New chancellor’s event recognizes scholarship winners

By Kim Gordey

What does a CBC teen radio critic, a founding member of a recycling club, a volunteer at the Mustard Seed anda high school athlete have in common? These are just some of the achievements of the 10 high school students who were awarded the prestigious U of C Chancellor’s Club scholarship as part of their admission to the university this fall.

On May 8, U of C Enrolment Services hosted the first annual Spring Reception for top award winners of the entering class. This year, Chancellor’s Club scholarship recipients and their guests were treated to an evening of friendship building and information sharing with the Chancellor, faculty and staff and current Chancellor’s Club students. Students were also presented with a certificate to mark their outstanding accomplishments.

“Our Chancellor’s Club students are representative of the well rounded, high achieving students that choose to attend the U of C every year,” says Ann Tierney, vice-provost (students). “This evening was an opportunity for us to honour their accomplishments and to provide them with the opportunity to get to know the U of C and each other before they start classes in the fall.”

After a few minutes of introductions, the students and guests quickly began chatting with professors and current students about university life and what they can expect in and out of the classroom this fall.

“Being able to meet faculty, other incoming students and upper year students was great,” says Carolina Romeo, a high school athlete who is entering the Schulich School of Engineering. “I was able to find out about the university community and opportunities to get involved. It definitely made me even more excited for the fall.”

While most of the new students met one another for the first time, the evening marked another milestone in the friendship of award winners Edward Choi and Jane Leung. As award winners who have chosen the U of C this fall, they will be able to continue their legacy as friends on the university campus.

“We had both applied to schools in addition to the University of Calgary, but the Chancellor’s Club scholarship ultimately brought us together again. We couldn’t be more excited,” says Edward Choi, a biological sciences student with aspirations to attend medical school.

“This is an incredible opportunity,” adds Leung, a Schulich School of Engineering student. “We’re so excited that we’ll be able to do great things together at the U of C.”

The Chancellor’s Club scholarships significantly increased in value this year to $10,000 from $7,500 renewable annually. The scholarships are the university’s top cross-faculty awards, recognizing academic achievement, community and school involvement, volunteerism and leadership.

The ten students who were awarded and have accepted the Chancellor’s Club scholarship this year are: Jasreet Badyal, social sciences; Lindsay Bec, humanities; Edward Choi, science; Crystal Demeter, social sciences; Danielle Kendall, Schulich School of Engineering; Devin Kwok, fine arts; Jane Leung, Schulich School of Engineering; Carolina Romeo, Schulich School of Engineering; Taylor Smart, Bachelor of Health Sciences Program; and Kathryn Wizinsky, Haskayne School of Business.