Plant science student Danica Swaenepoel (centre) with her former teacher April Popple (right), Souris Secondary School, and her professor Anita Brule-Babel, plant science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.
Teachers who inspired students to push themselves
One student attributed her success — 100% in a provincial exam — to her teacher, Elizabeth Wiens of Edward Schreyer School. Alexander Pawlowsky thanked his high school theatre director for encouraging him to be unafraid “to be quirky, outspoken and not to give a damn of what others think.” Faculty of Education student Shirley Ewanchuk was grateful for the “endurance and patience” of her junior high band teacher Jim Stein, in prodding young musicians from their first discordant notes to sonorous triumph.
Teachers who were lauded at this unique event on May 7 had one thing in common: All saw potential in their students. They inspired their students, through their own qualities and instruction and by pushing their students to be their best and to do their best.
Teachers who were lauded had one thing in common: All saw potential in their students.
The Student-Teacher Recognition Reception features outstanding students from faculties across campus, each of whom honour two teachers: One from their K-12 years and another from their university education. The annual event is co-sponsored by the office of the Vice-Provost (academic affairs) and the Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning.
President and Vice-Chancellor David Barnard, in his introduction, called it “a favourite event” for many in the university community. He mentioned his own grade 8 teacher whose challenge to “think differently” changed his life. A university prof that he had was so good, he continued, that “I signed up for his grad course and barely passed.”
The qualities that make a teacher memorable? The 18 students who presented the awards had some definitive answers.
The qualities that make a teacher memorable? The 18 students who presented the awards had some definitive answers.
These teachers “captivated with [their] teaching style, positive attitude and zest for life,” as Human Ecology student Michelle Stevens said about Constanca Magalhaes, professor, human nutritional sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology.
They gained respect by expecting a lot, and by encouraging and supporting their students to achieve it.
Engineering student Kevin Sagan told how his St. Paul’s physics teacher Larry Franz asked him, a “shy, soft-spoken student” at the time, to be a retreat leader and to give a speech on leadership. He thanked his civil engineering prof Shawn Clark for his kindness and support.
School of Dental Hygeine student Aaron Szucsik thanked his grade school teacher Timothy Beyak, Shamrock School, for taking him “from once being a struggling student” to giving him “a passion for learning and pushing the limits. He also thanked his Laura MacDonald, professor, Dental Hygiene, for giving him “the confidence to do more than I thought.”
“Space and strength,” agreed College of Dentistry student Vanessa Hunzinger, “were two things I received from my teachers.”
‘Space and strength were two things I received from my teachers.’
She was struck when her high school art teacher Cloyd Barth, Glenlawn Collegiate, gave her a project with instructions to “do what inspires you.” In Barth she found “freedom to explore the world”; her dentistry professor Frank Hechter in preventative dental science — who also taught her father — gave her strength by “pushing for excellence.”
These teachers gained affection through their “creativity and humour” in motivating their students, as Michelle Ward said about her high school English teacher Kelly Smith, Lord Selkirk Reg. Comp. — and by “making students want to learn,” as Kayla Antonowich said of her instructor Gary Martens, plant science, School of Agriculture.
They won their students’ hearts with their passion, commitment and caring — and an unwavering belief in their students’ abilities.
They won their students’ hearts with their passion, commitment and caring — and an unwavering belief in their students’ abilities.
Thomas Roberts told how his violin teacher in the Desautels Faculty of Music, Oleg Pokhanovski, composed a new work on his vacation for Roberts after Roberts told him he wanted to play the 1st movement of an unfinished, hand-written concerto by Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatté. Roberts played the piece in his recital last year, and described Pokhanovski as “selfless, kind, caring and dedicated.”
Pharmacy student Jillian James thanked her high school guidance counsellor Sharon Labossiere, Kelvin High School, for teaching her “work-life balance” in achieving “anything you put your mind to.”
These teachers helped their students to understand and commit to their “ability to accomplish the unknown” and push themselves beyond their comfort zones, as Ward said about her advisor Jennifer Theule, assistant professor, psychology, Faculty of Arts — and through their ability to transform their students’ “minds into colourful landscapes,” as Uliana Kovaltchouk said of Deborah Court, professor, microbiology, Faculty of Science.
Their “enthusiasm, passion and dedication” — as Tatum Lawlor described Dietmar Straub, associate professor, landscape architecture, Faculty of Architecture — did not go unnoticed.
Since it began 22 years ago, the Students’ Teacher Recognition Reception has recognized over 850 teachers.
–Mariianne Mays Wiebe
Students’ Teacher Recognition Reception
Here is the 2013-2014 list of presentees and recipients in its entirety.
Agricultural & Food Sciences
Danica Swaenepoel April Popple Anita Brûlé-Babel
Plant Science Souris Secondary School Plant Science
School of Agriculture
Kayla Antonowich Elizabeth Wiens Gary Martens
Agriculture Diploma Edward Schreyer School Plant Science
Architecture
Tatum Lawlor Tracy Youck Dietmar Straub
Environmental Design École Connaught School Landscape Architecture
Arts
Alexander Pawlowsky Claire Lussier Karin James
German & Slavic Studies St. Paul’s High School German & Slavic Studies
Michelle Ward Kelly Smith Jennifer Theule
Psychology Lord Selkirk Reg. Comp. Psychology
Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, & Resources
Timothy Hayward Richard Humphrey Ian Ferguson
Geological Sciences Glenlawn Collegiate Geological Sciences
School of Dental Hygiene
Aaron Szucsik Timothy Beyak Laura MacDonald
Dental Hygiene Shamrock School Dental Hygiene
College of Dentistry
Vanessa Hunzinger Cloyd Barth Frank Hechter
Dentistry Glenlawn Collegiate Preventive Dental Science
Education
Shirley Ewanchuk Jim Stein Orest Cap
Senior Years Education Cecil Rhodes School Curriculum, Teaching, & Learning
Engineering
Kevin Sagan Larry Franz Shawn Clark
Civil Engineering St. Paul’s High School Civil Engineering
Human Ecology
Michelle Stevens Deb May Constanca Magalhaes
Human Nutritional Sciences St. Mary’s Academy Human Nutritional Sciences
Kinesiology & Recreation Management
Samantha Wagner Kathryn Slovinski Kyla Ray
Rec. Mgmt & Comm. Devt Vincent Massey Collegiate Recreation Services
Law
Liam Black Larry Franz Philip Osborne
Law St. Paul’s High School Law
Marcel A. Desautels Faculty of Music
Thomas Roberts Sandra Roberts Oleg Pokhanovski
Music MB Ed. Homeschooling Strings
College of Nursing
Rachel Usick Greg Lawson Diana Clarke
Nursing Tanner’s Cross School Nursing
College of Pharmacy
Jillian James Sharon Labossiere Robert Ariano
Pharmacy Kelvin High School Pharmacy
Science
Uliana Kovaltchouk Lorne Richards Deborah Court
Microbiology Sisler High School Microbiology
Rebecca Sherbo Erin Kowal John Sorensen
Chemistry Balmoral Hall School Chemistry