UNews - Prairie Baseball Academy

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ offers condolences in wake of tragic deaths

trevor.kenney — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:02:12 +0000

The Lethbridge education community is greatly saddened by the loss of four young people today in a tragic incident, which took place just north of Claresholm, Alta. in the early hours of Thursday, Dec. 15.

At this time, official confirmation of the names of the deceased, and one individual who was injured and is hospitalized in Calgary, have not yet been released by the RCMP. This notice will be updated as soon as that information becomes officially available.

"Our hearts go out to the families and their friends and colleagues," says U of L President Mike Mahon.

"We understand that this issue has involved some individuals who are members of the Prairie Baseball Academy, an organization with which we have a long term relationship."

Memorial service information will be announced as the dates, times and locations are confirmed.

"I want to emphasize that if an employee or student is affected by this tragedy, we encourage them to seek out our counselling services, or to contact our Human Resources office to engage the services of our employee assistance counsellors."

Counselling Services Office – 403-317-2845

Human Resources – 403-329-2274

Employee Family Assistance Program: 1-800-663-1142 (24 hrs)
http://www.uleth.ca/hum/efap

Southwestern Alberta Distress Line: 403-327-7905

Outstanding in her field

trevor.kenney — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:58:51 +0000

In a career that has spanned almost four decades, Dr. Shirley McClellan (LLD '10) says that there hasn't been a single day that she didn't want to go to work.

"There have been a few days when I got to work I wanted to turn right back around," says McClellan with a laugh, "but there's never been a morning when I wasn't looking forward to going in."

McClellan is best known for her 20-year service as an Alberta MLA, but her curriculum vitae gained another important accolade earlier this year when she was appointed the 12th chancellor of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. McClellan's ties to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ go back many years, but she was an advocate for education long before the U of L was on her personal or professional radar.

A huge baseball fan, Shirley McClellan helped establish the Prairie Baseball Academy.

Born in Hanna, Alta., in 1942, McClellan grew up in a politically and educationally active family. Her father was mayor and chairman of the town's school board for many years.

"I was raised with the belief that, as citizens, we should be interested and involved in our communities," says McClellan. "Contributing and making your town a better place to live wasn't anything unusual or extraordinary, it was just what you did."

McClellan has been a proponent of higher education for many years. Her first foray into the field of educational advancement took place while living on a farm in the New Brigden area, just west of the Saskatchewan border. McClellan had volunteered in the community in a variety of ways for years, and eventually was asked to be the co-ordinator of further education for the area.

"I was told it would be a six-month commitment, but I ended up doing the job for 12 years," says McClellan. "Rural areas were struggling to keep professionals because of a lack of opportunities to upgrade their credentials. The thinking was that if we offered programming in these areas, professionals wouldn't leave communities that needed them."

During her time as the further-education co-ordinator, McClellan was invited to sit on the board of directors of the Big Country Education Consortium headquartered in Drumheller, as well as serving on the Minister's Advisory Committees for Further Education and College Affairs. This work led to the creation of distance-delivery credit programs available to rural residents and professionals through Olds College, SAIT, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary, Lethbridge College, Medicine Hat College, as well as the U of L.

"That was when I developed a keen interest in further education," says McClellan. "It became clear to me that the key to Alberta's success was a well-rounded and well-educated workforce. Lifelong learning isn't just a buzzword for me. People should never stop learning. Young people today may have three or four careers in their lifetime. We need an education system that accommodates that."

McClellan's political career officially began in 1987 when she was elected to the Alberta legislature. She served six consecutive terms for the Drumheller-Stettler constituency, holding a diverse portfolio of ministerial offices including associate minister of agriculture, minister of rural development, minister of health, and minister of community development, to name just a few. She also served as deputy premier and finance minister during her tenure. Ironically, McClellan took over the riding somewhat by happenstance. She was an active member of the constituency when the existing MLA unexpectedly passed away. Having served as president, campaign manager and regional director for the party, McClellan was selected as a possible successor.

"A lot of people came to me and said that I'd be a good choice to take over, so I let my name stand in the byelection," says McClellan.

"I never imagined that decision would lead to 20 years in office, but I don't regret a minute of it. Serving as an MLA was a great honour and a fantastic experience. I'd been involved in political circles for years, but this was something much larger. I remember the day I was sworn in; the realization hit me that I had a heavy responsibility bestowed upon me."

McClellan accomplished much during her two decades in office, but is particularly proud of her involvement with the Prairie Baseball Academy program at Lethbridge College and the U of L. Founded in 1995, the Academy met a need that McClellan and many other Albertans identified in the education system.

"There wasn't an academic baseball program anywhere in the country at the time," says McClellan. "If our young people wanted a career in baseball, they had to go to a U.S. college. We wanted to offer kids a way to pursue their dreams in Canada."

As a huge baseball fan, and a parent and grandparent of very involved players, McClellan was 100 per cent behind the development of the Academy, and worked closely with former Lethbridge MLA Clint Dunford to get it off the ground. McClellan opened a baseball game in July 1995 between the Canadian national team and the Oyen Pronghorns with a cheque for the newly established Prairie Baseball Academy in the amount of $25,000, donated by the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation.

With politics behind her, McClellan is now focused on her role as chancellor at the U of L, which she will hold for four years. Education is one passion that she continues to pursue, but McClellan is also involved in a second interest she holds close to her heart: she became the CEO of Horse Racing Alberta on June 1.

"I love everything to do with horses," confesses McClellan. "Aside from the fact that they're beautiful animals, horses are a big part of the Alberta economy. We have the most complete horsing industry in Canada. It's a great part of our provincial heritage, and I just admire the people in the industry a great deal."

McClellan participated in developing legislation for the Horse Racing Alberta Renewal Initiative as minister of agriculture while in government.

True to her rural roots, McClellan lives and farms near New Brigden with her husband Lloyd, their son Mick, daughter Tami (BEd '89) and her husband Jeff, and four energetic grandchildren. Ask her the secret to achieving lifelong career satisfaction, and McClellan responds in signature style – shooting straight from the hip.

"I've made a living doing a bunch of things that I love to do," she says. "Isn't that the best way to live? You should believe in what you do, and feel good about it. If you do, everyday is a good day and you do a much better job overall."

This story first appeared in the Fall 2011 edition of SAM. For a full look at SAM in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Welcoming Shirley

trevor.kenney — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:42:22 +0000

Chancellor-elect Shirley McClellan wants everyone to know that she is more than aware of the distance from her farm in New Brigden, Alta. to Lethbridge.

Her family made the more than 400 km drive regularly while her daughter Tami (BEd '89) attended the U of L. She also has four hockey-playing grandchildren who travel to Lethbridge and southern Alberta on a regular basis. Indeed, the former politician, rural advocate and veteran community volunteer has been on the road as much as some long distance truck drivers.

Since leaving the Government of Alberta in 2007, after a 20-year career as a member of the Alberta Legislature, McClellan has matched her interests in farming and education with a long tradition of community service, most recently as a Distinguished Scholar in Residence at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta's Rural Economy/ALES Faculty Office and The School of Business.

"I am very honoured to be selected to serve as the U of L's Chancellor," says McClellan, who was elected by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Senate on Feb. 5. "I've had a strong affinity for the U of L which dates back to my days not only as a parent of a U of L student, but in the continuing education field, where we worked with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the college in the early days of Campus Alberta to develop credit programming for rural communities."

McClellan says that over the years, she has followed the development of the U of L's water research programming with a lot of interest.

"I was Minister of Agriculture twice, and in my area of the province, water and irrigation issues are critical to the success of the agriculture industry. The U of L is a real leader in that area, and many more. I am looking forward to participating in as many activities as possible to help tell the U of L story."

McClellan has been involved in bringing advanced education to rural areas, serving on the board of directors for the Alberta Association of Continuing Education and the Canadian Association for Continuing Education. She also served as co-ordinator of the Big Country Further Education Council for 12 years, among other volunteer roles.

"I've also been involved in the development of the Prairie Baseball Academy, which serves students at both the U of L and Lethbridge College," says McClellan. "A lot of young people who had academic talent as well as baseball skills had to go to the United States, and this model has really shown what they can do. I really like that they develop the whole student, not just the sports aspect. It's exciting to see more of these academies develop in such places as Vauxhall and Oyen."

She adds that as a proponent of Campus Alberta, she was aware that the U of L has always shown strength in the area of developing strategic liaisons with other institutions.

"I really want that process of collaboration to continue in as many ways as possible," says McClellan.

U of L president Mike Mahon says McClellan's small-town roots will be a great benefit to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Students come from all over the country to attend the U of L, and many of them are from smaller communities, so it is helpful to have a Chancellor that relates to their circumstance.

"Shirley appreciates the challenges they face and the interests they have," says Mahon. "We are fortunate to have her on our team."

GET THE FACTS

• McClellan served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for the Drumheller-Stettler constituency from 1987 to 2007. During that time she had a number of diverse portfolios, including finance minister. She also served as deputy premier.

• McClellan is a member of the Olds College Board of Governors, and is active in the governance of Horse Racing Alberta.

• McClellan now farms near New Brigden, Alta., with her family, which includes husband Lloyd, son Mick and daughter Tami (BEd 89) who, with her spouse Jeff, have four children ages 10 to 14.

• Several community organizations have named facilities in McClellan's honour, in particular Olds College, which unveiled the Shirley McClellan Riding arena in 2009. The town of Oyen also dedicated their aquatic centre to her.

• In 2010, McClellan received an honorary degree from the U of L.

For a look at the February issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Balancing work and play

trevor.kenney — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:49:09 +0000

We've played with toys since we were kids, so it's hardly surprising that with the toys available in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's kinesiology labs, students are lining up for independent study opportunities that allow them to keep playing.

The play, of course, is research-oriented, but it involves some of the most interesting gadgets on campus. The results are engaged students who often turn undergraduate degrees into graduate work that produces groundbreaking discoveries in everything from sports psychology and biomechanics to the creation of neuroprosthetic devices.

Jeff Newman tests out his research equipment.

"The independent study program is an opportunity for students to apply the foundational knowledge they've learned through their theoretical courses," says Dr. Lesley Brown, kinesiology professor. "For example, it's a chance to apply the biomechanical principles they learn about in a classroom setting, or take the research design knowledge they've gained in a statistics class and use it to design a research experiment."

The ability to step out of a traditional classroom and use theoretical skills in a real-world setting enthuses fourth-year student Jeff Newman.

"In class you have that structure, which is good, but here you're still learning but in a way that's unique to you and interests you," Newman says. "In that case, I find it a lot more rewarding when you finish. I've put a lot more effort into my independent study just because it's something a little closer to my heart."

A lifelong baseball player who played with the Prairie Baseball Academy program, Newman is studying pitch tracking in elite athletes. Using specially designed ASL mobile eyeglasses, he is able to determine the point at which an athlete disengages their eye from an approaching ball and looks elsewhere. He expects to find tracking distance changes between various pitches (fastball, curveball) and then apply that knowledge to coaching techniques.

Laura Hagstrom is in her final semester of kinesiology after starting a degree in biochemistry. She found an interest in the physiology aspect of kinesiology and decided to pursue the topic in the independent study program.

"The cool thing with my project is that I'm part of Dr. (Jennifer) Copeland's research team," says Hagstrom.

Studying hormone levels in elite female athletes, specifically ultra marathon runners, Hagstrom is measuring the effect endurance exercises have on the production of the hormone DHEA.

"I was able to choose what I wanted to do within the topic and was able to be involved with the actual physical testing," she says, having participated in the testing of athletes who participated in the Lost Soul Ultra marathon in September. "I'd never done that aspect before so to be part of that data collection and be out there on race day was really interesting."

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge prides itself in being able to involve undergraduate students in faculty research programs, and as Brown says, the independent study course offerings are a testament to that claim.

"For us it's also been incredible in terms of recruiting graduate students," says Brown. "All the students who have come through my lab, even my PhD student, started with independent study courses within our department."

Cody Kempster (BSc '08) is currently pursuing a master's degree after having come through an independent study program while finishing off his undergraduate degree. He was given the opportunity to research movement in subjects with Parkinson's disease, exploring how walking with music affected their gait and whether the music being meaningful to them had any further effect.

"That's what sparked my interest and after that I just moved into the lab and started my master's studies. My research now is based on fear of falling and the attentional contributions related to maintaining balance," he says.
"For me, this kind of research has me working with people, and it's specific to them. It's very personal work, and I like the time I get to spend with the research participants, who are mainly seniors from the community."

Using a scissor lift and balance board connected to a data-collecting computer, he too gets to play with the lab's toys as part of his research methodology.

That's what also drew neuroscience student Jenni Karl (BSc '08) to the kinesiology lab.

Karl, who is currently pursuing a neuroscience master's degree, benefited from the collaboration between professor Dr. Jon Doan (PhD '06), kinesiology, and her supervisor Dr. Ian Whishaw, neuroscience.

"The compatibility of the courses offered in kinesiology and other departments is great, they work really well with each other," says Karl, who was able to study neuroprosthetic devices and how a device implanted in the brain to record motor signals could be applied to help patients with spinal cord injury or amputation.
"I was interested in the brain but also motor control Through my independent study I was able to bridge that gap between departments."

It's a program that has struck a chord with its students and produced real results, both in terms of building up undergraduate research and retaining graduate level students.

UNews - Prairie Baseball Academy

��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ offers condolences in wake of tragic deaths

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