NAVIGATING THE PLATFORM

On the day of the ceremony you’re attending, visit umanitoba.ca/convocation where you’ll find a link to enter the virtual ceremony. We highly recommend logging in 30 minutes before the ceremony starts. This will give you some time to explore the platform, get familiar with how it works and access all the fun Convocation features and activities.

• Once you log in, you’ll land in the event lobby; think of this as the reception hall. From here, you can find links to anywhere you’d like to go in the event space. If you ever get lost, you can always return to the lobby by clicking the University of Manitoba logo at the top left of your window.
• Start by watching the “Welcome to Convocation” video. Look for the screen that says “Start Here.”
• Then, start exploring by using the navigation boxes at the bottom of the screen or the small menu at the top right of your window.
• To connect with fellow attendees in real time, use the yellow chat button at the bottom right of the screen. To find someone, click on their name or type their name in the chat’s search bar.
• The ceremony program can be found on the poster board in the centre right of your screen. The program contains a list of all graduates, award winners, Honorary Degree recipients and messages from UM’s President and Chancellor.
• The live stream will change in real time before each ceremony, so if you log in to the virtual space before or after your event, another ceremony may be streaming. To replay a ceremony after the fact, all ceremonies will be archived after Convocation concludes.
• Above all, don’t worry about missing the start of the ceremony. When it’s about to start, a banner will appear on the screen prompting you to head to the main stage. Once the ceremony has started, you can pause it, but you cannot start the ceremony before the posted time.

ENGAGING WITH THE CONTENT

Convocation’s virtual component isn’t just a live stream; it’s an interactive experience! Here are some of the things you can explore on the platform:

• Take a selfie at the virtual photo booth! Add stickers and a graduation cap, then share the picture on social media. Don’t forget to tag the UM social media channels (@UManitobaand @UMStudent) and use #umanitoba2023.
• Visit the awards gallery to see the medal winners and teaching award recipients.
• Get to know Honorary Degree recipients by reading their citations.

If you have trouble navigating any part of the virtual platform or experience any technical difficulties, don’t hesitate to ask a question in the live chat and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Congratulations to this year’s class of UM graduates and enjoy your day!

Emma Gatrell

The completion of my BSW program is bittersweet. While I welcome the end of trying to balance working full-time, school, practicum, and a social life, the education that I received throughout these last three years was life changing. Despite working in the social services field for 8 years before I started my BSW, I learned so much more from this program than I could have imagined. I enjoyed each and every class and took something meaningful away that will most certainly enhance my future practice. 

I started this degree program to help me realize my goals of moving back to my home province and working in an inpatient acute care setting. I am excited to say that this all became a reality shortly after completing my degree requirements largely because of my journey to obtain my BSW. 

I chose this career path because I want to make a difference in the world, and I whole heartedly believe this program will help me achieve that. I am very grateful for the education it provided me. Congratulations to my fellow BSW graduates! 

Sima Chowdbury

A friend of mine suggested that I apply to the University of Manitoba Distance Social Work program, so that we could go to school together. 2020 was a difficult year given I had lost my mother weeks before starting, but it all turned out well in the end. I made the Dean’s List and am looking forward to graduate from school. 

The highlight of the program was the library. As a disabled student, I relied on the librarians for access to many of the course readings that were not optimized for my reader. They were always able to acquire all the resources I needed, effectively reducing the stress of doing course work with a brain injury. I was also able to publish a book in 2021 Mindful Meditation https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09NF87WTB, which discusses the benefits of mindfulness through academic research studies. It’s great that the new curriculum added a mindfulness course. 

Because about 30% of the program is from Alberta, I have made new friends from the program and hope our friendship will continue now that the program is complete. 

Charlene Nichol

It has been an exciting journey towards earning my Bachelor of Social Work degree. I moved back to Nunavut from Manitoba in February 2020 with a set goal in mind that I was going to go back to school to finally pursue my dream of earning my B.S.W. degree.

Studying late into the night, writing papers, exams, and doing practicums, sometimes through cold and snowy blizzards, I am thrilled to now be able to say I am finally finished!

Congratulations to all the graduates of 2023! 

Kaitlyn Skinner

My name is Kaitlyn Skinner (Ahola) and I am happy to announce that I have completed the Distance Delivery Social Work program through the University of Manitoba and I can now refer to myself as a Registered Social Worker in the province of Ontario. The completion of this degree is a huge accomplishment for me as I was able to complete the program while working full-time and raising three young children, who along with my husband, have been my inspiration through it all.  I have met some great classmates as well as instructors along the way who have provided me with great support and educational/experiential knowledge that I will hold with me through my future endeavors.  

Thank you and congratulations to all of my graduating classmates!

Sharri Edmunds

Although my journey to becoming a social worker began many years prior to September 2009, my dream was realized when I took and completed my first course in the Distance Delivery BSW program at the University of Manitoba. While my journey has lasted longer than most for many reasons including the births of children, the passing of parents, changes in professional roles, and even struggles with my own health and mental health, I am proud to say that I finally got here, and my dream is now my reality. The journey to this day was not solely about joining a profession but through the anti-oppressive approach embedded in the material, this degree has also been about personal healing and further enlivening my inner resolve to help others find their own power and healing. I am deeply grateful to my family and friends for all of the support and encouragement, to my peers and colleagues for their time and investment and to my instructors and classmates at the U of M for fostering my learning. I am honoured to have studied here!

“When you started here at the bachelor of nursing program in January 2020, you were only two months away from the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. But just like our faculty and researchers, you rose to those challenges,” Nickerson told the 111 new nurses.

“The resilience you demonstrated has been nothing short of phenomenal.”

Nickerson was among the speakers at a pinning ceremony hosted by the Nursing Students’ Association and College of Nursing on June 7 at the Pinnacle Club at IG Field.

The event was emceed by Dr. Netha Dyck, dean of the College of Nursing, and included greetings from the Province of Manitoba’s Hon. Audrey Gordon, Minister of Health, Joyce Kristjansson, executive director of the Association of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, Vivian Umeohabike, senior stick of the Nursing Students’ Association and Danielle Yaffe, four-time recipient of the NSA’s teaching excellence award.

Knowledge Keeper Brenda Longclaws offered an opening prayer, and an honour song was performed by Dr. Lisa Monkman.

At the ceremony, the new graduands received their nursing pin and recited the UM Bachelor of Nursing Pledge, which was inspired by the 1893 Florence Nightingale Pledge and has been adapted by the university.

Lynette Trinidad

Lynette Trinidad, one of two valedictorians, said she and her classmates only got to see each other in-person for limited times in the program, mostly at skills labs. But they were also all back together for their final term in the winter.

“We started and ended the program together,” she said. “We definitely experienced some hardships together and that is our bond.”

Many of the graduating class worked on the frontlines in COVID vaccine clinics, including Gillian Laninga, who is excited to start working as an operating room nurse in the coming weeks.

“I feel like a completely different person from when I started the program,” she said.

“Working at a mass immunization clinic is something I never would have expected to be a part of, but that experience of trying to immunize as many people as possible and caring for people with COVID while working as a student nurse and health care aide really shaped who I am as I enter the profession.”

Gillian Laninga

Winter Traverse, from Pinaymootang First Nation, was one of three students who entered the bachelor’s program through Mahkwa omushki kiim: Pathway to Indigenous Nursing Education (PINE), which offers academic, personal and cultural supports for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students entering nursing.

“The supportive environment of the PINE program really helped me with any challenges. If I had a difficult day, they were always there to walk me through these issues,” she said.

Traverse said she remembers the moment she first wanted to go into nursing. While pursuing a bachelor of science degree and looking at a career in psychology, occupational therapy or medicine, she worked as a summer student at a health centre in Pinaymootang.

“The nurses were very nurturing and inspired me to go into nursing. I actually got to listen to the heartbeat of a baby in the mother’s womb,” she said.

Traverse said she plans to work as a community care nurse in Indigenous communities. “I want to give back. Indigenous health is my passion.”

Following the pinning ceremony, the students officially graduated that afternoon, along with students from several other UM programs at Convocation.

Winnipeg-born gynecologist, author and podcaster Jen Gunter received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the ceremony for her contributions to the field of gynecology and her lifelong advocacy for accessibility and women’s health.

Gunter grew up in River Heights and is an alumna of the Max Rady College of Medicine. She has authored two best-selling books, The Vagina Bible and Menopause Manifesto, and has written for The New York Times, Glamour, The New Republic and many other publications. She has a blog called The Vajenda and has become known as “Twitter’s Resident OB/GYN.”

Jen Gunter addresses graduates at UM Convocation.

Gunter spoke about her career, the quality of education she received at UM and holding her own alongside those educated at Ivy League schools.

“When I was at a big university in the States and had been working there for a while, I had a colleague who went on and on and on about the importance of an Ivy League education, and how one couldn’t get anywhere in life without an Ivy League education. I said, ‘Wow…I went to the University of Manitoba and you and I have the same job,’” she said to a round of applause.

“I didn’t encounter one person who I felt had a better education than I did.”

When did you know you wanted to study Education?

My experience in Nigeria is in the education sector. I realized that I have passion to speak with people, I always want to encourage people. I always believe in people, even from when I was young. Nigeria public education is nowhere to be fine, if you want to have good education parents have to send their children to private school. I was working as an educational administrator, I know that is not enough for me and I started talking about it. But there are some very brilliant students in public school that don’t have it set out, and they need people like me to talk to them. I started volunteering through Rotary Club. Some of my friends have NGOs, they invite me, I talk to students, mostly girls. My first degree was in business administration, so I thought, I have to go for a Master’s of Education with a specialization in Educational Administration.

Abiola Olowolagba, MEd Graduate

What is the most exciting part about your field of study?

That I work in a sector that can make an impact, I realize that it’s about those little impacts. That child that maybe believed that cannot achieve this and I’m able to talk to that child. So for me, education, even here in Canada, education is supposed to be a social item. We have injustice everywhere. So for me, the fact that I’m in that sector, that I can have impacts on people’s life, maybe through my research, it might be through my work, my social services or something. For me, it’s just that impact.

What is the best advice you have received that has helped you in your studies?

Might not be really an advice, but maybe something that a lecturer said or how a lecturer taught me. Last Summer I took the course Indigenous Research Methodology with Dr. Jennifer Brant. Because as an African person, the way we preserve our knowledge despite civilization and everything is through story, poem, and all that. My research area is lived experiences of international students of color. The test we use, the way she shared experience in class, it just got me hooked. And I really enjoyed the class, it just gave me an assurance that I can do my research in this particular research methdology. You can do your research as an auto ethnography. You can do it as a narrative inquiry, and you can still do a very good research with that.

Do you have any favourite memories from your time and the faculty?

Lots. I have beautiful memories both online and offline. I was able to meet with wonderful people, sincerely. One is Dr. Merli Tamtik. She is my supervisor, I’ve taken two classes from her as well. Dr. Robert Mizzi, Dr. Jennifer Brant, and also Dr. Nathalie Piquemal. They were all interesting classes for me, and that is the kind of thing that gets me. My class should be enriching studies and education should be be an avenue for us to express ourselves and call it the way it is. And those are classes that are really part of my favourite memories.

What’s next for you after graduation?

I tend to go home after my graduation. Maybe next year I’ll take a break and come back for Fall ‘25 for my PhD.

AWARD WINNERS

Diploma medal winners include Jamie Chi Yan Wan who received the Governor General’s Bronze Medal, an award given to the graduate with the highest academic standing in the two-year Diploma Program in Agriculture.

Tanner Olmstead received the President’s Medal, given annually to a student who combines scholarship with outstanding qualities and has demonstrated leadership to the members of the graduating class throughout their time enrolled in their program.

Degree program medals are presented to students with the highest standing in their program. This year’s recipients include: George Meggison who received the B.Sc. (Agribusiness) Medal; Bobby Conrad who received the B.Sc. (Agriculture) Medal; Gaganjot Kaur Sekhon who received the B.Sc. (Food Science) Medal; and LaDawn Duerksen who received the B.Sc. (Human Nutritional Sciences) Medal.

Anna Macdonald who graduated with a B.Sc. (Human Nutritional Sciences) was honoured with the University Gold Medal in Agricultural and Food Sciences given for the highest grade point average.

Fatima Saqib who graduated with a B.Sc. (Human Nutritional Sciences) was awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s Gold Medal, given on the basis of scholarship, personal excellence and leadership.

The School of Agriculture Teacher of the Year Awards were presented in recognition of teaching excellence and contribution to the students’ program of study. The First Year award, selected by first-year diploma students, was given to Marla Riekman, Department of Soil Science. The Second Year award, selected by the graduating class of diploma students, went to Gwendolyn Donohoe, Department of Animal Science.

Degree students named Doug Cattani, Department of Plant Science, as Professor of the Year, an honour voted on by the graduating class.

Meet some of the members of the Class of 2023.

Liz Markwart

Master of Arts (Kinesiology and Recreation Management)

Liz Markwart has been dancing since age three and said her dream was to one day open a studio. She achieved this goal and completed an undergraduate degree in dance from York University. But once she was operating her studio, she couldn’t help but wonder about things she felt were off in the dance community. 

While interested in learning about the systemic shortcomings of representation across dance in Canada, particularly within the university sphere, Markwart didn’t initially plan on completing a master’s. However, with encouragement from FKRM Associate Dean Leisha Strachan, a teacher at her studio, Markwart returned to education full-time, completing her thesis titled: Still Colorblind: Using Mapping and Interviews with Former Students to Explore the Racial and Ethnic Diversity in University Dance Programs in Canada.

Her work involved speaking with students from various dance programs nationwide and getting their perspectives on how race is used.

“It just kind of opened up this whole door of what needs to be done and that there’s not enough being done about it,” said Markwart. “It [dance] is such an incredibly physical, emotional, artistic, creative thing to do that barriers shouldn’t be there for anybody.”

Markwart is also engaging in anti-racism work with several professional dance divisions in the city.

“I’m seeing the progress that can be made when people who are in it are listened to,” said Markwart.

Markwart will continue her work looking at the under-studied traumas in dance as she begins her PhD program in Peace and Conflict Studies at UM this fall. In the future, Markwart hopes to teach at the University.

Liz wants to thank her advisor, Leisha Strachan, her committee members, David Yi and Fenton Litwiller, Graduate Studies Coordinator Jody Bohonos, and her husband and three children.

“They teach me every day that I am worth the time and effort, and remind me that I am capable while setting an example that we can be anything we want to be if we work hard and are good to people.”

Chris Voth

Master of Arts (Kinesiology and Recreation Management)

Chris Voth doesn’t have an issue with saying yes. He said his current challenge is trying to find a balance between being open to new experiences and deciding what his long-term plans are.

Voth’s excitement at the possibility of new experiences is evident when looking back on his time with FKRM. He joined the faculty in 2010 and began working towards his BPE. However, before finishing his degree, the Bison player left Winnipeg to play professional volleyball in Europe and on the Canadian National Team during the summer before returning and finishing before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

While the pandemic changed almost all graduates’ education journeys, it also enabled Voth to start and complete his master’s as he coached volleyball professionally in Europe. His thesis, Shining a Light on the Unseen Athletes: Exploring the Experiences of Gay Team Sport Professional Athletes, emerged after Voth wrote some articles for the Huffington Post on his experience as an openly gay team sport athlete.

“I thought, okay, well, wouldn’t it be interesting to then share experiences of team sport athletes and try and figure out what’s holding them back?” said Voth. “Why couldn’t they come out or what happened when they did come out, and the long-term repercussions of that.”

Voth saw a need for more representation when it came to male athletes coming out, and even more so in professional sports, where changing teams often meant facing different personal environments.

“It was just about trying to share their experiences and to give people an appreciation for what gay team sport athletes go through on a daily basis,” said Voth.

Today the experienced writer is completing a book reflecting on his time playing professional volleyball while also coaching overseas.

Chris would like to thank his parents, Lloyd and Val, his sister Ashley, and associate professor Kyoung June Yi for their constant support and patience. Additionally, Chris would like to thank his teammates over the years and the support of Bisons Volleyball alum, Allan Edie, who provided scholarship opportunities for Bisons athletes.

“My parents supported me in anything I pursued while my sister was a shining beacon, always showing me the way and being an incredible role model.”

Courtney Addison

Master of Science (Kinesiology and Recreation Management)

Courtney Addison’s connection to her education has always been close to her heart. Her thesis, Finding Memories Through Music and Movement in Cognitive Impairment, was inspired by her relationship with her Papa, who lived with Alzheimer’s disease. Addison said whenever she talked about her work, she talked about her Papa.

“He always said I could do anything I set my mind to and shoot for the stars,” said Addison. “I just hope that I did him proud.”

Addison’s work looks at the different impacts of self-chosen music versus researcher-chosen music and how they can improve movement performance, and anxiety in persons with mild to moderate cognitive impairment.

Addison’s thesis work exposed her to the idea of becoming a recreation therapist and lead her to complete a recreation therapy diploma at Mohawk College in Ontario. Now working as a full-time recreation therapist at Misericordia Health Centre, Addison is also working on achieving her Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) certification.

“I know parts of what I learned through my master’s thesis, I’ve transferred here with the music I’ve put forward with curated playlists,” said Addison about her work at Misericordia.

Addison said that in the future, she hopes to help develop new pathways for recreation therapists here in Manitoba and one day take her field experience and bring it to the classroom.

Courtney would like to thank her family and nana, advisor Cheryl Glazebrook and committee members Zahra Moussavi and Shaelyn Strachan for their support and belief in her over the years. Additionally she wants to thank her papa, John Addison, who was the inspiration for her thesis.

“He always told me to shoot for the stars and I did just that. I hope I made him proud.”

The Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management is proud to congratulate all of our graduate students on what they have achieved within the faculty and the difference they are already making in the world.

Nardos Ghebremeskel [BComm(Hons)/23]

“Even though I have done a lot for Asper, it does not compare to how much Asper has done for me.”

Nardos Ghebremeskel receives her Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from Asper this June. Majoring in Leadership and Marketing, she reflects on her involvement at Asper during her undergraduate degree and considers what is next in her career journey.

Ghebremeskel kept busy during her degree. She was co-chair of the 55^th annual Commerce Students’ Association Business Banquet and VP of Events for JDC West. She also competed in multiple national and international case competitions, landing on the podium with her team at Creative Shock, UBC Impact and the IG Case Competition.

As she moves into the next chapter of her professional life, she hopes to pursue her passions for event planning and entrepreneurship. Ghebremeskel is moving to Toronto to set up an event planning business with a friend and will look for online learning or even graduate opportunities to bring a competition pitch idea to life—an app she pitched at a University of Winnipeg competition earlier this year.

“There are so many opportunities out there, and I believe we need to be proactive in taking advantage of as many as we can. It is never easy at first, but I know taking one step at a time will help me achieve my goals,” she says.

Arifin Zaman [MBA/23]

After completing his bachelor’s degree at the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh, Zaman came to Winnipeg in 2021 to pursue his MBA at the Asper School of Business with a focus in Marketing.

Zaman led the Asper Professional Graduate Student Association (APGSA) as president. In collaboration with APGSA director of finance Stéphane Lacroix-Pouliot [MBA/22], he took an organization previously open only to MBA students and expanded its scope to welcome all Asper professional graduate programs including the Master of Finance and Master of Supply Chain Management and Logistics.

“I am driven by change and improvement, and I strongly felt the need to create an inclusive association that represents all the programs and gives students a voice. Recognizing the importance of inclusivity, I embarked on the journey to establish APGSA,” says Zaman.

Though he is graduating, Zaman will hopefully stay in the Drake Centre as a business/professional development consultant at the Asper Career Development Centre, a position he started during his MBA.

“My commitment to Asper and my desire to make a meaningful impact drives me to stay engaged and continue giving back to the institution that has provided me with so many valuable opportunities,” he says.

Lianne Huberdeau [MBA/23]

Huberdeau graduates this spring with an Asper MBA. Beginning in Winter 2019, she focused her coursework on Leadership and Organizations while also becoming a star on the graduate case competition circuit.

Huberdeau worked frequently with fellow students Daniel Kokan, Elliot Codispodi and Kaushal Patel, typically under the team name Vanguard Consulting. Together, they brought home multiple first-place victories including Asper’s first international graduate case competition win.

Her experience with case competitions brought more than accolades. She reflects on the opportunity to grow with and learn from her team members and to be coached and mentored by talented leaders. Saying goodbye to the team is bittersweet, she says, but the trust and flow they developed was invaluable and unforgettable.

Huberdeau now hopes to continue growing as an HR executive focused on transforming the employee experience.

“I’m excited to take my broad business and strategic education to add more value and support business transformation and organizational development. Case competitions and the MBA provided me with this foundation and the ability to think critically and solve some of the most common and complex business challenges.”

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Congratulations to the graduating class of 2023!

More Asper convocation stories:

Jamie Theroux, MBA – MBA grad champions Inclusion and strives to create more opportunities for women

Earlier this month in Niagara on the Lake, the UM conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree upon Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences alumni Donald Triggs, who graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Honours).

Donald Triggs, BSA(Hons)(Manitoba), MBA(Western)

For decades, renowned Manitoba-born entrepreneur Donald Triggs has been making a profound impact on the Canadian economy.

With a passion to create a robust premium Canadian wine industry, Mr. Triggs’ ambition, vision and fearlessness has made him one of the most influential figures in the Canadian wine industry today.

From his humble beginnings growing up on the family farm, Mr. Triggs’ ambitions first began to take shape after he completed his honours degree in Agriculture at UM, receiving the Lieutenant-Governors Gold Medal in Agriculture and the Co-operative Promotion Board Gold Medal in Agricultural Economics upon graduation. He completed his MBA at Western and then began a career in marketing, working his way up to become president of beer-maker John Labatt Ltd.’s wine division.

In 1989, his ambitions grew further when the chance to buy the division arose and he saw an irresistible opportunity to create a global market for premium Canadian wine that did not yet exist. Mr. Triggs and his wife Elaine, against the advice of their bankers, made the risky decision to re-mortgage their house and pool their life savings with other partners to take the gamble and form their own company, Vincor.

Boasting 14 wineries and 2,250 employees, Vincor became the first Canadian wine company to succeed worldwide. In 1998, the couple purchased 100 acres of land along the Niagara Parkway and created Delaine Vineyard, a research vineyard that provided premium quality vinifera grapes for Vincor’s Niagara Region wineries and the Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate.

Co-founded with former colleague Allan Jackson in 1991, Jackson-Triggs Winery transformed Canada’s small wine industry into an economic powerhouse. Together with a talented executive team, the pair acquired small wineries, planted better grapes, invested in technology, and turned the Jackson-Triggs label into Canada’s bestselling premium-wine brand, winning Best Canadian Winery numerous times in Canadian and International wine competitions.

By 2003, their company was Canada’s largest wine producer and the world’s eighth largest. Until 2006, Don served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Jackson-Triggs’ parent company, Vincor International Inc. His enthusiasm for ultra-premium winemaking led Don and Elaine to launch Culmina Family Estate Winery in the Okanagan valley in 2007.

Now retired, Triggs is credited with making a major contribution towards transforming the quality and reputation of Canadian wines and establishing international markets to benefit all winemakers. He also guided the industry as chair of both the Canadian Vintners Association and the Ontario Wine Council. Mr. Triggs has received many accolades for his entrepreneurial spirit and community involvement where

Don and Elaine actively supported the arts and education; Don was enthusiastic about the Triggs International Premium Vinifera Lecture Series which brings international experts on viticulture to share the world’s leading research with Ontario and Okanagan growers every two years. Don’s awards also included Marketer of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year, and three honorary doctorate degrees. In 2006, Don received the Ten-Year Volunteer Service Award from the Government of Ontario and was honored with the Award of Distinction by the Canadian Vintners Association in 2016.

The University of Manitoba is proud to award a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, to Donald Triggs in recognition of his transformative impact on the Canadian wine industry and his immense contributions to the Canadian economy.

Andrew Hogan

Andrew Hogan

Governor General’s Gold Medal – Awarded for outstanding achievement at the PhD level

Growing up in Newfoundland, Andrew Hogan has always had a fascination for all-things nature. He looks back on his childhood and remembers watching nature documentaries, always drawn to living organisms, especially the smallest ones, and understanding how they function. In 2023, Hogan is graduating from UM with a PhD in microbiology from the Faculty of Science.

After graduating from Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John’s, Hogan made his way to UM to earn his graduate degrees. During his time at UM, his research allowed him to take part in interdisciplinary collaborations, working on samples from a laboratory group in the Czech Republic to study the mechanisms of a new antibiotic and developing new genetic tools for another group in the United States. For 6 years, Hogan also served on the Microbiology Graduate Students’ Association, holding every position including President at some point.

He is proud to be a part of the only stand-alone microbiology department in Canada, noting how special it is to be able to explore all multifaceted components of microbiology within the same walls yet have profound implications on every aspect of living around the world.

“Being surrounded by experts who were always happy to share their diverse knowledge and equipment was very important to my success and made me realize the value of cooperation and collaboration,” says Hogan.

The world hasn’t forgotten the impact of infectious diseases, putting him in a crucial position to direct future research. He is energized by the potential to change our understanding of infectious diseases, and to reveal the weaknesses in bacterial physiology that can be used to our advantage in new therapeutics.

As Hogan nicely puts it: “Science is connected. Questions and answers spread across disciplines, regardless of country borders. When we make new connections of ideas, we also make new connections and collaborations between like-minded people. These connections are vital to solving the biggest issues of our day.”

Shayna Pierce

Shayna Pierce

Governor General’s Gold Medal – Awarded for outstanding achievement at the master’s level

Graduating with a master of arts in psychology, Shayna Pierce’s future lies in advocating for and informing the development of medical practice guidelines and policies for perinatal mental health. This will prioritize the integration of prevention, screening and perinatal mental health services into primary prenatal and postpartum care.

Pierce’s extensive volunteer work has helped many communities in Winnipeg and around the world, yet she never fails to credit these communities for their impacts on her own life. “Of all my university experiences, being able to learn from women in leadership across the country who bring their intelligence and lived experience together to create systemic change has had the most impact on me,” says Pierce.

During a volunteer trip to Salabwek, Kenya when she was 16 years old, she helped build a local school and learned about the communities’ access to healthcare. She was inspired to volunteer at the Children’s Hospital of Winnipeg, where she directly learned about the lasting impacts of traumatic birth experiences, uncertainty around infant health, as well as the relationships between postpartum physical health and maternal mental health.

At once, Pierce was driven to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist with a life-long goal of improving access to mental health services and credible health information through clinical research. She also hopes to focus helping populations of pregnant women and those within one year postpartum.

Even as a student, Pierce has always dedicated her time and energy to advocacy roles within the UM community and beyond. “I’ve learned that students are the future and so while we are learning, one of the most important things we can do is to question the way things are and be willing to bring our ideas and perspectives to the table,” Pierce adds.

One of her most notable roles is serving as co-chair on the advocacy board of the Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative, where she collaborates with women, perinatal researchers and clinicians across Canada to advocate for unmet mental support needs of women and call upon the Canadian government to take action.

Andrea Sutherland

Governor General’s Silver Medal – Awarded for outstanding achievement at the undergraduate level

Andrea Sutherland

Andrea Sutherland has always had a passion for helping others. While there are many career options to fulfill this passion, she decided to pursue a bachelor of environmental science, recognizing environmental issues like climate change and biodiversity loss as the most important challenges facing our world today.

“The actions of my generation will be critical in charting the course for the future of environmental management. Recognizing this fact, my academic success has been driven by the belief that I should do everything that I can do to understand and address environmental issues,” says Sutherland. “I’ve been graced with a disposition that has allowed me to enjoy learning to its fullest, and a wonderfully supportive network of friends and family, and these have been central in enabling me to work hard in my academic pursuits.”

She has been the secretary and board member of a local greenspace, the former Bishop Grandin Greenway, and played a role in the recent change of the trail’s name to Awasisak Mēskanow. She also took on a virtual internship for a Fijian charity, where she developed a climate change policy for the organization. Her research position with Environment and Climate Change Canada provided an opportunity to review forestry regulations and international protocols to offset carbon, both of which help develop the Federal Greenhouse Gas offset system.

“I wanted to join all of the dedicated, like-minded people working to address these issues. I believe that this is a critical way to help others, especially marginalized and vulnerable communities that are experiencing environmental issues most prevalently,” she adds.

Sutherland hopes to pursue a law degree to advocate for change. Regardless of whether she ends up in environmental law or a different field, there is no doubt that Sutherland will help build a better world with a stronger sense of environmental stewardship.

Shelia Le

Sheila Le

Governor General’s Silver Medal – Awarded for outstanding achievement at the undergraduate level

Sheila Le is making it her career mission to help break barriers to accessing health care. Her interest in science started in middle school, where she was drawn to the human body and pathophysiology of different diseases. With a particular fascination for molecular processes, she has earned a bachelor of science in biochemistry.

“I hope to make an impact on the broader community through the medical field as a future physician who will strive to provide quality, equitable care and help reduce the barriers that various people encounter when accessing health care,” says Le.

She volunteered at Victoria General Hospital throughout her studies, helping patients connect virtually with their family members during the time of the pandemic when visitors weren’t allowed in facilities, and helped facilitate recreational activities when patients’ mental well-being was historically challenging.

Le participated in the Multidisciplinary Health Research Experience program where she attended health science seminars and professional development activities, as well as the Language Exchange program involving an exchange of language and cultural practices with an international student at UM. With her education and compassionate nature, her experiences and expertise in biochemistry will set her up for success in her studies to become a physician, after which she will surely make a difference in the field of health care.

Le credits her dad who has always emphasized the value of education and hard work: “Seeing how hard he’s had to work to raise me and my sister motivates me to stay committed to my education and to work harder for a better future.”

Jamie Chi Yan Wan

Jamie Chi Yan Wan

Governor General’s Bronze Medal – Awarded for highest standing in the two year Diploma course in Agriculture

Before moving to Winnipeg in 2021, Jamie Chi Yan Wan grew up in Hong Kong and earned her first bachelor’s degree in geography and resource management at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

“It became clear to me that agriculture offers a significant entry point for addressing sustainability issues since food production is a fundamental aspect that allows everyone to participate in different ways,” says Wan.

She worked at a university farm in Hong Kong where she developed a viable sustainability model that could be replicated in other rural areas of the region, allowing her to collaborate with ecologists and landowners on farming practices rooted in ecological conservation initiatives. This experience not only introduced her to farming activities for the first time, but it also convinced her to further explore her interest in the agriculture industry.

Truly committing to her goals, she made the move to Canada and knew she belonged in UM’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. Despite the significant shift in the university experience during the worst of the pandemic, Wan stayed persistent and resilient. She then faced another barrier – her lack of familiarity with North American agriculture, especially in comparison to her peers. These challenges only pushed Wan to work harder and she eventually grew more confident in herself. Receiving this award fills her with well-deserved pride and serves as the ultimate recognition of her abilities and potential.

“Learning is a lifelong journey where age and background do not determine what you can achieve,” Wan adds. As her next step, she looks forward to contributing to the industry as a researcher who can shape the future of agriculture for better, more sustainable communities.

Rovielle Rantael

Rovielle Rantael

Governor General’s Bronze Medal – Awarded for highest standing in a diploma program of at least two years other than diploma Agriculture

After graduating from W.C. Miller Collegiate in Altona, Manitoba, Rovielle Rantael was inspired to study Dental Hygiene by family members who are also in the dental profession. While taking an Oral and Dental Anatomy course, she realized how intriguing the dental field is and discovered that she loves how her studies and future career path allow her to incorporate aspects of art and creativity into the health sciences.

During her studies, she helped raise awareness of the School of Dental Hygiene and the General Dentistry Clinic to students and the public. She plans to continue being an advocate for her profession and showcasing the significant role dental hygienists play in preventative health care.

A highly accomplished student, Rantael won scholarships throughout her academic years, including the Dr. A.W. Hogg Scholarship, handed out for highest standing in the second year of the dental hygiene program, and the Isbister Undergraduate Scholarship in Dental Hygiene, awarded based on eligibility for the dean’s honour list and for the highest average standing in years one to three. In addition to winning the Governor General’s Bronze Medal, she also received the University Program Medal for Dental Hygiene, the Manitoba Dental Association Gold Medal and the Manitoba Dental Association Prize at her convocation.

Students regularly share that participating in university life beyond the classroom is what makes their undergraduate experience more complete and satisfying. El-Shaddai is no exception to that. Once in her program of choice, she pursued many opportunities to actively engage in extracurricular activities and contribute to her community. She demonstrated her commitment to empowering and supporting fellow students as a co-chair of the Black Student Empowerment Society. She has been honoured with various scholarships for her academic achievements and community work, such as the Hon. James A Richardson Minister of National Defense Scholarship, the Fred Penner Scholarship and the West Broadway Youth Outreach Infinity Scholarship. And, she was exposed to learning through hands-on research with a professor.

El-Shaddai worked as a research assistant for Dr. Orysia Kulick looking at the history of international tribunals and the precedents they set in prosecuting sex and gender-based violence. “This topic contains heavy and graphic material which, at times, was very difficult to review,” shared El-Shaddai. “Dr. Kulick was amazingly supportive in ensuring our own wellbeing and promoting self-care.” To deepen El-Shaddai’s understanding of the process of conducting research, Dr. Kulick, “always asked the right questions to encourage deeper research to help us produce thorough results.”

Sometimes a particular teacher or course can provide a favourite memory. El-Shaddai expressed her admiration for Dr. Lori Wilkinson in the Department of Sociology and Criminology, not only for her inspiring research in the settlement experiences of immigrants and refugees, but also for her kindness, patience and support as a professor. “Our time together during office hours ended up being broad discussions about life or social issues,” said El-Shaddai. These office hours conversations often help guide students through their degree and on to their post-graduation path.

El-Shaddai is now moving on to a ten-month internship with the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. It is open to six students per year and many UM graduates have taken this opportunity over the years to experience the legislative process firsthand. El-Shaddai is preparing to learn about the inner workings of a legislature, work with Manitoba political, business, communications and non-profit sector leaders and produce an academic paper on a Manitoba public policy issue.

“From very early in my studies, mentors, alumni and professors strongly recommended this internship to me so I kept my eye on it during my degree,” said El-Shaddai. She is looking forward to the opportunity to apply what she’s learned during her degree in a practical way and then bring that political experience back with her as she pursues graduate studies.

To fellow graduating students, El-Shaddai shared some valuable advice. “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, even if it means failing sometimes! Some of my best experiences at UM were because I took a risk and was content with whatever came of it. This motto is what I will always try to live by.”

As many exceptional students, such as El-Shaddai, graduate this spring, their accomplishments will serve as an inspiration to their peers. Their dedication, involvement in extracurricular activities, research contributions and pursuit of opportunities showcase their commitment to personal and academic growth. In their time at UM, they have embodied the spirit of the university and have left a positive impact on the university community.

The Faculty of Arts congratulates the graduates of 2023 and wishes everyone the best the future has to bring.