Students shared powerful reflections on the impact their chosen teachers had on their lives, highlighting the dedication, compassion, and humour these educators brought to the classroom. For some, the most influential teachers were also the toughest—those who held them to high standards because they genuinely believed in their ability to succeed.

“My mom went to a parent-teacher conference. I had an excellent report card—except for all the classes I had with one teacher, Ms. Margaret Wiens. My grades in her class were thirty percent lower than every other class,” shared Christine Hay, the outstanding student selected from the Faculty of Education. “The rural school I attended was a Grade 4 to 12 school, with no high school art programming at all. Margaret Wiens was a teacher who saw the value of art in education. So, when I decided in Grade 12, four years later, that I wanted to apply to the School of Art at UM with no arts training at all, it was Ms. Wiens who learned how to build an entrance portfolio and mentored me through the entire process—during her lunches, her preps, and after school. I did end up getting direct entry into the School of Art. It is with deep gratitude that I stand here today and thank you, 23 years later, for showing up every day with grit, for showing me grace, and for being an example of how I hope to show up for my future students.”

Left image from left to right, Yvonne Fenner, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, outstanding student, Ms. Margaret Hart, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, outstanding teacher. Right image from left to right, Mr.  Ron Constant, Joe A. Ross School, outstanding teacher, Yvonne Fenner, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, outstanding student

This year’s Students’ Teacher Recognition Reception was held on May 5 bringing together students, their selected teachers, faculty representatives, and invited guests for an afternoon of meaningful celebration. The event was hosted by The Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning and emceed by the Centre’s Director, Dr. Erica Jung.

Dr. Diane Hiebert-Murphy, Provost and Vice-President (Academic) brought greetings and shared her own reflections on the educators who made a lasting impact in her life. “I think back to my high school teachers’ who encouraged me to recognize potential that I didn’t fully see in myself, and some University Professors who helped shape the direction of my academic life, and ultimately my professional life. These individuals will never fully appreciate or know the impact that they had on me, but I certainly think about them every year when I come to this reception.”

Throughout the afternoon, students spoke not only about the academic guidance they received but also the personal support their teachers offered—support that extended beyond the classroom. Many shared stories of educators who cared deeply, often becoming mentors, role models, and even friends.

Yvonne Fenner, the outstanding student from the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, spoke with heartfelt appreciation about the many ways her selected teachers supported her. “It wasn’t only the educational part of this journey that she helped me with. Ms. Margaret Hart was there for me on a personal note, as I have called on her many times in the last two years.” Ms. Margaret Hart, a First Nations Indigenous educator in the health sciences, shared that the presence of Indigenous students carries deep personal significance. “I’m there to nurture the students’ learning, but also, I’m there to nurture their identities too”—a sentiment that reflects a commitment not only to academic growth but to personal and cultural growth as well.

Following the ceremony, attendees had a chance to mingle, take photos, and reflect on the meaningful connections that helped shape their journeys.

Faculty of Law student Alessandro Potenza put it best: “I know that we were not uniquely smart, but instead, that we had a uniquely exceptional teacher.” A sentiment echoed by many—while talent may open the door, it’s great educators who help students walk through it.

For a full list of award recipients, please visit our webpage.

With those words, UM Chemistry student Katherine Bazin summed up the beneficial effect that excellent teachers can have on the lives of their students.  

Bazin was one of 19 students speaking at this year’s Students’ Teacher Recognition Reception, an annual gathering that celebrates teaching excellence. Each UM faculty and school selects an outstanding graduating student, who then delivers a short thank you to two teachers who have made key contributions to their education – one from their Kindergarten to Grade 12 years and one from their time at UM. This year, the group of 19 graduating students spoke about 38 passionate educators who helped shape them into the people they are today.

Hosted by The Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning and emceed by Centre Director Dr. Erica Jung, this year’s event took place May 2 in UMSU’s Killarney Room and was attended by the honourees and their family and friends.

Dr. Diane Hiebert-Murphy, Provost and Vice-President (Academic), brought greetings and spoke of the wide-ranging impact of teachers. “Teachers not only invest in the academic success of our students, and we’re very grateful they do that, but they also very much contribute to the personal development of our students and to their ongoing character development.”

Students described how their teachers demonstrated a passion for their craft, were committed to ensuring all students felt safe and seen, and how they used humour and creativity in their classrooms to engage their charges. Many described how their critical thinking skills were sparked by these educators and how the skills they learned will benefit them for the rest of their lives.

Several students shared how their teachers helped them through personal challenges. Perhaps the most moving example was from Deji Omotayo of the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, when speaking of his elementary school teacher Mr. Mudasiru in Lagos, Nigeria.

When he was 12 years old, Omotayo’s father was shot dead in front of him. “That trauma was something I couldn’t get over,” he said. “I decided I was going to go into gun violence, I was going to join a gang, because I was an only child and he was my best friend, and someone had taken him away from me. But Mr. Mudasiru stepped up as the father I didn’t have and used academics to turn my life around. He would give me loads of work, and I didn’t have time for anything else except being a good student. He told me to channel my energy into being the best that I could be.” (Mr. Mudasiru had hoped to travel from Nigeria to Winnipeg to celebrate with Omotayo but was ultimately unable to make the trip.)

Dr. John Perry, Associate Dean (Academic), Deji Omotayo, outstanding student, Dr. Charlene Solomon, outstanding teacher, Dr. Trenna Reeve, Associate Dean (Clinical), Dr. Diane Hiebert-Murphy, Provost and Vice-President (Academic), University of Manitoba

Jappreet Kaur Gill from the College of Rehabilitation Sciences shared the challenges of being a newcomer to Canada, mature student, wife, mother and sister to a critically ill sister back in India. There came a point when she thought her university degree might be unattainable. UM professor Maureen Walker was there to help show her the way.

“There are no words to describe how wonderful she is,” Kaur Gill said. “I had to leave my placement behind, and I was in the middle of nowhere, and Maureen reached out to me and showed me that I can still do it, that I can visit my sister and I can still academically do well. Her willingness to impart life lessons along with academic teaching has left a long-lasting impact on me,” she said.

The air was celebratory at the reception following the ceremony. Colleen Plumton, Fieldwork Program Coordinator in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, was the UM instructor of choice for graduating student Sierra Dueck. Plumton has been previously recognized at the STRR event for her dedication to excellence. “We do it because we love it,” she said. “I feel gifted with many students in how lucky we are together. Fabulous connections happen; students take in the information, and they are the ones who make it all happen with what we provide them.”

Each educator received an engraved glass award presented by Colleen Webb, Senior Team Lead in the Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning. Each student and their two teachers posed for a commemorative photo with the dean or associate dean of their faculty and the Vice-President (Academic).

For a full list of award recipients, please visit our webpage.

Lauren Gowler was selected as the Faculty of Law’s exceptional student and she chose her high-school art teacher Ms. Deborah Nickel and Associate Professor David Ireland from the Faculty of Law as her most memorable teachers.

“It has been a great experience having Professor Ireland as a mentor during my time at Robson. I’ve had the pleasure of taking two classes with him (Criminal Law in 1L and LPPR in 3L) and working with him closely as a Research Assistant for two years on his upcoming manuscript. Beyond that, he’s provided excellent guidance and support to me as I have navigated the application process for graduate programs and clerkships,” said Gowler.

She added, “Davy is incredibly approachable, patient, and understanding with students. I think he – more so than any other law professor I had – really communicated the importance of establishing human connections with the individuals we are going to be expected to work with and represent. The Faculty of Law is lucky to have him as a professor.”

Lauren is so bright, energetic, and creative that it is no surprise she has excelled at the University of Manitoba. – Associate Professor Davy Ireland

“I was certainly surprised, then deeply humbled, by this award,” said Ireland. “Lauren has been a truly outstanding student in the Faculty of Law, and I am very happy to have been part of her journey so far. I am thrilled she will be embarking on her graduate education in the UK and look forward to watching her grow as a lawyer, teacher, and mentor.”

Watch Lauren’s speech from the Reception on the University of Manitoba Youtube Channel.

“Mr. Wilcox sparked in me a love for reading, writing, and learning that persists today,” she said. “Since I was only six at the time, I don’t remember any specific stories or words of wisdom he imparted, but what I do remember is how I felt in his classroom. The world felt bigger with every new thing that I learned.”

Proctor, who graduates this spring with a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences, was speaking at this year’s Students’ Teacher Recognition Reception, hosted May 2 by UM’s Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning.

The annual event is an opportunity to celebrate teaching excellence. Each faculty and school nominates an outstanding graduating student, who then selects two teachers who have made important contributions to their education – one from their Kindergarten to Grade 12 years and one from their time at UM. This year, the group of 22 graduating students spoke about 44 outstanding educators who inspired them.

The ceremony, emceed by The Centre’s Director Erica Jung, returned to its in-person format in UMSU’s Killarney Room and was attended by the honourees and their family and friends. Dr. Diane Hiebert-Murphy, Provost and Vice-President (Academic), brought greetings and expressed gratitude for the educators in her life. “I think about the high school teacher who really challenged me to recognize what he saw as the potential in me, and I think about the university professors… who had a very crucial role in some of the decisions that I made about my educational journey,” she said.

Dr. Jila Ghomeshi, Associate Dean Undergraduate, Dr. David Watt, outstanding teacher, Zlata Odribets, outstanding student, Valerie Zviahintseva, outstanding teacher, Dr. Diane Hiebert-Murphy, Provost and Vice-President (Academic), University of Manitoba

This year’s students spoke eloquently and passionately about their chosen educators. Their tributes illustrated that although classrooms and teaching approaches have changed over the years, the things we value most about teachers have remained constant.

Students spoke about the enthusiasm, humour and empathy shown by the teachers who made a difference in their lives. They explained how their educators fueled in their students a love for learning and research, taught them how to think critically, gave them confidence and pushed them to excel.

Several spoke of how their teacher created a safe space for them and taught them skills that would benefit them outside the classroom. Anson Chan, of the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, thanked his junior high band and jazz band instructor, Darryl Ferguson, for the care he took with students at Acadia Junior High School. “Mr. Ferguson, thank you for always respecting and listening to us, despite us being just teenage kids at the time, and creating an environment for students to come and grow together, to create meaningful memories for all of us who were in your class.”

The undergraduate timeframe for this year’s graduating students spanned the COVID-19 pandemic. Several students, including Jillian Desjarlais in the I.H. Asper School of Business, thanked their UM professors for their ability to engage students in an online setting.

“I’ve only had the opportunity to meet Ms. Noha Ghattas through online classes, but I’m glad that I had what I did,” said Desjarlais of her Accounting and Finance professor. “The initial stages of the pandemic were full of stress, ambiguity and animosity for me and many of my peers. Although most professors tried their best to navigate teaching within this space, there was a definite disconnect between students and professors. Through this, Noha Ghattas seemed to be a breath of fresh air. Even though we attended class through screens, she made them a place where students felt comfortable to participate.”

Each educator received an engraved glass award presented to them by Dr. Mark Torchia, Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning). The student and their two teachers then posed for a commemorative photo with the dean or associate dean of their faculty.

After the ceremony, a reception in Marshall McLuhan Hall was boisterous, with the pairs of chosen teachers meeting each other for the first time and chatting with students’ friends and family. As the now-retired Mr. Wilcox crouched to chat with the two young daughters of his former Grade 1 student, it was clear that great teachers never stop caring about people.   

Faculty of Law student Lauren Gowler summed up the collective gratitude most simply in her tribute to Professor David Ireland: “Thank you… for showing me that a kind heart can go a long way in making a difference.”

For a full list of award recipients, please visit our webpage.

Gallery of attendees at the Students’ Teacher Recognition Reception