Graduate Student Leadership and Athletic Awards
Graduate Student Excellence in Varsity Athletics
Baseball
Scott Hughes
Cross Country Team Coach
Brad Young
Golf
Eric Payne
Lacrosse
Brett Beston
Rugby
Matt Henderson
Rugby
Clare MacMahon
Soccer
Lindsay Kunkel
Swimming
Craig Perfect
Track and Field
Amy Seiling
Karen Watson
Volleyball
Marc Klinstra
Rebekah Vair
Waterpolo
Chris Cooper
Amy Latimer
Lisa Masters
Wrestling
Steve Hansen
Graduate Student Excellence in Leadership, Intramural Sport and University Government
Anthropology
University Government and Leadership
Jane Leverick, University Senator; Ben Stride-Darnley, GSA Board of Directors; Tonya von Hunnius, GSA Board of Directors, GSA Vice-President; Rhonda Bathurst, University Budget and Planning Committee
Biochemistry
Biochemistry Graduate Society (BGS)
Rani Cruz, founder; Paulina Dlugosz, Matt Henderson, Tejal Patel, Jeffery Schertzer, Jillian Taylor
Biochemistry intramural team captains and players
Marcus Eccleston, softball team captain, intramural volleyball; Tamara O'Connor, intramural volleyball; Denis Daigle, intramural volleyball
Biology
Biology Graduate Student Society (BGSS)
Marylene Boulet, Social Co-ordinator; Marc Champigny, Co-president; Sean Gregory, Equipment/Sponsorship; Melanie Huntley, Treasurer; Curt Nordgaard, Academic Rep; Susan Pattison, Social Co-Ordinator; Faculty of Science GSA Rep., CAGS McMaster Graduate Student Rep; Joe Rogers, Secretary; Dara Torgerson, Co-President
Biology intramural team captains
Natalie Zakal, Volleyball; Mark Mitchell, Softball
Chemistry
McMaster Chemistry Graduate Student Society (MCGSS)
Travis Besanger, MCGSS; Bart Byczynski, Vice president; Gina Dimopoulos, Secretary; Amanda Donovan, MCGSS; Andrew Green, MCGSS; Matt Parrott, MCGSS; Greg Potter, MCGSS; Erica Robinson, MCGSS; Nick Rupcich, Treasurer; Paul Zelisko, President, Softball team captain
Chemistry Intramural team captain
Cam Harrington, Softball
University Government and Leadership
M. Ali, University Senator
Chemincal Engineering Graduate Society
Hector Larrazabal, President; Benoit Cardin, Treasurer; Carlos Quijano, Webmaster; Mohamed Soliman, Vice-president; Aileen Wan, Seminar organizer; Todd Hoare, Seminar organizer; David Learmonth, Social events organizer; Laure Sauniel, Social events organizer
Civil Engineering
University Government and Leadership
Ahmed El-Sheikh, Faculty of Engineering GSA Rep; Bethany Sekerak; Civil Engineering Social Committee; Margaret Kirnbauer, Civil Engineering Social Committee; Martina Hildebrand, Civil Engineering Social Committee
Engineering
University Government and Leadership
Ahmed Deifalla, GSA President; Ahmed Khalil; GSA Board of Directors; M. Samadi, University Senator
English
University Government and Leadership
Tim Jacobs, University Senator
Kinesiology
Kinesiology Graduate Body (KGB)
Steve Hansen, Heimbecker Cup C-ordinator (Athletics); Krista Howarth, Vice. President; Amy Latimer, President; Amy Mark, 1st year rep; Christine Rodriguez, Secretary; Tim Shepstone, Social Event Co-ordinator, Intramural Athletics waterpolo captain; Sarah Wilkinson, Social Event Co-ordinator; Mark Young, Treasurer
Mechanical Engineering
Intramural team captains
Michael Bardeleben, Softball; Joe Hall, Softball
Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Science
Intramural team captains
Lorna Ryan, Softball; Ryan Studinski, Softball
Medical Sciences
Health Science Graduate Student Federation (HSGSF)
Maria Anzulovic, Vice President, HSGSF Alumni Committee; Marc Filion, HSGSF Treasurer, HSGSF Alumni Committee, GSA Board of Directors, GSAC Vice Pres. Comm. and Admin Sports Rep; Holly Hatfield, President, Graduate curriculum and policy committee
University Government and Leadership
Erin Giles, Off campus Health Sciences program rep; Caroline Pospisil, Off campus Health Science program rep; Dusan Sajic, Library Users committee; Sa'ad Salim, Board of Governors; Alison Shea, NBS Health Sciences program rep; David Southam, PP Health Sciences program rep; Laura Lee Tanis, MIVI Health Sciences program rep
Beth Tapak, Faculty of Health Sciences GSA Rep; Ryan Wiley, Refining Directions Committee member
Intramural team captains
Dustin Johnson, Softball
Physics and Astronomy
Physics Grad Liaison Committee
David Tilley, Philosophy
University Government and Leadership
Michael Potter, Faculty of Humanities GSA Rep
Rehabilitation Science
Rehabilitation Student Association (RSA)
Jeffery Dickert, OT orientation committee; Joanne Dominico, OT orientation committee; Diana Gerty, RSA founder; Kylie Gibson, Charity Ball Chair; Richard Kellowan, Clothing Rep; Laura Lundquist, RSA Physiotherapy President; Lisa Masters, Orientation; Caroyln Stark, RSA founder; Megan Smith, Job fair organizer; Peter Veres, Vice president RSA
University Government and Leadership
Natalie O'Mara, University Senator
Social Sciences
University Government and Leadership
Jodi Barta, Faculty of Social Sciences GSA Rep
Leadership, and Athletics Awards Nominees
Peter George Award of Excellence for Leadership in Varsity Athletics
This award is given to a graduate student varsity athlete who exemplifies the ideas of fair sportsmanship, team leadership, and who projects a positive model of combined sport and academic success to undergraduate team members. Through sport nominees have imprinted upon others positive self image, tangible success as a student athlete and encouragement to pursue sport throughout life. These exceptional student-athletes each have demonstrated clear excellence in both sport and academics. Nominees are engaged in multiple aspects of McMaster athletic and recreational programs, acting as ambassadors of McMaster and varsity athletics programs to the larger community through volunteerism, interpersonal relationships, mentoring, training and community programs.
Matthew Henderson
Biochemistry
Rugby
Matt has captained the Men's rugby team since he hit the Mac campus as a graduate student two years ago Last year, Matt captained the team to new heights, playing to a 7-1 regular season record. They beat his undergraduate team (Queens) in the regular season and in the semi-final to advance against the Western Mustangs. The Marauders handed the Mustangs a convincing loss in the final to win the gold medal. In 2002, Matt was named to the tier 1 OUA All-Star Team. Henderson has played on the biochemistry baseball team both years that he has been a Mac graduate student. We often have two GSA teams due to vast numbers of interested participants, and Matt is always willing to fill in when a team needs extra players.
Matt has expanded his involvement this year to include acting as an assistant captain for the Mighty Chondria (our only team this year). This role requires Matt to recruit and collect fees from the individuals to help pay for the team's expenses. He is also responsible for getting the equipment to the field so the game may be played.
He has volunteered his time without hesitation and will be available to assist in any area required. Often, the team is short of players and Matt will help find people to organize a playable team, especially when the team captain is away or occupied by their studies. As previously, stated, Matt is not only a member of the varsity rugby team; he has been the captain both of the years he played on the team. The captain bears the weight of the team in many regards. When the team loses, it is the captain's job to maintain motivation and team spirit. Matt did an exemplary job with the team in two years. Upon joining the team, they were only capable of a 50% winning record, and in only one year, with Matt as the captain, the team improved and won the provincial championship the following year.
As a biochemistry master's student, there are large demands on time. Matt successfully scheduled enough time to see that the team got his attention, while his research did not suffer. He is an exemplary student in the department and is being considered for a seminar award for an excellent seminar of research this year.
Matt has demonstrated an all out desire to advance athletics to any who are interested. He has demonstrated the skill and effort to be competitive, but does not demonstrate a competitive edge to discourage anyone from playing. He has captained the rugby team to a gold, and he will act as assistant captain to a remarkably enjoyable softball team. His skill and leadership will make us competitive without creating a competitive atmosphere.
Matt is always been willing to fill in for either softball team if they are short on players, and on the field he is nothing short of ideal. His athletic ability enhances the level of play on the field, while his encouraging comments and warm attitude provide a comfortable atmosphere for those not confident in their abilities. Anyone who has played with Matt leaves the game with a smile.
Scott Hughes
Kinesiology
Men's Baseball Team
For Scott, nomination for the Peter George Award of Excellence for Leadership in Varsity Athletics follows an exceptional varsity career with the McMaster Men's Baseball team. As a rookie in 1997, Scott was named Marauder Rookie of the Year, CIBA National Tournament All Star for 1st base, and National Tournament MVP.
In 1999, Scott received distinction as top pitcher winning the Cy Young Award and in 2000, he was awarded top defensive player receiving the Golden Glove award. This past October 2002, Scott was again named to the OUA Provincial All-Star team in recognition for his outstanding work at third base.
In addition to his remarkable athletic accomplishments, Scott is a 5-time Marauder Scholar holding an average exceeding 95% across his academic career and in 2001, he was co-recipient of the Dr. Kennedy Award as the top Male Scholar Athlete. Despite a heavy research load, Scott volunteers his time to drive to Oakville to play basketball and other sports with underprivileged and struggling youth. Scott's easy going, confident, honest, gentle nature makes him a wonderful mentor to young men desperately seeking positive interpersonal experiences and male role models.
He remains sensitive to the team experience as an opportunity to imprint positive self-esteem and satisfaction in even the weakest player. Since arriving on the Mac campus in 1997, Scott has been an active member in recreational athletics including Pulse membership, Intramural Teams/Leagues, Pick-up sport leagues and gym time, Athletic Councils and Committees.
He has participated on University athletic committees and volunteer programs and his efforts were recognized in 2001 by his nomination for the Ray Johnson Award. In addition to his varsity team commitments, Scott was recruited in 2001-2002 to the Ontario Intercounty Baseball League, specifically the Brantford Redsox. Scott is returning to The Redsox line-up this summer, and he will continue to be a strong hitter and exceptional infielder. As a graduate student in the Dept of Kinesiology Scott has given his spirit and energy to department intramural sports teams such as waterpolo, golf, basketball and he has played with the Kinesiology graduate hockey team at the annual Heimbecker Cup for his tenure of graduate study. Scott is highly regarded within the McMaster Men's Baseball team as a player of integrity, sportsmanship and devotion. As captain he gives the best of himself, expecting the best of his team, and he takes responsibility to act as ambassador on behalf of the team when he is called to.
In 2001 Scott continued to pursue sport science and exercise physiology through post-graduate research as a masters student in the Exercise Physiology and Metabolism Research lab under Dr. Marty Gibala. In addition to his tremendous undergraduate academics, Scott's post-graduate research awards include a $15,000 Canada Life Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology and a Gatorade Sport Science Institute Student Grant Award. This year his study of “The effect of sprint exercise training on skeletal muscle energy metabolism.” was presented at the Ontario Exercise Physiology, Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, and the American College of Sports Medicine annual conferences. As a student and scholar, Scott has earned a powerful academic awards credential that is exceptional in its own right. Scott will defend his master's thesis early this summer and begin his studies in medicine at Toronto this fall.
In Scott, focused athletic talent, sharp intelligence and grace are woven into his loyal, gentle and steady personality. He remains faithfully involved with the varsity baseball team, graduate student intramural sports, and the community through his volunteer work and Intercounty league play. His athletic gifts are recognized at the regional, provincial and national levels, he is a tremendous student honoured by his research community, and he is a friend and mentor to others who are hurting and struggling.
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“Because I know Scott, I want to be an amazing person, I believe in him and I want to be more.”
“I consider Scott to be one of the most outstanding people I have had the opportunity to coach during my 30 years in Baseball. He has made me and all around him better people”
Through all his works, Scott is and continues to be an exceptional graduate student, athlete and community citizen.
Lisa Masters, MSc(OT)
School of Rehabilitation Science
Women's Water Polo
Lisa has a long and outstanding history of leadership and involvement as a veteran member of the McMaster women's waterpolo team, and as a coach, mentor and leader to the young women of Hamilton.
In 1996 Lisa was named rookie of the year. She has twice received the MVP trophy for her athletic talents, and at the provincial level, her achievements have been rewarded with three OUA Championship Tournament All-Star awards and the Roy Gunnel OUA Championship MVP Trophy. The article entitled “Leader in the Pool” written by Scott Radley, The Hamilton Spectator, February 17, 2003 precipitated the Occupational Therapy Programme to nominate Lisa for The Peter George Award for Ambassadorship of Varsity Athletics to acknowledge her passion for the sport and her commitment to the McMaster varsity team despite a heavy and rigorous academic programme.
Lisa brings her love for waterpolo and athletics to the community through a multitude of team, volunteer and coaching endeavors. A remarkable athlete with a keen sense for the potential to positively impact the life experiences of young people through sport, Lisa has helped to develop recreational and competitive waterpolo leagues by facilitating as a coach and founder of the Women's waterpolo club of Hamilton at the cadet, juvenile and junior levels.
She has given her time to coach, support and referee high school, bantam recreational and McMaster intramural waterpolo leagues. In addition to her varsity training, volunteer works and coaching, Lisa is a member of the Western Ontario women's waterpolo team, and the Toronto/Hamilton representative of the senior women's waterpolo team competing in the national competition. For the duration of her study at McMaster Lisa has been an active member of The Pulse, Intramural Teams/Leagues, Pick-up sport leagues and gym time, Recreational and instructional programs in the community, Athletes helping Athletes, and Intramural Referee on Campus. “As a result of the positive experiences and opportunities that water polo has provided for me, I have been actively trying to promote the development of the sport within the community so that others may have these same positive experiences. I have also worked with many other committed individuals to establish a feeder program for the elite program through the development of recreational and high school water polo leagues.”
During her tenure as a masters student in the O.T programme, Lisa Masters has vigorously pursued the tenets of problem-based learning, self-directed learning, team building, small group tutorials and evidence-based concepts. One can see that she embraces these same tenets in the pool during training, competition and leading the McMaster varsity team to prominence in the OUA water polo circuit. Lisa Masters has been a cornerstone of the McMaster women's water polo team.
During her time as a player Lisa has been an exceptional athlete and personal role model. A highlight of Lisa's career was winning the OUA championship in the 2001-2002 season. This milestone in the history of the McMaster women's water polo would not have been possible without Lisa.
Lisa's play has been inspirational for many of the team members. Lisa demonstrated determination to overcome injury, commitment (she had the best attendance on the team!), and work ethic. Lisa also held an important leadership role. She helped to instill a sense of team pride by passing on old water polo traditions and by starting new ones. This past season Lisa took it upon herself to decorate each player's locker with an inspirational quote.
I am sure that many of the quotes pasted on our lockers were the philosophies underlying Lisa's play. In addition to a distinguished career with the McMaster women's water polo team, extensive volunteer efforts, coaching initiatives and grass roots level outreach Lisa helps to ensure that the future of McMaster Women's Water Polo remains strong.
Craig Perfect
Religious Studies
Men's Swimming
Craig is a full-time Ph.D student in the Religious Studies department, where he studies ethics and political philosophy. He has been swimming competitively since age six, and has qualified for Canadian Nationals and Olympic Trials.
He competed on the McGill Swim Team during the four years of his undergraduate degree, 1990-1994, where he qualified for CIS every year, and broke the university record for the 50m freestyle. After working and traveling for a couple of years, Craig started graduate school at McMaster.
He became a serious cyclist and adventure racer, and in Vermount in 2001, finished first in a 24hour Adventure Race (mountain biking, kayaking, climbing, running and orienteering), not bad for a guy whose best event in swimming takes under 24 seconds.
Craig is a decade older than many swimmers, but he always trains hard and eventually became our fastest 100 freestyle sprinter and relay anchor. At OUAs, he swam his lifetime fastest 100 free on our relay. One swimmer mentioned the sense of security he had on his relay, knowing that his anchor was 30 years old.
His age is inspiring to the swimmers it shows them that their sports involvement doesn't have to end with their graduation that sports are for life. Although Craig is a professor-in-training, he doesn't lecture anyone, he encourages others through example. He has shown them how to be both serious and playful about their sport, how to be competitive without being egotistical, and how to excel without being too proud about it. When a race didn't go as planned, he blamed himself rather then the official who had also made a mistake.
The Silhouette called him the ageless wonder and eventually made him Athlete of the Week. He qualified for CIS, and I wondered if he was the oldest man to ever swim there. Craig has also inspired some of our rookies when he gave a guest lecture in their class. After the season ended, and he had used up his eligibility, he continued to trained with us. He helped other sprinters with their technique and starts, helped at swim meets as a timer and in the concession. He also wrote an essay about swimming and sports, not for a class but for our benefit. Soon after our season, he raced at the Masters Provincials, and broke the Canadian Record for the men's 30-35 year old 50m freestyle. He still swims with us, but can be found more often in the Pulse, or cycling in Dundas Valley.
Craig has said real charity cannot be displayed. Once it is used, for the sake of a reputation, job, or award, it is no longer charity it is calculation. Like most adults, he spends much of his life doing things on an essentially volunteer basis. Craig's underpinning philosophies on beneficence and compassion are thoughtful, but alone they are only one face of this remarkable student athlete.
Therese Quigley Award of Excellence for Leadership in Recreational Athletics
This award is given in recognition of those graduate students who encourage, organize, and excite sport and recreation within their department of study. Recipients demonstrate fair sportsmanship, team leadership and are involved in multiple aspects of recreation programs either here at McMaster or in the surrounding community. Nominees encourage all students to pursue a graduate student life style that includes physical activity, conditioning and team sport. These students are the spirit of McMaster recreational athletics, and their efforts have improved departmental kinship and community.
Dara Torgerson
Biology
The Biology department as a community has steadily increased its enthusiasm and participation in athletics, recreation and outdoor activities over the past few years.
Dara has visited every lab in our department to recruit players for intramural soccer, volleyball, softball, and pick-up volleyball. She exhibits a genuine enthusiasm for the outdoors, sport and fun competitive play. During the summer, and fall of 2002 Bio grad students can be found enjoying a pick up game of volleyball outside the Life Science building.
Dara sat as co-president on the Biology Graduate student Society for 2002-2003. As co-president, she supported two new sporting and recreation initiatives proposed to enhance the biology graduate student community.
The first initiative she supported and helped to advertise, facilitate and oversee was an afternoon 18-hole golf tournament held at Chedoke Gold and Ski. This was the first time in many years that a department wide off-campus sporting event was to be held. The BGSS under the leadership of Dara worked hard to generate enthusiasm and participation by departmental students, staff and faculty.
Dara was the first to arrive at the club acting as a liaison between the arriving bio teams, and the club staff, she oversaw club rental, money collection and she lasted all 18 holes! The second initiative Dara and the BGSS supported was a cabin retreat to Minden in the early fall of 2002. Facilitating the many aspects of planning a large weekend cabin retreat for 25 students, faculty and their family required her many skills of organization, communication, and management. The weekend was an ambitious endeavour for the BGSS; but the benefits of hosting a recreational activity in Northern Ontario to welcome new students to the department, and provide a small rest for those who had not had the opportunity to go home were tremendous. New, international and old worn down graduate students all attended, and the weekend included swimming, canoe trips, hiking, a spectacular view of the northern lights and was an incredible experience for everyone. This special adventure for our department could not have occurred without the help and support of the BGSS, and specifically Dara.
As co-president of the BGSS this year, Dara supported the introduction of a softball tournament at our annual departmental BBQ, a competitive game between the upper and lower floors of the Life science Building. She played in both the annual beach volleyball and softball tournaments that afternoon. The amazing catch she made at third base, which saved her face from being shattered by a hard line hit driven directly to her is now legend in the department.
Dara through the BGSS also initiated and requested departmental funding for new volleyball nets, and she quickly used the new nets to start a pick-up afternoon volleyball activity, open to all biology students and staff. Dara participates in a multitude of athletics programs at McMaster including Pulse Membership, Intramural Teams/Leagues, Recreational Facility and Programs, GSA Sponsored Sport and League Play.
Dara has a wonderful love for the outdoors, sport and recreation. She has always supported student sport and athletic initiatives, and you can count on her to play. Dara has taken the ideas and rumblings of her fellow bio graduate students and helped to turn them into a reality. She is a great example for new students of how you can remain physically active in many aspects of sport, and she remains a leader in biology athletics and recreation.
Dara is a great athlete who was very dedicated to the team (softball) and is always enthusiastic about playing. Even despite her early season injury last summer, she remained positive and still came out to play for the team. She has always been very inviting and has helped a number of new students feel welcome, involved and excited to be getting to know new people and to be a part of a team. She is an exceptional part of our biology department.
Diego Garzon
Health Sciences
Diego truly embraces all opportunities for sport and recreation present at McMaster. In 2002, Diego was a member of intramural Mens flag football, Mens 3on3 basketball, and coed ultimate Frisbee teams. In 2003 Diego currently plays for Mens 5on5 basketball, GSA softball, soccer and health science 4on4, and 6on6 corec volleyball teams. In addition, Diego volunteers his time to referee coed and women's intramural basketball.
As an individual participant Diego continues to improve his strength and conditioning at the Pulse, indoor rock climbing, biking and instructional yoga and latin dancing classes. Diego's involvement in the HSGSF has surpassed his role as sports representative. He has spent countless hours of his own time organizing teams for Mac recreational sports and participating in playing and refereeing McMaster intramurals. His leadership has ensured involvement of Health Sciences graduate students in almost every intramural sport offered at Mac.
Without his devotion and encouragement a number of graduate students would not have a chance to become involved with recreational sports and interact with other students.
Mary Jung
Kinesiology
Mary is a long-standing member of the athletic team that has the greatest impact on all student athletes and non-athletes on campus. For the past 5 years Mary has been a member of the Pulse staff. Holding more fitness qualifications than any other member on staff, Mary has deservingly earned the respect of her co-workers and the Pulse members.
Volunteering is an integral part of Mary's busy schedule. Currently, Mary is helping to organize the Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion event being held on June 14th. In addition, Mary was a program leader for a trial program promoting physical activity for young underprivileged girls. Mary served as an outstanding role model for these young women and was instrumental in teaching these girl to look beyond their horizons.
To gain an understanding of Mary's leadership abilities one needs to go no further than the Pulse Activity Centre. By simply peering into one of Mary's fitness classes her boundless energy and knowledge of the fitness industry are clearly evident. The looks of enjoyment and satisfaction on her class participants' faces are a true testimonial to Mary's abilities. Mary makes every attempt to share her knowledge with other staff members. She often plays an active role in staff training (e.g., presenting information regarding body image). This year Mary organized the Soul Food event that attracted many members of the McMaster community. Mary also demonstrates outstanding leadership skills in the outdoors.
Mary has worked as the Outdoors Club student coordinator. In this position Mary organized many outdoor adventures for others to enjoy. She has led both novice and experiences campers through rigorous weekend camping events. Mary participates in a wide variety of athletic and recreational activities including Pulse Membership, Recreational Facility and Programs, and Instructional Programs.
2002-2003 Kinesiology Graduate Body (KGB) Executive
Steve Hansen, Krista Howarth, Amy Latimer, Amy Mark, Christine Rodriguez, Tim Shepstone, Sarah Wilkinson, Mark Young, Kinesiology
One of the primary goals of the KGB is to cultivate a spirit of interest, assistance, and fellowship amongst its members. Athletics is a pivotal medium used to achieve this goal. This year the KGB had full team entries in the men's football and hockey leagues and the co-ed inner tube water polo league. To encourage membership participation, the KGB offers a $5 subsidy per sport for each member! In addition to participating in intramurals, the KGB sponsors many friendly intra-department athletic events.
This year the KGB hosted a bonspiel, bowling night and indoor rock climbing event. The members are looking forward to the upcoming KGB golf day. A second objective of the KGB is to continue the legacy of Joan Elizabeth Heimbecker, a deceased McMaster Kinesiology graduate student by hosting a fundraising event. This KGB fundraising event has become known as the Heimbecker Cup. The Heimbecker Cup is a much anticipated hockey game where the Kinesiology undergraduate students face off against the Kinesiology faculty, staff and graduate students. The funds raised from this event are contributed to the Heimbecker legacy fund.
The mandate of the KGB is to plan and organize activities for its members. Members of the executive contact necessary organizations (e.g., curling club), communicate information to the members and participate in the activities. The Heimbecker Cup is a particularly big undertaking. The KGB is responsible for the organization, promotion and hosting of this annual event. Since its inception in 2001, this event has been held at the Market Street Arena in Dundas. Over the past 3 years, the KGB has begun to form partnerships with local business and have been able to successfully secured sponsorship this event. Additional tasks include liaising with the undergraduate Kin Society, organization of on site promotions, student transportation to and from the site, arena rental and coordinating a faculty, staff and graduate student team. This year, the Department of Athletics and Recreation collaborated with the KGB by covering the ice rental costs for the Heimbecker Cup.
The Kinesiology Graduate Body is an active organization led by a volunteer executive of Graduate Students, representing Master's and Ph.D. students in the Kinesiology Human Biodynamics Programme. This body organizes numerous events to promote student camaraderie and esprit de corps within the Kinesiology programme, the highest profile event being the Annual Joan Heimbecker Challenge Cup. Joan Heimbecker was a Graduate student in our Masters's programme in the early 90's who was murdered on campus, and this event is held in her memory. Funding raised from this event is committed to graduate student scholarships within the Kinesiology programme. The Kinesiology Graduate Body serves as a major focal point for Graduate student social and recreational activities. Volunteer members comprising the executive devote a substantial amount of their time to various projects designed to improve the quality of the postgraduate educational and social experience while attending McMaster.
The Joan Heimbecker Challenge Cup is perhaps the most visible aspect of this group's activity, embodying promotion of esprit de corps and camaraderie through recreational sport, among students and Faculty within both the undergraduate and graduate Kinesiolgy programmes at McMaster.
Mary Keyes Award of Excellence for Outstanding Leadership and Service
The Mary Keyes Award celebrates those students who give their gifts of time, spirit and energy to McMaster student societies, university committees or governing bodies. Nominated students are engaged in a wide variety of McMaster Nominees' are regarded as possessing genuine goodwill, kindness, friendliness, and generosity of spirit freely giving these gifts for the betterment of the graduate student experience, and the McMaster community. Recipients have demonstrated initiative and enthusiasm to actively improve and address graduate student quality of life issues and challenges.
Rani Cruz
Biochemistry
Upon arriving in the biochemistry department, Rani immediately noticed a lack of social environment and the standard of living for graduates. She immediately sought to remedy this.
As one of the founding members of the BG's, Rani has initiated something that has been lacking in this department since it's inception. The life of a graduate student is hard enough, but to do it without relaxing with colleagues was much more difficult before the BG's and the dragon-boat team. Rani has assisted in making the time-consuming life of a graduate student more bearable by presenting opportunities for students to socialize under less stressful conditions than at the workplace.
At times, she has even hosted events at her own house to accommodate the numbers of people who were interested in her ideas. This year Rani started something new. Many people in our department wish to do something physical to get away from the inactive lifestyle of scientific research. Some people are not baseball players, and this has been the only option to many in our department for years. Rani is the first to set up a dragon boat team that will compete for the first time this year. She has organized all of the rentals and has visited every lab to offer access to the team. “As a fellow team organizer (softball), I have dealt very personally with Rani to try and coincide our schedules. I have seen the degree of organization required to book the dragon boats and to organize rentals with all of the team members. This is a very time-intensive effort that she has made to provide a physical outlet to members of this department. This has been done with limited assistance, and was a product of her imagination alone.”
Rani brings to our Department such a fantastic energy, coupled with a drive to succeed. She is bright, energetic and always cheerful. Rani throws herself into every pursuit whole-heartedly and with boundless energy. She has been a leader in ensuring that the Biochemistry Graduate Students are active and their voices are heard. She is always coming up with new initiatives to bring her colleagues together. This is reflected in her being the founding organizer of the Biochemistry Graduate Student Society (BGS). This has contributed greatly to the cohesion of the Department's most important members. Within this group, Rani has organized numerous social events, acting as a liaison between students and faculty – much to the benefit of both.
Her leadership qualities are outstanding. The Department of Biochemistry has prospered because of Rani's contributions and it would be marvellous to see these contributions recognized.
As founding member of the Biochemistry Graduate Society, Rani has organized numerous social events for our students. She was one of the major organizers of our “Department Career Night” – an important vehicle for students to learn about career choices and opportunities. Last summer Rani organized a successful “Bring in the summer wine and cheese party”. She has been involved in the Undergraduate, Graduate Student and Faculty Social, as well as the monthly graduate student get-togethers. She has been instrumental in starting a Mac Biochemistry Dragon Boat team and designing their t-shirts. The “De-Stilled Water” crew will show their stuff at Aquafest in July. These efforts have brought the Biochemistry graduate students together.
Susan Pattison
Biology
Nomination of Susan for the Mary Keyes Award of Excellence for Outstanding Leadership and Service follows her active and tireless devotion to others through social, athletic, student government and interpersonal community.
Her works for 2002-2003 include; Co-Social Coordinator for the Biology Graduate Student Society, 3 time Faculty of Science Representative to the Graduate Student Association, McMaster graduate student representative to Canadian Association of Graduate Studies (CAGS) conference October 2002, Graduate Student representative to the Department of Athletics and Recreation, where she sits as a member of the President's Committee on Athletics and Recreation, Graduate Student representative to the President's Advisory Committee on Security Services, Graduate Student Representative to the Graduate Studies Steering Committee on the University Refining Directions Project, and as Co-ordinator for The Graduate Student Leadership and Athletics Awards Night.
In 2002 on behalf of the Biology department Sue was the root of several new departmental graduate student social and athletic initiatives including a summer BBQ baseball competition, an 18 hole scramble-style golf tournament at Chedoke Golf and Ski, and the October Potluck. Sue is sensitive to the experience of the new student, and those who are far from their families and homes. One example of her empathy for those graduate students unable to take a rest of go home for a summer vacation was her initiation of the fall cabin retreat. A cabin retreat to Minden was first proposed to the BGSS in the early summer of 2002. Sue co-coordinated securing an affordable site, collecting money from participants and advertising this trip within the department. The weekend trip attracted faculty, their families, several new students, and along with Sue many senior graduate and international students.
As a veteran member of the GSA Sue has taken several initiatives to generate a fuller sense of the graduate student community. This fall, Sue proposed the formation of the Social Action Committee (SAC). SAC was to be composed of the graduate society representatives from across all departments. It was Sue's intention that SAC would work to generate social and academic activities that would appeal to various groups of students on campus, improving GSA cultural sensitivity in activity planning and overall opportunities for student networking and social cohesion. Sue's concept of SAC remains to be fully realized and its initiation is an example of her dedication to outreach and involve all graduate students to improve their sense of home, belonging and spirit while at McMaster.
In addition to her service to graduate students both at the interpersonal, departmental, university, and national level, Sue is entering her fourth year of her Ph.D studying human genetics, specifically inborn errors of metabolism. Susan has traveled across Canada, and to the United States to present her doctoral research at several national human genetic conferences, and she will receive publication of this work in the coming months. Attending to the human and relational side of her sensitive research, Susan was invited to attend the July 2002 MPS families' conference, a privilege she was honored to receive.
“Susan has a warm, graceful, and caring personality; she is a wonderful and patient friend, and a compassionate spirit.” “She is just a fantastic person”. Sue is a well-known face in the world of graduate students, and these qualities have earned her the respect and friendships of graduate, undergraduate and international students across the departments of Biology, Biochemistry, Medical Sciences, Kinesiology and Psychology. This fall, Sue began her dream of having an awards night to recognize the contributions graduate students make to McMaster in the form of kinship, athletics, intramurals, and committee membership. Her dream has become a reality, and she has dedicated endless hours, many late evenings, investing her spare time and energy on behalf of the GSA to co-ordinate the first Graduate Students Leadership and Athletic Awards Night.
Rhonda Bathurst
Anthropology
Rhonda has a long record of service to McMaster and the department of Anthropology including graduate student representaive for the department of Anthropology, editor for Nexus journal, the graduate student member of the 2002-2003 Senate Budget Committee, graduate student representative on the Archaeology hiring committee (2003), and heavy involvement with the organization of the Canadian Archaeology Association conference (May 2003).
Rhonda is a dedicated individual who is willing to give her time and energy to many activities. In previous years, she has been the graduate student representative for our department, and has therefore lent her time and enthusiasm to many departmental issues, including helping to put together a proposal for a core course. In the past, she has also been an editor for Nexus, the Student Journal of Anthropology, a publication put out by the graduate students in our department. This is a considerable undertaking. She is currently involved with the Senate Budget Ccommittee, a large undertaking in which she displays ability and confidentiality. Rhonda was chosen by the archaeology graduate students to be the representative on the Archaeology hiring committee this year. This was a large undertaking with a huge number of potential candidates. It says a lot, I believe, that students were willing to trust Rhonda as their representative in this process. Finally, she also donated her time in helping organize the recent Canadian Archaeology Association conference at the university.
Rhonda was pivotal in raising departmental awareness and interest in developing a graduate core course. Although this course did not get initiated while she was the graduate student representative, she did help lay the foundation for the development of a core seminar that will be implemented for the first time in 2003-2004. She comes to graduate student meetings and always displays a large amount of personal integrity. On a less academic level, she has consistently been supportive of other graduate students, and has always been quick to volunteer to help organize departmental social events and so on. Generally, she is generous with her time, and an excellent example of a graduate student who is mature, reflexive and compassionate in her dealings with others.
She has a high degree of personal integrity which is highly admirable. Rhonda remains committed to dialogue between graduate students, and is therefore a wonderful resource for other students who are interested in linking their research with that of their collegues.
Yanxu Li
Materials Science and Engineering
Yanxu has been the friendly, devoted cornerstone of the deep and well known McMaster Chinese Students and Scholars Association. He has served as a volunteer, senior advisor and two time President for the Chinese student community at McMaster.
For most of his tenure at McMaster Yanxu has been serving the association, and this year he was nominated by his fellow graduate students for the Board of Directors at the GSA annual general meeting. Yanxu has a genuine personality, and his care and energy for others has earned him many friends in the Faculty of Science, and Engineering. Yanxu has a positive relationship with his supervisor, and he is currently involved in the rigorous schedule demanded of doctoral research.
In 2001, 2003 Yanxu devoted much of his energy and to service as president the McMaster Chinese Students and Scholars Association. Yanxu has created the environment for graduate students to communicate with each other and to help each other both in study and in the off-study life at McMaster. Empathetic to the Chinese student who will travel across the world to pursue study at McMaster, Yanxu helps to ease their worries and answer their questions about arriving, living, and studying in Hamilton. As the McMaster Chinese Students and Scholars Association president, he has pushed the association to join in as part of the McMaster culture and to contribute to a truly diverse and multicultural University. His great effort, as well as his nice personality, has won him the respect from the community, and his contribution has led to his being reported by the Hamilton Spectator (August 2, 2002). “We have been working with the nominee in serving the graduate students ever since we started our social life in McMaster community. We have become good friends in the cooperation. He has done so much to the community therefore we feel compulsory to nominate him for the award.”
Grace Pollock
English
Grace has given countless hours towards improving the functioning and the atmosphere of the English Graduate Program. Grace sits as a member of the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee, the English Appointment Committee, and has founded the English Graduate Social Committee.
Her dedication to all students is evident in her writing and completion of the English Graduate Student Caucus Report on TA Relations. The improvements she initiates will have an impact long after she has finished her studies here, which suggests that her participation is selfless, rather than an attempt to fill out a resume. She goes above and beyond; for example, during her tenure on the Appointment Committee, Grace actively solicited grad student concerns and feedback about each candidate, and arranged time for each candidate to meet with the grad students. This degree of effort is typical for Grace. Realizing that research degrees can be isolating, Grace founded and ran the English Graduate Social Committee.
Despite the fact that organizing graduate students can be much like herding cats, Grace has managed several highly successful social events bringing together students and faculty for a little old-fashioned fun. In the case of the English Graduate Caucus TA report, Grace managed to poll all the graduate TAs for concerns and difficulties they had encountered in their teaching, and then to synthesize these concerns in an extensive report to the administration of the Department.
In the next week, Caucus members, including Grace, will meet with four faculty members to devise solutions to these problems. The result of this whole process is not just to improve the quality of the teaching experience of English graduate students, but to open new lines of communication with Department faculty and foster more collegial faculty/graduate student relations. Grace is regarded as a brilliant scholad and is well respected for her dedication and energy to improve the quality of graduate student life at McMaster
Hector Larrazabal
Chemical Engineering
Hector has been involved in the Chemical Engineering Graduate Students Association (CEGSA) as Vice-President and Treasurer, and as a two time Associatin President. At the departmental level Hector has been the three time host of the Chemical Engineering “Mixing Quest” during the Engineering Olympics for high-school students, and served as the 2000-2002 fire warden.
More than just an organizer of a specific activity, Hector has proven to be a very good leader. The last is clearly demostrated by the many social and academic activities that has been succesfully organized under his command as a President of the CEGSA. The main academic activity that is organized by the club is the Annual Graduate Students Seminar Day in the Chemical Engineering Department.
In this Seminar 8 graduate students from the department are selected to present their work to the rest of the department. A committee, comprising of students and faculty selects the best presentation. The selected student receives the A. Hamilec Award; a $1000 travel bursary to an international conference. CEGSA also hosts a multitude of social events through out the year including a welcome BBQ for new students, golf tournaments, pumpkin carving contest, Christmas dinner, International Pot-luck dinner and among others a bowling night, among others. In addition, Hector dedicates particular attention every year to implement and coordinate the buddy system. This system aims to provide new graduate students with help from senior graduate students in the department regarding university procedures, accommodation and housing, transportation and adaptation to McMaster University and Hamilton in general.
All the activities that are organized by the club have as a main objetctive to
improve the relationship amonst students, students and faculty. This is an important fact that Hector emphasizes regularly, encouraging his colleagues to participate in the events. As a colleague, Hector has also demostrated his generosity when it comes to helping other graduate students. He is always available to discuss or answer questions related to research or personal matters, using his private time and resources whenever necessary. Hector is well recognized for his generous personality, and coail involvement. He is friendly, approachable and a wonderful mentor to new students, and undergraduates seeking to leanr more about graduate studies. “Hector helped me to succesfully integrate to the academic and social community and I have seen him helping other graduate students.” “Hector always finds time to discuss issues and
concerns expressed by graduate students and uses his knowledge and experience to find a solution. He is a great leader and a very supportive friend.”
Marc Luc Filion
Health Sciences (Med Sci)
Marc is an intelligent, outgoing and genuinely kind person who seeks to make the graduate experience a more enjoyable one for those in his program. He joined the HSGSF, becoming treasurer, and as a dedicated member of the Alumni committee has been an active member by assisting in event planning, helping to organize orientation for incoming students and managing the finances for the federation.
Upon joining the GSA in 2001 as a Director, he took on the job of reorganizing the TA Awards and subsequently was named Chair of the committee. His ideas and initiatives helped to make both the nomination process as well as the selection process a more convenient and better organized event. Over his 2 years on the GSA, he has also attended several GSAC meetings and due to his enthusiasm and spirit for graduate students both here at McMaster as well as those across the country, he was named Vice President of Communications and Administration. He has been a valued asset to GSAC providing fresh perspective and valuable insight into the world of graduate students. He has then brought his knowledge and experience back to McMaster to share with us and this has only helped to make the GSA at McMaster a stronger association.
Marc is an overall wonderful person who takes both his graduate work as well as his McMaster community involvement very seriously.
Ryan Wiley
Medical Sciences
I have had the privilege of knowing Ryan since 1997, when he became a summer student, and later a graduate student, in the laboratory of Dr. Manel Jordana.
Probably foremost among his activities is his service as the Health Science Graduate Student Representative to the McMaster Senate, a position he held for two terms from 1998 to 2002. During his time on the senate, he served on a plethora of Senate Committees, including: the Senate Executive Committee, the Senate Committee on appointments, Tenure and Promotion; the Senate selection Committees for the Provost and Vice-President (Academic Affairs) and for Vice-President (Research and International Affairs); the Senate Committee on academic Dishonesty; the Senate Committee on Sexual Harassment and Discrimination; the joint Senate/Board of Governors Ad Hoc Committee to Review the University Planning Committee; the Senate Ad Hoc Committee to Review the Process by which Decisions about Residence are Made; and the Senate Committee on Ceremonials and Insignia.
In addition, he had recently served as a member for the Planning and Managing Group for the Refining Directions Committee to Revise the University Plan. As a graduate student it was very heartening to know that someone as capable and intelligent as Ryan was championing the cause of graduate students in the upper realms of University governance. Ryan's service to this University has not been limited to his governance-oriented activities. He has also contributed his time and talents in other ways, for example, the seminar on Stimulating Discussion in Tutorials he has conducted for TA Day for the past three years, his long time work as a Volunteer Peer Tutor with the Writing Clinic at the Center for Student Development, and his participation in selecting a Keynote Speaker for Health Sciences Research day (2000), and in coordinating Career Day for the Faculty of Health Sciences graduate students (1999).
When Ryan was concerned about the difficulty he faced in obtaining permission to be credited for a graduate course he took outside of his department, he spearheaded a successful effort to promote multi- and interdisciplinary graduate education at Graduate Council. Expanding concepts, which have since been recognized at the national, and university level as necessary for innovative and forward thinking Universities. In addition, Ryan has served the larger community as a McMaster Let's Talk Science volunteer, as co-host of CFMU's The Rathaus (a radio program on municipal affairs), and as co-organizer of the Ward I Candidates Debate during the 2000 municipal election. Ryan has quite simply been an outstanding citizen of McMaster University, contributing so much of his time and his energy over the years to make McMaster a better place.
Paul Zelisko
Chemistry
I am writing this letter in support of the nomination of Mr. Paul Zelisko for the 2003 Mary Keyes Award for Leadership and Service to the McMaster Community.
Since I began at McMaster 20 years ago, there has not been a graduate student in this department who has given more selflessly of his or her time and energy in the interests of making our department a better, more vibrant community. Paul has served on the Executive of the McMaster Chemistry Graduate Student Society since he began graduate school in our department in 1999, in the first year as a member of the Executive Committee and then as co-President or President each year thereafter, including this year. He has been a key player in several of the initiatives that the MCGSS has undertaken or been involved with in the department in the last four years. His numerous positions and responsabilities include: Member of the editorial staff for the McMaster Chemical Extracts, the department's annual newsletter, since 2001. Member of the organizing committee for the annual McMaster Chemistry Alumni Symposium every year since its inception in September 2000, and Symposium Chair in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
Together with the Vice-President of the MCGSS in 2001, Paul organized an extensive and detailed departmental graduate student survey, the results of which were included in a Brief submitted to the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies. As a result of this survey, several significant changes were introduced in our graduate programs. Along with the Vice-President of the MCGSS, in 2002 Paul instituted semiannual orientation sessions for beginning graduate students (and undergraduate summer students). The original idea for this was his, and he took charge of developing the content for the 1.5 hour-long session.
He has been one of the two co-presenters at each one of these events since they began.
Paul was principally responsible for the introduction of student evaluations and post-colloquium feedback sessions for graduate students participating in Chemistry 707, a colloquium course that is required for all MSc students in the department. He was also instrumental in developing and instituting student evaluations for all of our graduate courses. Paul has been the principal organizer for numerous social events for the department's graduate students, on literally a monthly schedule over the past four years. These include the annual departmental Christmas party, picnic, faculty-student baseball game, and golf day, as well as monthly hot dog days, bowling nights, occasional MCGSS-organized departmental trips to Blue Jays and Maple Leafs games, etc.
“Paul Zelisko has truly made a significant and long-lasting impact on the Department and on the lives of our graduate students”.
Co-Presidents of the Rehabilitation Science Student Association (RSA) effective
Diana Gerty, Carolyn Stark, Laura Lundquist, Occupational and Physical Therapy
With respect to their individual leadership and service to the McMaster University community and advancement of graduate students, Diana, Carolyn and Laura are being nominated for The Mary Keyes Award for Leadership and Service to the McMaster Community because of their development of the first Rehabilitation Science Student Association (RSA) Constitution in March 2003.
The Constitution is a landmark of the student cohort in the School of Rehabilitation Science (SRS), in that it has enabled the student executive body in the RSA to facilitate unity within the student body in the SRS, including the efficient operationalization of communication, support and collaboration among students and faculty.
The Objectives of the RSA, drafted by the three Co-Presidents, clearly delineate the objectives of the RSA and the mandate of the Co-Presidents to streamline various sub-committees of the RSA and provide structure for all occupational therapy and physiotherapy students in the School of Rehabilitation Science they include; to promote unity within the SRS by facilitating and maintaining communication and cooperation among students and faculty, to welcome incoming students with Orientation week activities, to provide current SRS students with the opportunity to purchase OT/PT clothing and graduating students of each class with a Yearbook covering two years of memories, to provide an opportunity for graduating students to begin job search and resume distribution in May at the Job Fair, to recognize a former physiotherapy faculty member who died of cancer through the Helen Saarinen Lectureship and Fun Run events each June, to support camaraderie of students in various Health Sciences programs and to encourage and provide opportunities for participation in various social, athletic, and educational events, to provide life long school spirit and commitment through the Grad Legacy and alumni initiatives, to contribute feedback to the academic programs of the SRS, to promote professional identity of student occupational therapists (OTs) and physiotherapists (PTs) through communication with The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, The Canadian Physiotherapy Association, The College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, the Ontario Physiotherapy Association and The Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists. The Sub-committees of the RSA oversee the various operations of respective committees in order to ensure efficiency and effective operationalization of functions. The document has served as the first ever set of official policies for the students in the OT and PT programs from which their quality of life, educational activities, and spirit of unity will be steered and further developed. In addition to their accountability as the respective Co-Presidents of the RSA, Diana, Carolyn and Laura have contributed to various educational, community and health care activities.
In particular, Diana exudes strength and the abilities to organize, influence and engage others. Carolyn's specialty is her warmth, friendliness and a quiet determination to get things done. As one of my Evidence-Based Practice project students, working on the development of a student evaluation tool, she is coping with exceptional calmness and has accomplished a great deal despite tackling' the usual problems of doing research. Together, they are awesome! Laura Lundquist, as PT President, has ensured clear communication between faculty and students, has provided leadership in the class with respect to coordinating numerous activities such as orientation week and educational activities. She demonstrates an enthusiastic commitment to the student body and the profession.
A key example of Laura's academic and community role is her participation in an emerging role clinical placement to develop the role of physiotherapy with people living with HIV. In partnership with an OT student, Laura promoted the role of physiotherapy within the clinic and developed a presentation to educate all the clinic staff about the potential role of PT within this special population. Due to her excellent presentation skills and commitment to this issue, Laura has been invited to give her presentation at the annual meeting of The Canadian Association of Rehabilitation Professionals.
Graduate Student Association Award of Excellence for Humanitarianism
Awarded to any graduate student, faculty, or staff member who has given exceptional care, mentoring, support, encouragement, compassion and empathy to a graduate student during a time of personal or academic difficulty. In recognition of exceptional interpersonal acts of compassion, kinship and care.
Kristen Dawson
Reflections on Humanitarianism “I am only one”
“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do”
Helen Keller.
What is the something that you can do as one? Have you done that something? This evening I am humbled to be asked to present the inaugural Graduate Student Association Award of Excellence for Humanitarianism. This award recognizes and celebrates exceptional acts of interpersonal compassion, kinship and care during distress and crisis.
It can be said that perhaps the greatest gift that you can give in this world, is the gift of yourself to others. Tonight, we celebrate this giving quality of Duty Sgt. Ed Kennedy, a long time officer with Security Services, and well known member of the McMaster community. We often hustle and bustle about our business with a vague indifference to those we pass on our walk across campus, wait impatiently behind in the line at Tim Horton's or stand beside on the bus. Unfortunately, we liven in a time and world with increasing isolation, tension and recourse to violence. It is clear that we must champion the individual and community values which encourage respect for other human beings and a willingness to work together to bring peace to communities. While this is the mandate for international organizations like the Red Cross, so too should it be for the McMaster community.
The passage through graduate studies is long, filled with tremendous personal and interpersonal change. Pulling together, to support each other with compassion, empathy and gifts of love as persons living the human experience, promises hope for peace and respect for all.
Tonight, we acknowledge the actions of Sgt. Ed Kennedy to do the 'something' , as Helen Keller would say, he could do. As a valued member of our community, Sgt. Kennedy exemplifies the powerful ability of one to make a difference in another's life, particularly during a trauma.
To quote an excerpt from the nomination received on behalf of this year's recipient,
“He took the time to listen to me, to comfort me and offer understanding, empathy, and compassion. He shared his own stories of life to draw my trust and ease my tears. He stopped his watch, he stopped his conversations, he stopped for me.”
For going above and beyond his sworn duty to served the McMaster community and simply extending from the heart of one human being to another, it is my great honor and privilege to present this year's Graduate Student Association Award of Excellence for Humanitarianism to Duty Sgt. Ed Kennedy.
