posted on March 11: Graduate studies students, scholarship, faculty highlighted at annual recognition day

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BY Shelly Easton

March 11, 2002

Commitment. Dedication. Excellence.

These hallmarks of McMaster's 1,800 full-time and almost 600 part-time graduate students were highlighted last week during a day-long tribute to graduate students, teaching and research.

Organized by the School of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Students Association, the seventh annual Graduate Students Recognition Day featured a poster contest and reception honouring recipients of several distinguished awards.

“You are not only accomplished students, but as independent researchers and research assistants, you are an integral part of McMaster's definition of itself as a research-intensive, innovative University,” Fred Hall, dean of graduate studies, told the gathering in Convocation Hall. “Finally, in your role as teaching assistants, you are a vital part of the high quality undergraduate education offered by the University.”

In 2001-02 there are more than 30 programs at McMaster offering PhD and master's degrees and eight programs offering only a master's degree.

As well, more than $19 million worth of scholarships and teaching assistantships are offered to support graduate education and scholarship.

Three hundred and forty two scholarship recipients were honoured at the reception for their accomplishments in various disciplines.

Some of the award winners honoured included:

  • Dean's Award for Excellence in Research – Mario Blaser (social sciences), James Chen (engineering), Gary Kuchar (humanities), Jeffrey Richards (science), Brian K. Coombes (health sciences) and Susan Sproule (business).

  • President's Award for Excellence in Graduate Supervision – associate professor Peter Walmsley (humanities) for the category of the School of Business, Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Social Sciences; professor James B. Mahony (health sciences) for the category of the Faculties of Engineering, Health Sciences and Science.

  • GSA Teaching Assistant Excellence Award – Trent Copp (science)

  • GSA Award for Contributions by Non-Academic Staff – Cheryl Gies (electrical & computing engineering)

  • Poster Awards – Rhonda Bathurst (antropology), Heather Beresh (medical sciences), John Cullen (kinesiology)

Award Winners: (front row, l-r) Beverly Ann Jones, GSA president, Mario Blaser (social sciences), James Chen (engineering); Acting President Peter Sutherland, (back row, l-r) Gary Kuchar, (humanities), Ken Norrie, provost and vice-president academic, Jeffrey Richards (science), Brian K. Coombes (health sciences) and Fred L. Hall, dean of graduate studies.