreal, performs with his quartet Saturday, June 20.

Aliya Lalani (fourth-year Management student) is among 180 college and university students chosen from more than 900 across Canada to attend the Co-operators Youth Conference for Sustainability Leadership at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Guelph in September, 2009. Entitled, "Impact!" the all-expenses-paid conference ties in nicely with her academic studies and interest in the environment.

Breeanne Fuller (Conservatory of Music) has been accepted into the MEd (literacy) program at the U of L. Fuller also teaches Kindermusik for the Conservatory of Music and her classes have been getting a lot of attention recently. In April, she was featured as an educator whose program continues to thrive despite the recession in the Kindermusik International professional development newsletter, which goes to 5,000 educators in 66 countries. Fuller is one of only 800 Kindermusik educators in the world whose programs have increased this year.

A trio of U of L students earned top prizes at the Lethbridge Symphony Association's Young Artist Competition. Matthew Blackburn, piano, placed first; Tony Park, playing clarinet, was second; and Krysta Mellon, soprano, was third.

Matson willing and able to play any part

trevor.kenney — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:59:19 +0000

Sheila Matson is adept at playing a variety of roles, whether professionally or on stage. This has served her well in a three-part career at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge that began in 1968 and has no end in sight.

"It's been wonderful," Matson says of her time at the U of L. "I love the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, I don't think there's a better employer in the city and I really don't say that lightly because I've been in many different spots."

Currently, playing an administrative support role in the physics and astronomy department, Matson has seen virtually every corner of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

She began with a job in the registrar's office in 1968, working out of a mobile trailer on the city's south side. Since then she's worked in the Department of Anthropology, as an administrative assistant for the vice-president of administration, the advancement (then development) office, the library and for the director of physical plant. All the while she's moved to England, Medicine Hat, worked for the Lethbridge Symphony and Lethbridge College.

The one constant is that Matson keeps coming back to the U of L.

"It's so neat walking around now and seeing how this place has grown from this one building that stretched across the coulees to what we have today. It's been amazing," she says.

Her ability to adapt to new roles and meet new challenges is surely aided by Matson's not-so-secret talent, musical theatre. She's long been recognized as one of the area's most accomplished actors, recently giving a command performance as Mrs. Lovett in Lethbridge Musical Theatre's presentation of Sweeney Todd.

"I've been fortunate enough to be in sort of a small pond like Lethbridge to be able to play some amazing pieces and have some wonderful parts in all of them," she modestly says.

Her role as Mrs. Lovett was a return to Sweeney Todd, a play she performed here on campus in 1991 with the Centre Stage Players. Her first piece with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Faculty of Fine Arts did not come until four years ago, when Brian Parkinson cast her in "Noises Off".

"We're an incredibly well-rounded artistic community so I'm thrilled and pleased to be a part of it. I almost feel as though I've taken over Joan Waterfield's role, I've inherited the mantle that she kind of passed down," Matson says. "That's why I've been able to adapt and move through things because nothing stays static. I love the variety and continued challenges you find."

That attitude, coupled with worldly experience, is the main reason she so seamlessly slid into her current position.

"When I heard the job was in physics and astronomy, I wasn't so sure my fine arts background would fit," she laughs. "But this is such a collaborative department in every way. I don't feel like I work for physics and astronomy. I'm treated as a member of the department and I'm involved at all levels. One of the things that I am here for is to be the face the students see and meet and I love that. That's the best part of the job as far as I'm concerned. I'm very proud to be that face and I always have been, whatever job I've done here at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ."

She's open to anyone dropping by the physics department to learn more about its programs but if you don't make it up there, check her out on stage next fall when she participates in the Lethbridge Symphony Association's kick-off fundraising production of Light in the Piazza.

It will be just another face she's eager to try on.

GET THE FACTS

• Matson managed the Lethbridge Symphony from 1998-2000

• Her daughter, Lindsay Pisko, and son, Matt Pisko, both graduated from the U of L

• Matson won the Grace Elliott Trudeau Scholarship for the best actor/actress under the age of 25 at the Dominion Drama Festival in 1970

• She credits longtime director Fran Rude as a mentor, having worked with her on Shirley Valentine and most recently on Sweeney Todd

• The Lethbridge Symphony Chorus spawned the LMT and Matson was a member of the chorus in LMT's first production, Finian's Rainbow, in April 1964

UNews - Lethbridge Symphony Association

2013 Alumni Honour Society inductees

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Matson willing and able to play any part

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