UNews - Lethbridge Collegiate Institute

High school iGEM team best in the world

trevor.kenney — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 20:23:42 +0000

A team of Lethbridge high school students has been awarded the coveted Green Brick grand prize at the iGEM High School Jamboree – an international competition for young synthetic biologists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, MA.

The team was judged on its efforts to create a longer lasting form of Oxytocin – a hormone most-commonly known for its use in aiding childbirth. Oxytocin, unfortunately, has a very short half-life meaning the hormone degrades quickly and soon becomes unstable, making it expensive and difficult to store.

The Lethbridge High School team together with their ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge undergraduate student and graduate student advisors and their faculty advisor, Dr. HJ Wieden, successfully developed a genetic circuit (BioBricks) to reprogram a harmless laboratory strain of the common bacterium Escherichia coli to express a stabilized variant of Oxytocin. Details about their project and the team itself can be found on their project website (wiki) http://2013hs.igem.org/Team:Lethbridge_Canada

In addition to being named the top team at the competition, the Lethbridge team also was awarded prizes for the "Best Bio Brick" and "Best Wiki". A total of 30 international teams competed at the event last weekend.

The iGEM Foundation fosters scientific research and education through organizing and operating the iGEM Competition, the premier student synthetic biology competition. It also facilitates scientific research and education by establishing and operating the Registry of Standard Biological Parts, a community collection of open source biological components.

The organization promotes the advancement of science and education by developing an international open community of students and practitioners in schools, laboratories, research institutes and industry.

"One of the real values of the U of L's commitment to the iGEM program is that it is building bridges between high school and university experiences," say Dr. HJ Wieden, a U of L synthetic biology researcher who served as an advisor to the team. "These exceptional students will be the innovators and entrepreneurs who will add tremendous value to Alberta's economy and quality of life in the future."

Students from the Lethbridge team represented various Lethbridge high schools including Chinook High School, Winston Churchill High School, Catholic Central High School and Lethbridge Collegiate Institute. The team has successfully applied for funding from Alberta Innovates Technology Futures (geekStarter) to support their project.

"This result is absolutely exceptional, though I am not surprised. Previous iGEM competitions have placed ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge undergraduate and our Lethbridge high school teams among the best in the world on multiple occasions," says U of L President and Vice-Chancellor Mike Mahon. "The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has a strong track record of attracting world-leading faculty like Dr. Wieden and we are committed to partnering with the community through programs like the iGEM High School Jamboree. It also illustrates that our local high schools are producing some incredible young scientists."

The Lethbridge high school team plans on continuing its Oxytocin project next year.

2013 Honorary Degree recipients

trevor.kenney — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:01:45 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Senate has confirmed a diverse and distinguished group of five persons as recipients of Honorary Degrees for 2013.

From the sporting field to the boardroom, the concert hall and the halls of parliament and justice, the group represents a cross section of the local, national and international community.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is very pleased that these individuals have agreed to let us recognize them with an Honorary Degree," says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Chancellor, Dr. Shirley McClellan. "Their collective accomplishments have made our local, provincial, national and international communities stronger and have improved the quality of life for people around the world."

Following are brief biographies (in alphabetical order) of this year's honoured recipients.

Dr. Garald (Gary) W. Bowie

A founding faculty member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Dr. Gary Bowie is a respected community volunteer, builder, leader and educator.

Dr. Bowie taught and developed courses in physical education and kinesiology at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ over the course of a 30-year career (1968-1998) and played a major role in the construction of the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness.

A former Pronghorns basketball coach and Chair of the Department of Physical Education, Dr. Bowie was also active in his community, serving as the Director of Sports for the 1975 Canada Winter Games and Chair of both the Alberta Winter and Summer Games. A co-founder and Chair of the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame, Dr. Bowie is also a hall inductee.

As an educator, Dr. Bowie served 15 years as a trustee on the Lethbridge School District #51 Board, and his volunteer activities have long served the local and provincial homeless populations.

He was recently appointed Chair of the Alberta Secretariat for Action on Homelessness and continues to positively influence his community.

Richard (Rick) Casson

The former Manager of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Printing Services, Rick Casson has served the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, his home community of Picture Butte, the people of southern Alberta and Canada as a whole over the course of his 30-plus year political career.

Casson began his community service as a volunteer firefighter before being convinced to run for local political office, eventually serving as a municipal councilor for nine years and then as Mayor of Picture Butte for an additional nine years.

Casson would spend 14 years as a sitting Member of Parliament and was both a successful and influential MP. He served as Chair of the Standing Committee on National Defense as well as Chair of the Special Committee on Afghanistan, all the while remaining true to his local roots and actively supporting the constituents of southern Alberta.

Named to the Queens Privy Council for Canada in 2010, Casson has also been a strong advocate for the support of Multiple Sclerosis research, raising $122,000 for the MS Society over the last seven years.

Rivka Golani

A world-class musician, performer, teacher and promoter of classical music, Rivka Golani is among the top-five viola soloists in the world and a major contributor to the advancement of classical music in southern Alberta.

Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, Golani moved to Canada in 1974, performing across the country and spreading the love of music to the communities that she visited.
When approached to teach master viola classes to students in southern Alberta, she enthusiastically shared her immense talent and quickly took up the charge to create an international music festival.

The Fort Macleod International Festival was born and is now in its ninth year.

A dedicated and successful teacher, Golani is also a champion of southern Alberta composers, giving young musicians the opportunity to showcase their talents and taking their works to national and international audiences.

With more than 250 original works composed especially for her, Golani has brought the world of classical music to southern Alberta's doorstep.

Robert Turner

As Chair of the Board of Governors for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge for six years (2006-2012), Robert Turner helped guide the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ through an era of significant change and growth, including the creation of a new Strategic Plan, a successful fundraising campaign and a major expansion of campus services.

Turner, a successful attorney and businessman, was elected to the U of L's Board of Governors in 2002 and served four years as a key contributor to the creation of governance policies and practices, as well as the attached responsibilities of the Board, administration and others.

When appointed Chair of the Board in 2006 and then reappointed for a second term in 2009, Turner recruited an outstanding group of Board members, ensuring gender balance, a Pan-Alberta membership and the skills necessary to run an emerging comprehensive university.

Turner's extensive volunteer contributions reflect the values of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and continue to have impact at the local, provincial and national level.

Neil Wittmann

Lethbridge Collegiate Institute graduate Neil Wittmann has long been respected as one of the top litigators in the province of Alberta, serving as an exceptional teacher and mentor to junior lawyers and erstwhile champion of ethical litigation.

Now, as Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench in the Province of Alberta, Wittmann conducts the majority of his work behind the scenes, continually working to better the practice of law in the province.

As Vice-Chair of the Judicial Conduct Committee of the Canadian Judicial Council (CJC), Wittmann's work is absolutely essential in ensuring that the independency of the judiciary is maintained in Canada and the conduct of the members of the judiciary adhere to the ethical principles adapted by the CJC.

Wittmann's stellar career as a lawyer in private practice, coupled with his excellence as a judge and now Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench demonstrates the respect and admiration the legal community has for his contributions to the practice of law in Alberta and beyond.

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.

Alumnus Anderson takes pride in being No. 1

trevor.kenney — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:11:50 +0000

It is one of those things that really shouldn't be a big deal. After all, a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ ID number is just a simple sequence of digits and every student has one. Why is it then that years after graduation, when we have occasion to remember that long forgotten string of integers, do so many of us wax nostalgic?

Perhaps the answer lays not so much in the numbers themselves but in the memories they have come to symbolize, memories of friends and professors, great marks, not so great marks and the ultimate realization of an incredible accomplishment.

At the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, the first two numbers on a student's ID represent the year that a student begins studying there. If you know a bit about the history of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, you might guess that the first student ID started with the number 67. Wayne Anderson (BASc '73), the first student registered at the U of L, however, tells a little different story of ID number 00057001.

"When I graduated from high school in Picture Butte in 1957, Kate Andrews was the chairman of the board that was starting up a college in Lethbridge. Because our school district contributed funds to the building of the college, the college gave us the opportunity to go in and start as first year university students," remembers Anderson. "I started out in education. There was a big need then for teachers, so for incentive to get us enrolled, our tuition was only 100 dollars for a semester. Although we were within the college, we were actually the first ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students."

Wayne Anderson, here at the Aperture sculpture, will be on campus in May to receive his Fiat Lux Alumni Ring.

The first building built with those funds still stands as part of a local high school.

"They built onto the west end of Lethbridge Collegiate Institute. There were rooms there for us to use and as soon as we finished the year we moved out and the Collegiate took over. William Cousins was the dean of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ students there, and that is how we started out in the fall of 1957," explains Anderson.

After his first year, Anderson took a break from school to work at the research station in Vauxhall. He married his sweetheart in 1966 and later moved back to Lethbridge to accept a job at the Lethbridge Research Centre.

"My Mother had gone to grade 11 and in the 1920s that was quite a feat. I did not have a very good showing my first year at the college and my mother was so disappointed that I didn't carry on. I wanted to rectify it and make her proud of me, so I started back at ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," recalls Anderson.

Balancing a full-time job with a young family and part-time studies, Anderson once again pursued a degree, this time in physical sciences. He eventually graduated with a BASc in geography in 1973.

"I aimed toward that degree because I was working in that field and I really loved my job. The courses I took, geomorphology, soils, agricultural geography, research techniques, Russian and Canadian geography, were all somehow related to the research station and its work worldwide. The professors would post our marks on the door. In all those years taking courses I never had a hard time finding mine because the students' IDs started in the 60s and 70s and my ID stood out like a sore thumb because it started with 57," chuckles Anderson.

Anderson continued to work at the research station until he retired in 1991. Not one to sit still long, he began working as a driver for the armoured car division of Loomis before retiring again in 2003. Deciding that retirement was not for him, Anderson began yet another career working for the Commissionaires as Security personnel for the Alberta/Montana transmission line.

Now 75 years young, Anderson loves visiting the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ campus on a regular basis as part of the Walk for Wellness group. On May 29, 2013 he will be on campus to participate in a special ceremony to receive the Fiat Lux Alumni Ring.

"One of my proudest accomplishments is graduating after spending all those years in ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. The ring is something to always remind me of the years I put in and of being a part of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. I feel pretty impressed to see how far the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has come from when I first started until now. When I see all these students I think, gee it has been a long time since I have been a student here," laughs Anderson. "It is great to be an alumnus!"

GET THE FACTS

· Anderson has been married for 47 years and has two daughters and one son, with one daughter a U of L alumna

· He has been a curler for 50 years and still coaches wheelchair curling in Lethbridge

· An old car buff, Anderson has driven his 1966 Chevy hardtop in the annual Street Wheelers weekend

· He calls the '57 Chevy his favourite vehicle, and briefly owned one after his first year of university

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

Legacy of leaders will live on with Horns' culture

trevor.kenney — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:26:23 +0000

Athletic programs often talk about creating a culture and a unique identity that defines the ideals and goals of the organization. In many instances, that's all it is – talk. For the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's basketball team, fifth-year seniors Derek Waldner and Julian Spear Chief-Morris embody Horns' culture.

"They have been cornerstones of transformational change in our program," says head coach Dave Adams. "We went from pretenders to contenders in the time that they were here, and I cannot say enough about the sacrifices that both of them made to push the program to where it is now. Anything that's happened in the program in the last few years has been built on the backs of these guys."

While each of them took different paths to the Horns' program, and each battled through his own adversity, it was fitting to see them walk off the court together in triumph, checking out of their final Canada West game to a standing ovation from the home crowd, a victory well in hand.

"It's really nice in life, because you don't see it all the time, when people will put in the work and then get rewarded for it and that's happened for both guys," says Adams.

Derek Waldner, left, won the majority of these position battles over the course of his five-year career with the Pronghorns. Photo by Paula Gorman

Neither of the two had an easy road to success.

Waldner, an Okotoks product, admits that the U of L was really the only Canadian Interuniversity Sport program to recruit him out of high school and that he had no promises or expectations about what his role would be when he arrived on campus.

Spear Chief-Morris began his career at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria. A local high school star at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, he chose to head west to play for the nationally-renowned Vikes, but after two seasons in Victoria and an invitation from Adams to come back to Lethbridge in hand, he returned to his roots.

He subsequently had to sit out a transfer season and then early into his first year with the Horns, suffered a devastating knee injury. A year later he was back on the court but it really wasn't until the last few months of his senior season that Spear Chief-Morris was able to play to his abilities.

"I didn't really have basketball in mind when I was recovering, I just wanted to be a healthy person again because I spent a whole summer not being able to run, not being able to jump, having to learn how to walk again," he says. "I just decided I'd worry about getting healthy first and in the end I decided I wanted to play again."

All the while, Waldner was emerging from obscurity to become one of the best rebounders in the country and one of Canada West's top post threats. A double-double machine (double figures in both points and rebounds), he would eventually set the all-time rebounding record at the U of L and lead the CIS in rebounding his senior season.

"It was the goal for me when I came out of high school," says Waldner. "My coach, Sam Aiello, when I graduated he told me to go get that record, because Nick Baldwin, who had the record before me, was his product as well."

The Horns flourished with both Waldner and Spear Chief-Morris in the lineup, but it wasn't only court success that defined their time in blue and gold. Waldner, a biochemistry major, is a four-time Academic All-Canadian, while Spear Chief-Morris, studying urban and regional studies, has achieved All-Canadian status three times.

"I'm a competitive person and anything I do I want to be the best at, so walking into the classroom is the same thing. Why not try and be the best at what you do?" asks Spear Chief-Morris. "That's why I push myself in the classroom, if I'm going to do something I'm going to do it well."

Julian Spear Chief-Morris was a mentor both on and off the court to the next generation of Pronghorns. Photo by Paula Gorman

While he doesn't tout himself as a role model for First Nations teens, he recognizes that his success both on and off the court can serve as a positive motivating factor for the Aboriginal community.

"I don't think I've ever looked at myself as a role model but now that I'm getting older, I've been put in situations where I've been confronted with that," he says. " I think I definitely do serve as a role model in some respects to some of the kids out there on the Reserve. I'm really just trying to live my life the right way, so if people look up to me, that's great."

For Waldner, combining the rigors of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ with athletics was never a question, it's always been a focus.

"It just takes a little discipline, it takes staying in and studying instead of going out with your buddies some times," he says. "Time management is the biggest aspect, and having basketball and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ at the same time has really taught me that life skill where time management will never be an issue for me."

Both Spear Chief-Morris and Waldner have plans to pursue graduate studies, and even may look at professional basketball opportunities should it fit in with their academic ambitions. More than anything though, the two are not content to revel in their glory days as Horns basketball players, knowing this is just a stage in their life plan.

"I'm just excited for what's next," says Spear Chief-Morris. "My time here was wonderful but all things pass and I'm looking ahead."

It's that attitude that Adams says will live on well past their time in uniform.

"What a blessing in a program when you have two guys that not only come into practice and set the work ethic example on the court, but then they back it up by what they do in the classroom as well," says Adams. "Imagine how blessed we are to have a locker room where that is the voice of leadership. It's a fabulous culture that those guys will leave as a legacy in that locker room."

GET THE FACTS

· Both players had their parents in attendance for their final CIS game

· Waldner had 252 rebounds this season to set a new Horns' single-season record and lead all CIS players. His career total of 874 rebounds is also a Horns' record and the fifth highest total in Canada West history

· Both players credited Horns alumni for truly representing Horns culture. "I know that I've played for two universities now and the support, not just from the community but from the alumni is not comparable," says Spear Chief-Morris. "It really is a blessing to have a group of people who honestly care about who you are and your success."

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

U of L Senate Confirms 2013 Honorary Degree Recipients

trevor.kenney — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:00:29 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Senate has confirmed a diverse and distinguished group of five persons as recipients of Honorary Degrees for 2013.

From the sporting field to the boardroom, the concert hall and the halls of parliament and justice, the group represents a cross section of the local, national and international community.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is very pleased that these individuals have agreed to let us recognize them with an Honorary Degree," says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Chancellor, Dr. Shirley McClellan.

"Their collective accomplishments have made our local, provincial, national and international communities stronger and have improved the quality of life for people around the world."

The recipients will receive their degrees at the Spring 2013 and Fall 2013 Convocation Ceremonies.

Following are brief biographies (in alphabetical order) of this year's honoured recipients.

Dr. Garald (Gary) W. Bowie

A founding faculty member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Dr. Gary Bowie is a noted community volunteer, builder, leader and educator.

Dr. Bowie taught and developed courses in physical education and kinesiology at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ over the course of a 30-year career (1968-1998) and played a major role in the construction of the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness.

A former Pronghorns basketball coach and Chair of the Department of Physical Education, Dr. Bowie was also active in his community, serving as the Director of Sports for the 1975 Canada Winter Games and Chair of both the Alberta Winter and Summer Games. A co-founder and Chair of the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame, Dr. Bowie is also a hall inductee.

As an educator, Dr. Bowie served 15 years as a trustee on the Lethbridge School District #51 Board, and his volunteer activities have long served the local and provincial homeless populations.

He was recently appointed Chair of the Alberta Secretariat for Action on Homelessness and continues to influence his community in positive ways.

Richard (Rick) Casson

The former Manager of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Printing Services, Rick Casson has served the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, his home community of Picture Butte, the people of southern Alberta and Canada as a whole over the course of his 30-plus year political career.

Casson began his community service as a volunteer firefighter before being convinced to run for local political office, eventually serving as a municipal councilor for nine years and then as Mayor of Picture Butte for an additional nine years.

Casson would spend 14 years as a sitting Member of Parliament and was both a successful and influential MP. He served as Chair of the Standing Committee on National Defense as well as Chair of the Special Committee on Afghanistan, all the while remaining true to his local roots and actively supporting the constituents of southern Alberta.

Named to the Queens Privy Council for Canada in 2010, Casson has also been a strong advocate for the support of Multiple Sclerosis research, raising $122,000 through the MS Society over the last seven years.

Rivka Golani

A world-class musician, performer, teacher and promoter of classical music, Rivka Golani is among the top-five viola soloists in the world and a major contributor to the advancement of classical music in southern Alberta.

Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, Golani moved to Canada in 1974, performing across the country and spreading the love of music to the communities that she visited.

When approached to teach master viola classes to students in southern Alberta, she enthusiastically shared her immense talent and quickly took up the charge to create an international music festival.

The Fort Macleod International Festival was born and is now in its ninth year.

A dedicated and successful teacher, Golani is also a champion of southern Alberta composers, giving young musicians the opportunity to showcase their talents and taking their works to national and international audiences.

With more than 250 original works composed especially for her, Golani has brought the world of classical music to southern Alberta's doorstep.

Robert Turner

As Chair of the Board of Governors for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge for six years (2006-2012), Robert Turner helped guide the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ through an era of significant change and growth, including the creation of a new Strategic Plan, a successful fundraising campaign and a major expansion of campus services.

Turner, a successful attorney and businessman, was elected to the U of L's Board of Governors in 2002 and served four years as a key contributor to the creation of governance policies and practices, as well as the attached responsibilities of the Board, Administration and others.

When appointed Chair of the Board in 2006 and then reappointed for a second term in 2009, Turner recruited an outstanding group of Board members, ensuring gender balance, a Pan-Alberta membership and the skills necessary to run an emerging comprehensive university.

Turner's extensive volunteer contributions reflect the values of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and continue to impact at the local, provincial and national level.

Neil Wittmann

Lethbridge Collegiate Institute graduate Neil Wittmann has long been respected as one of the top litigators in the province of Alberta, serving as an exceptional teacher and mentor to junior lawyers and erstwhile champion of ethical litigation.

Now, as Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench in the Province of Alberta, Wittmann conducts the majority of his work behind the scenes, continually working to better the practice of law in the province.

As Vice-Chair of the Judicial Conduct Committee of the Canadian Judicial Council (CJC), Wittmann's work is absolutely essential in ensuring that the independency of the judiciary is maintained in Canada and the conduct of the members of the judiciary adhere to the ethical principles adapted by the CJC.

Wittmann's stellar career as a lawyer in private practice, coupled with his excellence as a judge and now Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench demonstrates the respect and admiration the legal community has for his contributions to the practice of law in Alberta and beyond.

Ondrus gravitates to leading role for Horns rugby

trevor.kenney — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 21:09:37 +0000

Her official title is interim head coach and former head coach Neil Langevin will still be riding shotgun as an assistant, but make no mistake, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns women's rugby team knows who will be calling the shots when the 2013 Canada West season opens this fall.

JJ Ondrus (BSc/BEd '04), who has been with the program since its inception, first as a player, and most recently as Langevin's assistant coach for the past 10 years, is taking the reins of the perennial national contenders.

"This was a goal of mine probably since the first couple of years being an assistant," says the 34-year-old Ondrus as she assumes the head role in the wake of Langevin's one-year leave. "I just never thought Neil would give the position up, I figured I'd have to move to get an opportunity to be a head coach at a university level."

Ondrus is coming full circle with the program she first helped build as a player. A soccer player through high school, she graduated out of Catholic Central High, earning a soccer scholarship at the U of L. She played just one year of high school rugby, having to suit up for rival Lethbridge Collegiate Institute because CCH didn't yet have a team of its own.

Three years into her post-secondary career, Horns rugby was born and she switched sports.

"I was OK at soccer but more of a bench player than anything," says Ondrus. "But in rugby I was pretty much the quarterback as a fly half. I was on the field all the time and we played a kicking game and I was the kicker, so I was important and I loved it."

The Horns new interim head coach, JJ Ondrus, has been with the program since its inception.

In her two years as a Pronghorn she experienced just one win, but it's a memory she relishes, and it was the first brick in the construction of the Pronghorn dynasty that would emerge years later.

"That is still Neil's favourite win, and I have the newspaper clipping where he says that," smiles Ondrus, recalling the team's bronze medal victory over the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia at the Canada West championship tournament. "I still remember him jumping out of the end zone he was so excited, because we were not supposed to beat anybody that year."

Ondrus earned her education degree and started her teaching career at Winston Churchill High School. She also went straight into coaching, both at the high school level and as one of Langevin's assistants. She has never left the program.

Over the ensuing years, Ondrus taught at Nobleford, then Fort Macleod and eventually returned to Churchill, where she is in her fifth year as a science teacher. At every stop she helped build the sport of women's rugby and like her Pronghorn brethren, played a big role in establishing the vibrant rugby culture in southern Alberta.

"If you look around the high school league, I'm pretty sure every program has a Pronghorn player on the coaching staff," she says. "People are surprised when they come to our community and see the level of support we get and especially the balance between boys and girls rugby. To see 12 girls teams to six boys teams really speaks to the strength of girls rugby in southern Alberta."

Ondrus admits she is somewhat overwhelmed with her new position. She is heavy into recruiting for the new season, knowing the Horns graduated six players last season and two others are not returning to the program. She's also acutely aware that the Horns are coming off what is for them a down year, failing to win the Canada West championship for the first time in seven seasons.

"I'll admit it, I'm a little nervous about that but the coaches and players accept that responsibility and pressure to be the best, we set the bar high and set that expectation on ourselves to go to nationals and compete for a national championship," she says.

Having been a part of the program since its outset, it's hard to imagine anyone else better prepared to take over for the only head coach the Horns have ever known. Ondrus is ready to go.

"I've been with the program since it started in 2000, so it is near and dear to my heart," she says. "I am very excited for my new role and cannot wait to bring my energy and ideas to the table. Neil has set the bar pretty high, but I know, as he does, that I am ready!"

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

Chance to wish our Olympians well

trevor.kenney — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 21:10:35 +0000

The Lethbridge Sport Council and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge have partnered to host a community send-off for a group of athletes who are participating in the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics which take place July 27 – Aug. 12 and Aug. 29 - Sept. 9 in London, England.

Paralympic swimmer Zach McAllister has been named to the Canadian team to compete in London this summer, while hammer throwers Jim Steacy and Heather Steacy, and javelin thrower Liz Gleadle are participating in Track and Field events.

Larry Steinke, Track Coach with Pronghorn Athletics at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, will be attending the 2012 London Olympics after being selected as Throws Coach by Athletics Canada.

The community is invited to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Upper Track of the 1st Cloice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness on Monday, July 16 at 12:30 p.m. for a brief send-off ceremony.

A large Canadian flag will be available for signing, and will travel with the athletes to London.

Meet the athletes and wish them good luck on their journey!

The dates and times of the athletes' appearances on TV (local/mountain time in brackets) are listed below, along with brief biographies.

Athlete bios

James Steacy (men's hammer)

Competing: Qualifying – Aug. 3 at 11:20 a.m. GMT (5:20 a.m. MDT)
Finals – Aug. 5 at 8:20 p.m. GMT (2:20 p.m. MDT)

Steacy (28) (BASc '09), a Lethbridge, Alta. and Winston Churchill High School product, is one of the most decorated athletes in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) history. During his time as a Pronghorn track athlete, Steacy was undefeated in the weight throw, winning five Canada West and five CIS titles. He also captured three Canada West shot put titles and won three gold medals and one silver medal in shot at the CIS level. He last competed for the Horns in 2009.

The Canadian record holder in the men's hammer throw at 79.13m, Steacy set the mark at the 2008 Chinook Throws Gala. That season also marked his first Olympic appearance where he qualified for the Olympic final in Beijing, China and finished 10th overall.

Steacy, coached by Larry Steinke of the Chinook Track and Field Club, is the eight-time defending national champion in hammer throw.

Heather Steacy (women's hammer)

Competing: Qualifying - Aug. 8 at 10 a.m. GMT (4 a.m. MDT)
Finals – Aug. 10 at 7:35 p.m. GMT (1:35 p.m. MDT)

Steacy (24), a Lethbridge, Alta. and Winston Churchill High School product, heads to her first Olympics after dominating the competition at the Canada West and CIS levels in recent years. Steacy has won four Canada West weight throw titles to go along with two CIS gold, one silver and one bronze medal. She last competed for the Horns in 2011 when she was the Canada West gold medalist and CIS silver medalist.

Steacy won her second consecutive Canadian Track and Field Championship hammer throw title this spring with a throw of 70.48 metres and achieved her personal best of 72.16m at the Sun Angel Classic in Tempe, AZ earlier this year.
Steacy is coached by Larry Steinke of the Chinook Track and Field Club.

+++++

Elizabeth Gleadle (women's javelin)

Competing: Qualifying – Aug. 7 at 10 a.m. GMT (4 a.m. MDT)
Finals – Aug. 9 at 9 p.m. GMT (3 p.m. MDT)

Gleadle (23), originally from Vancouver, came to Lethbridge to train with throws coach Larry Steinke this past year, taking time away from her kinesiology studies at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia. She won gold at the 2012 Canadian Track and Field Trials with a throw of 60.13 metres, establishing a new meet record. Her personal best of 61.15 metres was set earlier this year at a National Track League event in Burnaby, B.C. It also stands as the Canadian record.

"I took this year off so I could make London," she told the Calgary Herald. "I took time off school, I moved cities; I did everything I was supposed to do. I napped, ate, slept some more, trained really hard, everything I was told to do by my coach (Larry Steinke). I trust him completely and it really paid off."

She'll be the first Canadian woman to compete in javelin at the Olympics since Seoul 1988, ironically, the year of her birth.

+++++

Zachary McAllister (men's swimming 400m freestyle S8)

Competing: Qualifying – Aug. 31 at 9:30 a.m. GMT (3:30 a.m. MDT)
Finals – Aug. 31 at 5:30 p.m. GMT (11:30 a.m. MDT)

McAllister (18), a Lethbridge native and Lethbridge Collegiate Institute product, has come up through the Lethbridge Amateur Swim Club (LASC). He will be representing Canada at the Paralympic Games, Aug. 29 to Sept. 9 in London.

The Canadian record holder in the men's S8 400-metre freestyle event, McAllister earned his spot on the Paralympic Games team by swimming his personal best and Canadian record time of four minutes, 49 seconds at the Olympic Trials in Montreal this spring.

McAllister represented Canada at the Para Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mex. in fall 2011, and after enrolling at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in January 2012, attended meets in Los Angeles, Colorado and Sheffield, England. McAllister's disability is a condition by which he has too many bones in his limbs, thereby restricting growth and range of motion in both his arms and legs.

+++++

Coach -- Larry Steinke (BA '94)

Steinke has been running the most prominent throws program in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) for years and has been consistently involved with Canada's elite athletes at the international level.

He began his national team affiliation as part of the 2007 Pan Am Games coaching staff and has since been to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2010 World Junior Track Championships, the 2010 Commonwealth Games and each of the 2009 and 2011 World Track & Field Championships.

He currently coaches three Olympians in Jim Steacy, Heather Steacy and Liz Gleadle and is a proud alumnus of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and head coach of the Horns track program.

Wish our Olympians well

trevor.kenney — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 18:18:05 +0000

High school iGEM group

trevor.kenney — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 21:22:21 +0000

A group of Lethbridge and area high school students who want to take NASA technology and use it to help reduce the affects of Type 1 Diabetes recently came away from an international competition with an award for their research presentation -- and will be further recognized by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge with $36,000 worth of scholarships ($1,000 per student).

Six students, members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge 36-person High School iGEM (International Genetically-engineered Machines) team made their first trip to the Indianapolis, IN contest as the only Canadian contingent, and presented their take on how to use an innovative, implantable capsule (developed by NASA to release medication in space) to manage the release of insulin for people with Type 1 Diabetes.

The U of L High School iGEM Team. Back row (from L to R) Yoyo Yao, Erin Kwan, Janelle Veenendaal, Chris Isaac, Dax Law, Devan Carrier, Brianna Carrels, Trisha Bouma. Middle Row (from L to R) Orion Sehn, Branden Black, Marissa Guzzi, Cassandra Logue, Shammamah Hossain, Maya Many Grey Horses, Elaine Bird. Front Row (from L to R) Dawson Meyer, Erin Kelly, Brooke Heatherington, Alycia Amatto, Wesley Mosimann, Katelyn Harder. Missing in photo are Natalia Mitura, Iain Sander, Gerardo Karari Balderas Figueroa, Carissa Kirk, Corbin Chenger, Alli Herauf, Riley Martens, Jared Sparkes, Teddi Reynolds and Marie Cooney.

The group plans to engineer a bacteria that will secrete insulin in response to a person's glucose levels, then house it in the NASA biocapsule (so it is contained and not flowing freely in the bloodstream) where it will safely dispense insulin and could reduce the need for the continuous monitoring, injections and other challenges currently experienced by the hundreds of millions of people worldwide with diabetes.

Bold? Absolutely. Can it be done? That's what the group intends to find out.

That's why the U of L is rewarding them with scholarships – to help them pursue their interest in science and research at the U of L.

The $1,000 scholarship credit per student covers the cost of about two courses, and is available upon their successful application and acceptance to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. The students will be presented with their awards at a brief ceremony that takes place Wednesday, July 11 beginning at 4 p.m. in Anderson Hall, room AH100 (Andy's Place).

"When the iGEM competition expanded to include high school students, the U of L saw an opportunity to follow suit and this year 36 students participated in the program," says Dr. Andy Hakin, the U of L's provost and vice president (academic). "Not only does this provide valuable hands-on learning opportunities, but it also augments the existing Alberta science curriculum. We are happy to be able to extend this world-class program into local high schools, exposing younger students to the unique opportunities available by pursuing a science education."

Team spokesperson Erin Kelly, a recent Catholic Central High School graduate entering fist year at the U of L in the fall, says the group brainstormed ideas with U of L iGEM team members and chemistry and biochemistry researchers that had a combination of what she describes as 'do-ability' and social relevance. They also looked to past iGEM projects for inspiration, since the work created by all iGEM teams worldwide is in the public domain and archived in the interests of conducting innovative research.

"A team at Berkeley created bacteria that could produce haemoglobin (a key component of blood) to function as a new type of red blood cell," says Kelly. "We would like to try this with the cells in the pancreas, which were damaged by the onset of Type 1 Diabetes. Another team from Missouri had figured out how to get the cell to detect glucose, which would let the cell know when there is too much sugar. Once glucose is detected, we could work on secreting insulin."

Kelly says the NASA capsule is a perfect place to house the bacteria, sustain it, and act as a filter to move the insulin from the capsule to the person.

"We would have a lot of work to do before we can get to that stage, because we have to engineer some other steps into the process. We expect that a project like this would be one that could carry through a few years of iGEM teamwork, and could be used by other teams to move their own projects forward."

At the U of L, the iGEM team concept has evolved to a point where the university-level group runs its own funded lab, regularly places in the top levels of international competitions, and has provided a significant boost to undergraduate students who wish to pursue further research at a masters level.

Their ongoing project involves engineering bacteria to recognize – and consume – harmful materials in oilsands tailings ponds.

"We have welcomed high-school researchers to the U of L iGEM group in the past, but to have this large number of interested and engaged students is a really great experience for all of us," says Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden, a U of L biochemistry researcher and one of the faculty supervisors for both groups. "The additional support the students are receiving from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in the form of scholarships is a great indicator of their achievement, and we look forward to having them join us as students when they begin their university studies. "

STUDENT NAMES, GRADES AND HIGH SCHOOL AFFILIATION

Lethbridge Collegiate Institute

Dax Law 11
Erin Kwan 12
Cassandra Logue 11
Devan Carrier 11
Teddi Reynolds 12
Gerardo Karari Balderas Figueroa 11

Catholic Central High School

Erin Kelly 12
Elaine Bird 11
Corbin Chenger 12
Carissa Kirk 10
Brooke Heatherington 11
Riley Martens 12
Marissa Guzzi 12
Branden Black 11
Katelyn Harder 11
Natalia Mitura 12
Iain Sander 11
Marie Cooney 11
Alycia Amatto 11

Chinook High School

Brianna Carrels 10
Yoyo Yao 11
Chris Isaac 11
Jared Sparkes 11
Maya Many Grey Horses 11
Wesley Mosimann 11
Dawson Meyer 11
Alli Herauf 10

Winston Churchill High School

Shammamah Hossain 11
Orion Sehn 10

Immanuel Christian High School

Janelle Veenendaal 11
Trisha Bouma 11

Taal family influence a Pronghorn tradition

trevor.kenney — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:04:45 +0000

When Lauren Taal chose to attend the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and play for the Pronghorns women's basketball team, to everyone looking in, it seemed like the easy decision. But make no mistake, beginning with that decision and the ensuing five years that followed, Taal's time as a Pronghorn has been anything but easy – and she wouldn't have it any other way.

"I am happy that this is the path I chose," says Taal, a third generation family member to attend the U of L. "I don't think it turned out the way I thought it would but as you grow up, I guess you realize that things aren't always what you expect."

Taal's family tree has an indelible ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge branch to it, beginning with her grandfather Jack Lilja Sr., who coached the Horns women's team for four seasons in the 1970s. Her mother Lynette Taal (Lilja) played for the Horns from 1978 through 1983, while her aunts Lorell (1973-77) and Leslie (1974-79) also wore the blue and gold. Her uncle, Jack Lilja Jr., played both basketball and soccer for the Horns and her father Clarence Taal is another U of L alumnus.

Horns' guard Lauren Taal drives the lane in a recent Canada West game at the 1st Choice Savings Centre. PHOTO courtesy of Paula Gorman.

Given the family lineage, it seemed natural that Lauren would choose to attend the U of L, yet she seriously entertained offers from both the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan.

"It was a difficult decision for me because I knew how important it was and I knew how long the family tradition was to come here," says Taal. "At the same time my parents would have supported me any place I went."

In Taal's time at the U of L, the Horns have never finished above the .500 mark and made just one playoff appearance. Teammates have come and gone, she lost a close friend and mentor, suffered a major knee injury that cost her the second half of her fourth season and veered away from her intended major. Only now, in her final year, can she see the all their hard work starting to pay off and the team making huge strides forward.

"Looking back now, I'm still really glad that I came here," she says. "I don't think I would have learned as much going to programs that have seen more success. I think the people I've met here and the experiences I've had through the school and through basketball, playing with all the people I've played with, they've all had a great influence on me."

Taal has grasped adversity and made it work for her, learning more about herself in times of challenge than she ever learned as a high school star at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute.

"I had been pretty fortunate before coming here," says Taal. "I'd always played on teams that were pretty good and always been one of the better players, thanks a lot to my mom's influence. Then to struggle the way we did as a team and to get injured – when you lose something that's been such a big part of your life it makes you stop and realize all the things you need to be grateful for because just like that, they can be taken away from you."

Losing her friend Krista Heidinger (née Robson) tragically, a former Pronghorn her mother had coached, and whom she knew and looked up to since she was four years old, was another tough blow. Yet Taal, approaching her final games in a Horns jersey and ready to graduate with a degree in kinesiology this spring, is still thankful for the opportunity to have played in her hometown for the family program and with her younger sister Cassidy (second year).

"After we lost against ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary this year, making it tough for us to get into the playoffs, I was pretty upset," says Taal. "I remember coming out of the dressing room and my little cousins were there saying, "You played so well" and they were so excited. Knowing they support me and come out to games and look up to me and Cassidy, I'm very grateful to have a family that is behind me, that I'm getting an education and playing the game I love. It really puts things into perspective."

After convocation, Taal will explore professional basketball opportunities in Europe, with plans to eventually pursue a master's degree in sports management or administration. There's also a good chance she'll follow another family tradition and turn to coaching.

"I've gotten so much from this game, I feel a responsibility to give back to it," she says. "My granddad passed it on to my aunts and my mom, and she passed her love of the game on to me. Lots of people might not understand that just because they haven't had the same upbringing but I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have basketball, so I can definitely see myself coaching."

Whether it leads her back to the U of L once again remains to be seen.

GET THE FACTS

Taal set a Canada West single-game record for steals recently, nabbing 13 steals against the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba Bisons

Taal has already dabbled in coaching, teaming up with former Horns women's head coach Dori Johnson to guide a youth league team last summer

Her grandfather Jack Lilja Sr. played for Canada's 1963 World Championship Men's Basketball Team. He wore jersey No. 7, as did Taal's mother Lynette and as she wears today for the Horns

Her mother Lynette was a two-time Canada West all-star and named Pronghorn Female Athlete of the Year in 1983

The Lilja family was inducted into the Pronghorn Hall of Fame in 2002

This story first appeared in the February 2012 edition of The Legend. To view the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

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