UNews - the new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ

New ULAA president looks to further engage alumni

trevor.kenney — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 15:50:08 +0000

The new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association president understands the value of a community.

“I love growth, development and opportunity. Anything I can do to make things better for my community, for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ or my neighbourhood, I try to get involved in,” explains Grant Adamson (BSc ’03), who was elected as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association’s 26th president in July.

“Community involvement has been an unwritten part of my family philosophy forever; that goes back to growing up on a farm. Being on a farm is not a place where you can grow or develop on your own. You need community,” says Adamson. “About 10 years back we received a farm century award. It was pretty important to our family and community, but when I graduated from high school I wanted to see who I was away from the farm. Someone suggested I would be a good teacher, so I researched and found that the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge had an excellent program for teachers and chose to come to Lethbridge.”

Grant Adamson, with his wife Rebecca, at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Donor Gala

Adamson, however, discovered he had no desire to teach, so in his second year he switched his studies to biology. That same year, he developed a severe case of mononucleosis and was subsequently unable to take a full course load for the next several years. It was then that he truly experienced the fellowship and support found within the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community.

“I was a very strong student academically going into university, but when I found myself suffering academically due to my health, I relied on services provided by the U of L. I sought out help when I needed it and I found it all over the place,” he says. “I became involved with the Organization of Residence Students, the Students’ Union and the curling club. My residence experience was particularly impactful because I got to be a part of governance and make a difference, which I loved. I also met my wife Rebecca (BA/BEd ’99, MEd ’09) and her friend Janet, who would later become my sister-in-law. Being involved in extra-curricular activities was very fulfilling and kept me going until I was well enough to take on full course loads.”

As he began to take more advanced theoretical courses, Adamson could not imagine himself being confined to working in labs for the rest of his life. He began to wonder if it was time to take a small turn in his academic direction once again.

“After exiting from the C-stairwell on 7th, I’d always turned left toward the bio-tech labs. One day, I felt drawn to the geography labs so I turned right instead! I sat there for about an hour reading the presentation boards about the projects and research going on in the department. I saw displays about things I cared about and it played to my roots. That fall, I switched my program to geography. Finally, I could look to the future and visualize what my life would look like.”

Adamson graduated in 2003 and began his career in the oil industry, working in environmental sciences. After the project he was working on shut down, he spent several years pursuing an interest in real estate investment, but his agricultural heritage always beckoned. In 2007, everything came together when Adamson began working with hybrid canola seed production at Monsanto Canada Inc. It was the perfect combination of biotechnology and agriculture all in one. Three years later, Adamson accepted a position at Dow AgroSciences where he continues to work as their lead agronomist for canola seed production in southern Alberta, the Pacific Northwest and Chile. One of his secondary duties is liaising with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, recruiting students to work with Dow AgroSciences as summer interns and potentially as long-term employees.

“The hybrid canola seed industry relies heavily on student interns in the summer, as it is extremely busy during this season,” says Adamson, who is happy to support students through his work and as a member of the ULAA. “The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is a great supplier of excellent students who have a background in, or knowledge of, agriculture, or who are willing to learn about it.”
Adamson became involved with the ULAA in 2005. He has served as a director, treasurer and vice-president and was elected as president in July.

“I got involved with the association because I missed the connection with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Participation with the ULAA is a great way for alumni to foster and maintain that link. As part of the executive, I have seen the association become increasingly involved in the community and take on a more formal role. My goal is to lead the maturation and formality process. With 36,480 alumni coming of age in the workforce, we are at a tipping point. I encourage alumni to reconnect and get involved. We want to hear about your stories, your successes and your adventures.”

GET THE FACTS

• Adamson is very proud of his family connection to the U of L – his wife Rebecca (BA/BEd ’99, MEd ’09), sister-in-laws Janet Adamson (BA/BEd ’00), Lauren Adamson (BSc ‘ 04) and brother Lowell Adamson (BSc ’04) are all a part of the alumni family

• Adamson has been a member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Senate since 2011

• A former member of the board of directors for the Youth Federation of Canada, Adamson also serves as a construction volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, of which his wife is the organization’s local vice-chair

• The 2013 ULAA Executive consists of Adamson as president, vice-president Randy Kobbert (BMgt ’86), past president Kathy Lewis (BN ’83, MEd ’99), treasurer Jason Baker (BMgt ’02) and secretary Sharon Malec (BEd ’73)

Internet portal to revolutionize web world

trevor.kenney — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:01:42 +0000

Imagine a world where you sign on to your computer in the morning and have access to every ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ service you currently use online, including all elements of The Bridge, Moodle, e-mail and your personal timetable.

Imagine being greeted with messages that pertain only to you and your position in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, to be linked to your interests and clubs and to be able to customize your personal dashboard to reflect your ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ personality.

That day is coming in the form of the new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ portal system, and it promises to revolutionize the way in which faculty, staff and students interact online.

"When we first started talking about the portal it came out of the recruitment and retention project," says Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Dr. Andy Hakin. "It was about giving students one electronic gateway to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, allowing them to be able to map out their whole environment in terms of courses, personal timetables, Moodle, e-mail, all of the pieces that should really assist them in navigating through the curriculum and the university experience in one place."

Designed as an aggregator of information, the portal will not replace the systems the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ currently has on the web, rather it will bring them together so that they can be accessed in one space with a single sign-on.

"We already have in place a lot of the elements that will be a part of the portal system but they are all distributed in various places and many of them require separate sign-on," says Hakin. "The idea is that with single sign-on, you have access to all these elements that affect your daily interaction with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ."

What began as a tool to liberate the student web environment and similarly enhance student engagement with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has since grown in scope.

"It has turned into a piece whereby many of the other campus units saw utility in it for themselves," says Hakin. "Everyone who has seen it can see parts of what they want to accomplish with the tool."

Jamie Chinn, a senior business systems analyst and one of the project team leaders, says the focus of the first stage of implementation of the portal is on core needs.

"Right now, the pressing need is to integrate a number of items that are of interest to students and which also would be generally of use to faculty and staff," says Chinn.

"These are what we would call everyday items like access to The Bridge, Banner (the U of L's financial, student, alumni and employee management system) the Library, Moodle (an online courseware program), e-mail, and other services people now make use of, such as frequently-used web links and tabs, a notice board-style page, and our news and information services."

In recent weeks, focus groups consisting of faculty, staff and students have helped shape what content will be going into the portal upon initial launch of the product and then as subsequent updates to the system are integrated.

At the end of the day, the portal can be whatever the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community makes of it, and has the potential to make the web experience much more personal and engaging.

"What I really like about this project is that it was designed with the student element as the focus and it has become clear that it can be utilized in many other ways," says Hakin.

As the portal project moves into the next stages of development, including testing and soft implementation, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community will be continually updated on its progress through UWeekly, the Notice Board and the Legend.

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

Time to register for Fun Run/Walk

trevor.kenney — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:56:37 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community is invited to join our new president, Dr. Mike Mahon, and his family for the Get to Know U 5K Fun Run/Walk, Saturday, Sept. 25.

The event is one of a number of introductory activities that Mahon will be taking part in this fall as he begins his tenure as the new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge president.

The 5K course winds its way through campus, giving runners and walkers a view of many of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's new facilities.

Registration for the event is limited to the first 200 participants and is priced at $15, which includes a water bottle, opportunity to win door prizes and post-race refreshments. All money raised from the run will help support KidSport Alberta, a charity long supported by Mahon and his family.

The run begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25 with pre-event package pick-up on Friday, Sept. 24 from 4 to 8 p.m. and the morning of the race, from 8 to 9:30 a.m., at the U of L ticket centre.

For more information, contact Sport and Recreation Services at 403-329-2706. For an online registration form, follow this link.

Event organizers are also in need of volunteers for the run. Those interested can contact Jennifer Copeland via e-mail at Jennifer.copeland@uleth.ca

Pronghorn Athletics weekend preview

trevor.kenney — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:22:00 +0000

The Canada West conference sports schedule gets underway this weekend with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's men's and women's soccer teams taking to the pitch.

The Pronghorns women's team opens Canada West play at home at the new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Community Sports Stadium. The women host the Manitoba Bisons and Regina Cougars on Saturday and Sunday afternoons respectively, while the men head out on the road to face the Fraser Valley Cascades and Victoria Vikes. Both home games kick off at noon.

Meanwhile, the defending CIS champion women's rugby team and men's hockey team are in non-conference action as they prepare for their upcoming conference schedules.

Women's Soccer

The women's soccer team (0-0) looks to rebound after not qualifying for the post-season last year, and will have some big holes to fill with the graduation of key members from last season's club. Gone from last season are stalwart keeper Megan Lumley, offensive catalyst Kelli Sauers and a pair of defenders, Kristen Dow and Jessica Dearlove.

An area of strength for the Horns this season should be the midfield, with a solid core of returning veterans. Fifth-year senior Sam MacMillan, along with Janelle and Jaclyn Groten, expect to provide some stability up front.

A strong group from the team that qualified for the 2007 playoffs is still intact, and they'll look to rely on solid defensive play to be successful this season.

Men's Soccer

The Pronghorns men's team (0-0) heads out on the road to kick off their portion of the conference schedule with a trip to British Columbia.

The Horns return 12 players from last year's squad, but have a couple of big holes to fill on the back line with the graduation of team captain Ryan Conn and Marcus Karpati.

Michael O'Brien , a 2007 second team all-star, is expected to step up and lead the back line along with returnees Steve Brown, Brett Silbernagel and Justin Lariviere.

After a season away from the team, Matt Medoruma returns to anchor the midfield with fellow sophomores Lucas Rajcic and Cristian Lornezoni. Andrew Malcolm, who will look to add to his 10 career goals, and 2007 Horns' leading scorer Jaycee Neufeld will be counted on to generate some offence from the midfield position.

Up front, 5th year striker Greg Remjin looks to add to his team leading five goals from last season and kick-start a Pronghorn offence that scored a conference low seven total goals last season.

Saturday afternoon, the Horns face the Fraser Valley Cascades in Abbotsford, before concluding the road trip Sunday in Victoria versus the Vikes.

Women's Rugby

The women's rugby team sees its first action of the fall, traveling to Atlantic Canada for an exhibition tour that includes three games in three days.

The defending CIS champions kick off the tour on Saturday facing the St. Mary's Huskies in Halifax. Sunday will see a rematch of last year's CIS championship game as the Horns face St. Francis Xavier. Last November, the Horns downed St. FX 29-15 to win their second consecutive national title. St. FX will web stream the game live at http://www.ssncanada.ca/games/. Kick-off is set for 11 a.m. (MT).

The following day, the Horns conclude their trip with a game in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island against the UPEI Panthers.

Men's Hockey

The Men's Hockey team begins its pre-season schedule this weekend with a pair of games. Friday night the Horns travel to Calgary to face Mount Royal Cougars, followed by a game Sunday against SAIT Trojans.

Season tickets to Pronghorn events, as well as individual game tickets are available at the Sport & Recreation Services customer service desk or by calling 403-332-HORN (4676). Tickets will also be available at the door on game day.

Women's soccer Horns open home schedule

trevor.kenney — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:17:36 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns soccer teams kick off the Canada West conference schedule this weekend, with the women playing host to the Manitoba Bisons and Regina Cougars, while the men head out on the road to face the Fraser Valley Cascades and Victoria Vikes.

Meanwhile, the defending CIS champion women's rugby team and men's hockey team are in non-conference action as they prepare for their upcoming conference schedules.

The women's soccer team (0-0) looks to rebound after not qualifying for the post-season last year, and will have some big holes to fill with the graduation of key members from last season's club. Gone from last season are stalwart keeper Megan Lumley, offensive catalyst Kelli Sauers and a pair of defenders, Kristen Dow and Jessica Dearlove.

An area of strength for the Horns this season should be the midfield, with a solid core of returning veterans. Fifth-year senior Sam MacMillan, along with Janelle and Jaclyn Groten, expect to provide some stability up front.

A strong group from the team that qualified for the 2007 playoffs is still intact, and they'll look to rely on solid defensive play to be successful this season.

Adding to the excitement of opening day, the Horns will move into the new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Community Sports Stadium this weekend. The Horns face the Bisons on Saturday and the Cougars, Sunday, with both openings kicks at noon.

Season tickets and individual tickets are available at the Sport & Recreation Services customer service desk or by calling 403-332-HORN (4676). Tickets will also be available at the door on game day.

Pronghorns debut at No. 1

trevor.kenney — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:59:25 +0000

They left the field last fall as two-time defending champions and bolstered their lineup over the summer. So it was no surprise the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns women's rugby team debuted at the top of the rankings when Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) released its first-ever women's rugby rankings this week.

The Pronghorns, who defeated the St. Francis Xavier X-Women in last year's CIS final to become the first team to capture back-to-back Monilex trophies since Alberta in 2002 and 2003, received 88 points in the inaugural coaches poll.

St. FX, which claimed its lone CIS title in 2006 and has won 11 conference titles in 11 years since women's rugby was added to the AUS program in 1998, is ranked No. 2 with 69 points.

Following in order are 2008 CIS bronze medallist and OUA champion Guelph (65), reigning QSSF champion Laval (48), five-time CIS titlist Alberta (47), two-time Monilex trophy winner Western Ontario (46), McMaster (25), Concordia (22), Trent (13) and UBC (11).

The 2009 regular season kicks off this weekend with nine games in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. Canada West squads join the action on Sept. 25, with Lethbridge opening its title defence at home against Calgary on Sept. 26. That game will be part of the weekend festivities surrounding the opening of the new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Community Sports Stadium.

The six-team CIS championship will be hosted by UBC in Vancouver, Nov. 5-8.

WOMEN'S RUGBY
(regular season record) / (votes) / (previous rankings)

1. Lethbridge (0-0) / 88 points / (-)
2. StFX (0-0) / 69 / (-)
3. Guelph (0-0) / 65 / (-)
4. Laval (0-0) / 48 / (-)
5. Alberta (0-0) / 47 / (-)
6. Western Ontario (0-0) / 46 / (-)
7. McMaster (0-0) / 25 / (-)
8. Concordia (0-0) / 22 / (-)
9. Trent (0-0) / 13 / (-)
10. UBC (0-0) / 11 / (-)

Other teams receiving votes: Brock (7), McGill (4), Queen's (2), Saint Mary's (1).

Application deadline extended for daycare spaces

trevor.kenney — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:38:30 +0000

The new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Daycare continues to take shape.

The initial application process, a lottery procedure, took place over the period Apr. 14 to Apr. 21, 2009. This process resulted in sufficient applications to fill the reserved spaces for both graduate students and faculty. However, the volume of applications for the undergraduate students was not enough to fill the 25 reserved spaces for this group. It is believed that the low participation of undergraduate students resulted from the timing of the process, it being the end of semester and beginning of the exam time period.

Throughout the daycare financing process the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has recognized the first priority groups (undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty) for their capital contributions to the facility. Without these contributions the daycare facility would not have been able to be financed. In recognition of these valuable contributions the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ wants to ensure that the first priority groups have sufficient opportunity to fill their number of reserved spaces.

As a result the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has extended the application period for undergraduate students to apply for the initial intake of spaces on a first come, first serve basis until Sept. 30, 2009. If there are insufficient undergraduate applications and from the first priority groups before the end of the Fall semester, a decision will be made at that point and may be filled by non-faculty employees' children.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Daycare will be located near the Residence Village at the south end of campus and operated externally by A Child's Second Look.

Undergraduate application period extended for daycare spots

trevor.kenney — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:56:47 +0000

Undergraduate students looking for spots in the new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Daycare facility have had their initial application process extended through the end of September.

The new U of L Daycare is scheduled to open in January 2010, pending facility construction completion, and will provide 51 childcare spaces for children of students, faculty and staff of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. The construction of this facility was made possible through contributions from the Graduate Student Association (GSA), the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union (ULSU) and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty Association (ULFA).

The initial application process, a lottery procedure, took place over the period Apr. 14 to Apr. 21, 2009. This process resulted in sufficient applications to fill the reserved spaces for both graduate students and faculty. However, the volume of applications for the undergraduate students was not enough to fill the 25 reserved spaces for this group. It is believed that the low participation of undergraduate students resulted from the timing of the process, it being the end of semester and beginning of the exam time period.

Throughout the daycare financing process the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has recognized the first priority groups (undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty) for their capital contributions to the facility. Without these contributions the daycare facility would not have been able to be financed. In recognition of these valuable contributions the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ wants to ensure that the first priority groups have sufficient opportunity to fill their number of reserved spaces.

As a result the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has extended the application period for undergraduate students to apply for the initial intake of spaces on a first come, first serve basis until Sept. 30, 2009. If there are insufficient undergraduate applications and from the first priority groups before the end of the Fall semester, a decision will be made at that point and may be filled by non-faculty employees' children.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Daycare will be located near the Residence Village at the south end of campus and operated externally by A Child's Second Look.

U of L architect, Erickson, passes away

trevor.kenney — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:37:36 +0000

Dr. Arthur Erickson, a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Honorary degree recipient (1981) and the award-winning Canadian architect who, with partner Geoffrey Massey, designed the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge campus plan and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall in the late 1960s, is dead at age 84.

Erickson passed away surrounded by friends and family on Wednesday. No memorial service is confirmed at this time.

The architect, who had been suffering from Alzheimers, was responsible for a number of Canada's landmark buildings such as Simon Fraser ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in British Columbia, the Vancouver Law Courts complex, and many other significant structures worldwide, including the Canadian Embassy in Washington, California Plaza in Los Angeles and the Kuwait Oil Sector Complex in Kuwait City.

After studying Asian languages at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia, Erickson earned a degree in architecture from McGill ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, Montreal, from which he graduated in 1950. He also worked as an associate professor at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia from 1957 to 1963.

Erickson was the first Canadian to win the prestigious American Institute of Architects Gold Medal in 1986. In 1973 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, and was promoted to Companion in 1981.

The design of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall was considered to be quite radical for the time, and was undertaken during a decade of growth and change for The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Student enrollment climbed from 650 students in 1967 to more than 1,200 by 1971, creating a need for new and larger facilities and expanded program offerings.

The Aperture sculpture.

In 1972, after three years of construction, Arthur Erickson's uniquely-designed building took over the west side of the river valley on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's new west side campus.

The nine-level facility provided space for classrooms, laboratories, offices, student services and residence housing. A covered walkway - nicknamed the worm - connected ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall with the Physical Education and Art Building on the west side of campus.

The new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ campus was officially opened at a three-day event in September of 1972. The event included a special convocation and the unveiling of the Aperture - a 20 foot-high concrete art structure sited at the geographical centre of campus.

For more information on Arthur Erickson and his unique contribution to architecture, please visit these websites:

http://www.arthurerickson.com/index.html

http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090520/bc_arthur_erickson_090520/20090520?hub=BritishColumbia

http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/arthur-erickson-1924-2009/5202375.article

http://www.timescolonist.com/Travel/Renowned+architect+Arthur+Erickson+dead/1614035/story.html

UNews - the new ��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ

New ULAA president looks to further engage alumni

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