The University of Regina's annual fall convocation will honour 525 graduates, and award winners whose outstanding academic achievements will be recognized. Convocation will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 16 at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina.
Among those being recognized is Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton, who will receive the President's Distinguished Graduate Student Award. This award is presented to the student who demonstrated outstanding academic performance in their graduate program, and has achieved an exceptional thesis, exhibition or performance, and corresponding defence. Carleton, who is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Arts at the U of R, will receive a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology degree. Carleton's dissertation was entitled Trauma, Pain and Fear: Using the Startle Paradigm to Explore the Relationship between PTSD and Chronic Pain. He has been the recipient of 38 graduate awards and scholarships, including a CIHR Doctoral Scholarship and CIHR Trainee Award. During this time period he taught 15 courses, as well as undertook clinical work required by his program. For his teaching, he was a recipient of an Inspiring Sessional Award. Carleton has a prolific research career with 39 articles published or in-press in peer-reviewed journals (21 as lead author), three book chapters, and 10 other refereed publications to his credit. Carleton has made over 100 presentations at scholarly meetings and scientific conferences across Canada and the United States.
Lauren Gabrielle Fournier will be awarded the President’s Medal. She is graduating with Great Distinction from the Faculty of Fine Arts with a Bachelor of Arts, with an Arts and Culture major. She is the first graduate of this interdisciplinary program offered in partnership by the Faculties of Arts and Fine Arts, and Luther College. This award is presented at convocation to a student receiving a first degree with a minimum average of 80 percent who has shown leadership in and commitment to extra-curricular activities. Fournier’s average was 91 percent, she earned a number of scholarships and was named to the Dean’s list. She is also the recipient of the University Prize in Arts. An accomplished musician and vocalist, Fournier founded The Prairie Poets Society - a project that unites poetry, spoken word and community-building in an open-microphone arts forum, which aims to create a safe space for creative writers to share their work. She also volunteered with the Regina Folk Festival, the MacKenzie Art Gallery, and the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Fournier also earned the University Prize in Fine Arts.
Additional student award winners who have demonstrated high academic achievement and a deep commitment to their community include:
Marc Drolet - Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation Prize
Katelyn Drielle Lee - University Prize in Arts
Krystie Maegan Luhning - University Prize in Kinesiology and Health Studies
Cairistin Cailin McDougall - University Prize in Science
Brett Robert Montague - Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan Gold Medal
Brandy Kim Angela Ramstad - University Prize in Business Administration
Sandra Louise Spencer - University Prize in Social Work
For more information please view the document accompanying this news release under the "News & what's happening at the U of R" section of www.uregina.ca. To view a live webcast of the ceremonies at 2:00 p.m. on Oct. 16, 2009, visit www.uregina.ca/convocation/webcasts.
Marc Drolet
- Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation Prize
At each University of Regina convocation ceremony, the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation (STF) awards a prize to the most distinguished student of the graduating class in the Faculty of Education who does not hold another degree.
Drolet has been involved in the community since moving to Regina in 2005. He participated in the Canada Games as a French announcer and volunteered in fundraising. After the Haiti earthquake last winter, the Francophone community had a fundraising dinner and Drolet volunteered his time as a cook for this event. Over the past year, Drolet has been a member of the board of directors of the "Association canadienne-française de Regina." During his three academic years at the University of Regina, Drolet was the president of the "Club d'entrepreneurs étudiants de l'Institut français." Community involvement is an important value that he wants to preserve and pass on to the youth of today through his teaching.
Katelyn Drielle Lee
- University Prize in Arts
The University Prize in Arts is presented each fall convocation to the most distinguished student in the Faculty of Arts graduating with a first degree.
Lee is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Psychology (with distinction) and a minor in Linguistics. Her cumulative grade point average is above 84 percent and she was on the Dean's List three times and the recipient of six awards and scholarships. Lee has been a volunteer with the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre in the area of speech/language pathology, and the Autism Resource Centre. She has participated in two semesters of study on exchange at the University of Hawaii, where she volunteered in environmental clean-up and land restoration.
Krystie Maegan Luhning
- University Prize in Kinesiology and Health Studies
The University Prize in Kinesiology and Health Studies is awarded to the most distinguished student of the graduating class in the faculty.
Luhning, a graduate of Michael A. Riffel High School in Regina, is graduating with a Bachelor of Health Studies (with distinction). She demonstrated excellence in her studies and as a result has consistently been named to the Dean's List.
Cairistin Cailin McDougall
- University Prize in Science
The University Prize in Science is awarded at convocation to the most distinguished student graduating with a first degree from the Faculty of Science.
McDougall is graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology through Campion College. She received the Academic Silver Prize, Academic Silver Scholarship, Centennial Merit Scholarship, and the G.F. Ledingham Scholarship in recognition of her academic achievements.
Brett Robert Montague
- Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan Gold Medal
This award is presented annually to a student graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree major in Geology who has shown leadership qualities and academic achievement.
Montague was on the Dean's Honour List, was awarded the academic Silver Scholarship, Canada Millennium Bursary, and the World Petroleum Council Millennium Scholarship. He has participated in the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG); American Geophysical Union (AGU); and Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists (CSPG) as a member of each organization. He also plays a role as student associate in the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS).
Brandy Kim Angela Ramstad
- University Prize in Business Administration
The University Prize in Business Administration is awarded to the most distinguished graduate of the Faculty of Business Administration receiving a first degree at fall convocation.
Ramstad is receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) (with distinction) and a major in Finance. She graduated with an average above 84 percent, and received a variety of scholarships and awards, and made the Dean's List. She has also earned a Co-operative Education designation, having completed two work terms with SaskPower and one with Greystone Managed Investments. Ramstad is currently living in Calgary, where she is responsible for managing employee recruitment and retention for several Calgary Safeway locations.
Sandra Louise Spencer
- University Prize in Social Work
The University Prize in Social Work is awarded to the most distinguished social work student achieving the highest grade point average among students graduating with a first degree in social work.
Spencer grew up in Weyburn, where her mother ran a foster home. She was an EMT for 10 years, and ran the first open custody home for young offenders in Saskatchewan alongside her husband Daryl. In 2005, two years after the sudden death of her husband, Spencer decided to embark on her dream of becoming a social worker. Now that her studies are over, she is looking forward to spending more time with family and friends, as well as working with the Sun Country Health District in Weyburn.