University Gold Medal
Brenna Morton
B.A. Honours (Psychology)

The University Gold Medal is an opportunity to honour the best in the undergraduate graduating class of each faculty. A gold medal is awarded to the undergraduate student in the Faculty of Arts who has achieved the highest standing. This year’s recipient is Brenna Morton, who is graduating with a B.A. Honours degree with a major in psychology. This fall, she will begin the Master of Social Work program at the University of Manitoba.

Throughout her degree, Morton worked on several exciting research projects through student research assistant positions and two Undergraduate Research Awards. “These opportunities have given me skills and experiences which are applicable to the work I hope to do as a future social worker,” said Morton. She is especially grateful for her experiences with the Family and Developmental Psychopathology Lab, led by Dr. Jen Theule, through which she contributed to several research projects and presented at conferences. “I am so grateful to have received mentorship and guidance from Dr. Theule and the graduate students in her lab,” she shared.

“One of my favourite courses was an upper-level Psychology seminar called Social Justice Research with Dr. Katherine Starzyk,” shared Morton. “This course highlighted how psychological theories and concepts can be applied to real-world social issues. I hope to apply what I learned in this course about working towards social justice in my future work.”

Her message to current and future students is to be kind to yourselves when it comes to mistakes. “It’s easy to want to succeed in everything you do, but it’s important to recognize that mistakes are a part of learning and growing.”

Faculty of Arts Honours Medal
Elbethel Masresha
B.A. Honours (Political Studies and Sociology)

Elbethel Masresha is this year’s recipient of the Faculty of Arts Honours Medal awarded to the student with the highest standing in a Bachelor of Arts four-year Honours Degree Program. Masresha graduated in October 2024 with a double major in political studies and sociology. This fall, she will be attending the JD program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law.

Strongly committed to fighting oppression, Masresha’s studies gave her the tools to also combat hopelessness toward injustices oppressed people face around the world. “The crucial lessons and insights I have gained throughout my studies have allowed me to develop a pragmatic optimism,” she said. “There is no fruitful or just alternative to hope.”

One of her most memorable moments during her time at UM was presenting her thesis project at the Undergraduate Research Showcase. Despite initially feeling hesitant to take on this challenge, Masresha found great value in the opportunity. “Having others engage with my findings through questions and discussion allowed me to creatively expand upon the analysis,” she said. She is especially grateful for the empowering guidance of Dr. Mara Fridell, her honours thesis advisor.

Faculty of Arts Advanced Medal
Kaidyn Brasch
B.A. Advanced (Psychology)

The award for the highest standing in a Bachelor of Arts four-year Advanced Degree Program goes to Kaidyn Brasch. During her undergraduate degree, she majored in psychology and minored in linguistics. She will soon be entering the Master of Occupational Therapy program at UM.

The main thing that stood out to Brasch in her UM experience was professors such as Dr. Tamara Taillieu (Tammy), Dr. Barbara Borges, and Ms. Diana Milner, who expanded their teaching to include experiences and applications outside of the classroom. “Real-life stories and passion were a big driver for me as I navigated my degree,” said Brasch. “With my goal of becoming an OT and working with people, I valued seeing how the knowledge could be applied.”

Brasch shared that scholarships and bursaries were incredibly instrumental as she worked through her degree. “Working hard to keep my grades up definitely benefited me, as my academic achievements were rewarded with scholarships,” she said. Growing up in a small rural town, another aspect that helped her in her studies was the welcoming environment at the Faculty of Arts. “Being a part of the Faculty of Arts means being a part of a warm, welcoming community of students and staff,” shared Brasch.

She advises current and future students to “not be afraid to wander from the path you initially thought was right for you. It took experience in courses to secure the right path for me. Have a goal, but don’t be afraid to explore all of your possible paths. You truly don’t know until you try!” 

Faculty of Arts General Medal
Melissa Schwartz
B.A. (French)

Melissa Schwartz is the 2025 recipient of the Faculty of Arts General Medal, awarded for highest standing in a Bachelor of Arts three-year General Degree Program. Schwartz completed a major in French and a minor in music. After graduation, she will be pursuing a Bachelor of Education at Université de Saint-Boniface.

Schwartz’s journey had its twists and turns – she started studying music with the plans of heading towards a musical career but then built a career with the military. During her time in the military, she learned French and loved it, and so when it was time for a career change she decided to return to university and become a French teacher. “A degree doesn’t necessarily lead where you’d expect,” she said. “You might not end up doing what you planned, but it doesn’t mean that you’ve given up on a dream. The opportunities that you embrace can lead to something even better.”

She advises students to be aware of the many types of student support that are available to them on campus. “Try as many of them as you can,” said Schwartz. “You never know what might speak to you.”

Congratulations to the Faculty of Arts medal winners.

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UM Bisons are at the centre of it all, making a difference here in Manitoba and around the world. 3058 degrees are being awarded at Spring Convocation 2025 (over 620 are from the Faculty of Arts), bringing the total number of UM graduates to 4200 so far this year. Many of these new alumni will stay in Manitoba, supplying high-demand skills to the labour market and contributing to UM’s $7.3 billion economic impact on our community.

Visit the UM Student Instagram  and Faculty of Arts Instagram to learn more about some of the students graduating in 2025. You’ll find congratulations messages from fellow graduates and professors, stories about fellow graduates, more information about convocation and tips for new alumni. You can also join the ‘Convocation conversation’ on social media by following #convocation2025.

We started at the Société de la francophonie manitobaine, the voice of the francophone community in Manitoba. They are responsible for several programs, including 233-ALLO, and they advocate for the importance of respecting and promoting minority language rights.

From there, we visited the Université de Saint-Boniface, which has supported the program for many years. They offer our students individual tutoring to help them develop their language skills, as well as language skills assessments and individualized learning plans.

Francofonds offers important scholarships to students in our A2JF program, including the Chartier Award named in honour of the recently retired Chief Justice of Manitoba.

A2JF students visit Francofonds.

Our last stop at Infojustice and the Cour du Banc du Roi was a great opportunity to learn more about the legal services offered in French. Infojustice helps underserved members of Manitoba’s French community with legal information, and in some cases advice and representation, and offers summer employment and term time internship opportunities for Robson Hall students.

Visiting Infojustice, which helps underserved members of Manitoba’s French community.

Of course, no tour of St. Boniface would be complete without a visit to Chocolatier Constance Popp on Provencher Boulevard. Constance herself welcomed the group and enthusiastically posed for a photo.

Law students visit Chocolatier Constance Popp (centre, back) at her Provencher Blvd shop.

All in all, our first walk was a big success, and we look forward to seeing our first-year students achieve their educational goals in the years to come.

“With encouragement from our local francophone bar, and working with Professor Heckman, we received our first Justice Canada: Access to Justice in Both Official Languages grant in 2011,” said Dr. Lorna Turnbull, Professor and co-director of the Concentration. “It is fantastic to have achieved this milestone on our path to better supporting access to justice for all Manitobans. It is also wonderful to provide so many bright future lawyers with this opportunity right here at home.”

“The A2JF Concentration formalizes and reinforces Robson Hall’s long-term commitment to improving access to justice in French in Manitoba and elsewhere in Canada,” said Dr. Gerald Heckman, Associate Professor and likewise co-director of the Concentration. “Our students are already helping InfoJustice, Manitoba’s francophone legal information centre, carry out this important work. I expect that in the decades to come, our A2JF Concentration graduates will contribute to establishing a strong network of practitioners to whom francophone Manitobans can turn for legal services in their language.”

While law students at Robson Hall have had the opportunity to take some of their law courses in French since 2011, this is the first time a formal Concentration is being offered. Official recognition of bilingual legal training requires that students take approximately one third of their Juris Doctor degree courses in French. Not just a handful of French electives, the Concentration is highly structured with a bi-weekly Passport to Law in Frenchcourse being offered across all three years of the degree program bringing together first, second, and third year students. Passport tackles important competencies, including cultural competencies, needed in a legal career generally, and in a bilingual career in particular, exposing students to various subjects concerning French language communities in Manitoba and across Canada.

“As an out-of-province student, my decision to study at Robson Hall was because of the bilingual program,” said Trusha Dash, a second-year law student. “The opportunity to continue and enhance my French language training in a legal capacity set the school apart…. Through the bilingual program, not only did I get to network and learn in French, but I also felt a part of this close-knit community with whom I found support, friendship, and understanding. These are people I can ask for help, and count on and the value of that is immeasurable.”

Law school is no easy feat to begin with, especially for students who undertake the additional challenge of a bilingual legal education. The A2JF program at Robson Hall is committed to student success, facilitating their entry to a bilingual education with pass/fail first year bilingual courses, optional French-language tutoring provided at no charge, and the possibility for entrance scholarships. As a result, students are welcomed into the community without the pressure of marks or bell curves, and can profit from a tight-knit community and an immersion into Franco-Manitoban culture.

“Since I finished high school 10 years ago my chances to speak in French and participate in the Franco-Manitoban community had been few and far between,” said Bradley Légaré, also in second year. “The bilingual program at Robson Hall gave me the opportunity to reintegrate into the Franco-Manitoban community by way of an accepting and encouraging environment. However, the benefits I received from this program were more than just personal. The program also gave me a sense of direction for my career.”

Legal education in Manitoba must reflect that we live in a nation and province where English and French versions of laws are equally authoritative and access to the courts is guaranteed in either language. While there are Francophone minority communities throughout Canada that desire and, in many circumstances, are entitled to legal services in French, there have been limited opportunities in many common law provinces to pursue a legal education in French. The official recognition of the A2JF Concentration is an important start towards meeting this need for students and to enhancing access to justice for the clients they will ultimately be able to serve.

Development of the A2JF Concentration would not have been possible without continuing support from Justice Canada’s Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund, Heritage Canada and our many community partners, including the Association des juristes d’expression française du Manitoba, InfoJustice, Université de Saint-Boniface, Centre canadien de français juridique and francophone lawyers, judges and community members.

Ma thèse en 180 secondes is a French-language communication contest launched by Acfas (Association francophone pour le savoir) in 2012, modelled after the Three Minute Thesis competition founded by The University of Queensland in 2008. Each challenger, in three minutes or less, must present a clear, concise explanation of their research project, in French.

MT180 is designed to be a challenge for students to succinctly convey ideas and principles of research in a way that will be understandable by a lay or non-specialist audience.

“Trying to communicate a specific research aim is always challenging, especially when we share it with the public,” says Jean-Eric Ghia, Associate Professor, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, and Honorary Consul of France in Winnipeg. “In a world where science communication became a key element, “Ma thèse en 180sec” gives Francophone graduate students, located in Manitoba, an opportunity to enhance their communication skills and storytelling capacities.

“Essayer de communiquer un objectif de recherche est toujours un défi, surtout lorsque nous le partageons avec le grand public. Dans un monde où la communication scientifique est devenue un élément clé, “Ma thèse en 180sec” donne aux étudiants candidats à la maîtrise et au doctorat francophones, situés au Manitoba, l’occasion d’améliorer leurs compétences en communication et leurs capacités de narration.”

Nolan De Leon, a master’s student in physiology and pathophysiology, explained his thesis on using circular RNA for the prognosis and diagnosis of congenital anomalies and won first place at the second annual University of Manitoba MT180 finals on April 15, 2021. He also competed in 3MT and won first place in that competition as well.

“The [MT180] competition was a great way to introduce me to all of the wonderful work being done in our university and gave me a chance to hone my skills as an effective communicator,” says De Leon discussing his experience. “As a scientist and an aspiring physician, I believe that communication is key to understanding problems and providing patients with the best care. By finding ways to turn our research into a conversation, we ultimately bring our ideas to life.”

By finding ways to turn our research into a conversation, we ultimately bring our ideas to life.” ~ Nolan De Leon

Kelley Main, acting Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, says: “I hope our graduate students who speak French will consider competing in MT180. It is a great opportunity to present one’s research to a non-academic audience.

“J’espère que nos étudiants de deuxième et troisième cycle qui parlent le français considéreront une participation au concours MT180. Il s’agit d’une chance unique de présenter votre travail de recherche à un auditoire autre que celui du monde universitaire.”

Competitors will present in UM’s MT180 competition on March 24 and have the chance to move on to the national final taking place on May 11, 2022.

Information on how to apply for MT180 can be found on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website.

Applications for MT180 2022 close February 13, 2022 – apply now in English or in French.

Applications are being accepted from all universities in Manitoba with graduate programs.  Current doctoral or master’s students can compete at the competition being held at UM, however only doctoral candidates will be eligible for the Canadian and International Final competitions.

“Manitoba being the second largest Francophone community outside Quebec, it was natural to bring that type of event here in Winnipeg” says Jean-Eric Ghia, Associate Professor of Immunology and internal Medicine at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and Honorary Consul of France in Winnipeg. “The objectives for the students are to convey in French the passion for their research while informing Francophone people in an accurate, creative way, to a very diverse audience.”

The Manitoba competition will take place at Université de Saint Boniface on April 6 at 6 p.m.

To be eligible to compete in the competition you must:

• Be a current student in Manitoba registered in a Doctoral or Master’s degree program (Master’s students are strongly encouraged to apply, however only Doctoral candidates will be eligible for the Canadian and International final competitions.)
• Be available to present at the national final on May 5 & 6 2020, if chosen as the winner of the local competition.
• Be available to present at the International final in late September 2020, if chosen as the winner of the National competition.
• Not have won jury or public prizes at a national competition for 3MT or Ma thésis en 180 secondes previously.
• Do your presentation in French.

How to Apply:

• Complete the application form.
• Create a 30 second video in which you introduce yourself, indicate your department and program, and briefly explain your research.
• Email the completed application form and video to deanfgs@umanitoba.ca with the subject line “Ma these en 180 secondes”

Deadline to apply is March 9, 2020, however all applications received by March 2, 2020 will be entered in a draw to win a $50 U of M Bookstore Giftcard. Apply today!

Don’t miss this opportunity to share your research, showcase your communication skills in French, expand your network, and stand out!

To see past challengers click here. For more information about the competition, visit our website or contact jean-eric.ghia@umanitoba.ca

She and her cousin would set up chairs and a table in the corner of the room where Elvina Mukhamedshina assumed the role of teacher and her cousin, the student.

“I loved marking whatever papers I assigned to him, giving him these fake marks,” Mukhamedshina said, “but I never consciously thought that I was going to be a teacher.”

This June, Mukhamedshina [BSc/2016, BEd/2019] joins some 150 BEd graduates completing their two-year teacher preparation.

Reflecting on her experience at the Faculty of Education, Mukhamedshina says she is grateful for the opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.

Connecting with community

As a new Manitoban from Russia, Mukhamedshina discovered she could connect with her new community by re-connecting with her love of working with children. She enrolled in education after three years of working at Mini-U, WISE Kid-Netic Energy, Kumon, as well as the YMCA, all while working to complete her BSc.

“Mini-U revealed a side of me that I really didn’t realize I had,” Mukhamedshina said.  “It was an opportunity to work with kids, to see them grow, to transfer my own knowledge and skills onto them, and to see them succeed … it was very fulfilling and empowering.”

Elvina teaches biology during practicum.

With a vibrant community of some 30,000 students, faculty and staff, Mukhamedshina enrolled at U of M because of the options and opportunities it offered.

“I chose U of M because I could still continue exploring other sides of myself,” she said, noting she took courses in economics, sociology and psychology, French and anthropology. “And after finishing my science degree, it felt natural to stay here because … it really felt like home.”

Two years in the Faculty of Education BEd program prepared her for success in the classroom by providing her with a solid grounding in teaching strategies, theory and research. Most valuable of all, classroom experience in four practicum courses gave her the opportunity to put her lessons into practice.

‘We learned about what it means to be a culturally inclusive teacher, what it means to be a teacher who understands universal design, what it means to integrate technology into your classroom and how to integrate Indigenous perspectives.’

“That’s where learning happens,” she said. “You learn what worked or didn’t, and you make it better in your next practicum.”

Course work included ways to integrate technology into the classroom, and researching innovative and forward-thinking approaches to teaching in education.

Integrating technology, forward-thinking approaches

“We learned about what it means to be a culturally inclusive teacher, what it means to be a teacher who understands universal design, what it means to integrate technology into your classroom and how to integrate Indigenous perspectives,” Mukhamedshina said.

She gained valuable research experience, winning an Undergraduate Research Award, and presenting at WestCAST—an education conference for all of Western Canada’s Faculties of Education. These experiences provided a solid foundation for when she plans to pursue graduate studies, she said. She realized the BEd program provides a pathway to teaching, but also research in future studies whose insights she can bring back to the classroom.

“I can see that the field of education has unlimited potential. I had a taste as an education researcher, but also as a practical educator in classroom.”

As senior stick for Education Student Council, she gained valuable leadership experience and developed important relationships with her peers and faculty—the highlight of her BEd experience.

“You grow together with your peers throughout these experiences,” she said. “I’ve also had amazing professors here at the Faculty of Education, who have inspired me to be a forward- and critical-thinking educator, and I really enjoyed my time here.”

To find out more about how to apply for a teaching degree at the Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba, click here.