UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN | Spring 2012Undergraduate Recruitment Magazine

Adventures in

Australia

Kendal Netmaker:Building a Business

TOP 1 Huskie Moments

A Princess for a Day

THE BEST of the U of S

6 | BUSINESS BUILDER

Kendal Netmaker, a recent U of S grad, has created

an award-winning clothing business and has founded

a non-profit organization that focuses on youth sports.

■ ON THE COVER

The University of Saskatchewan Undergraduate Recruitment Magazine

SPRING 2012

MANAGER OF UNDERGRADUATE RECRUITMENTDan Seneker

EDITORShannon Boklaschuk

DESIGNERSKurt HofmannKathy Munroe

CONTRIBUTORSShannon BoklaschukDean FeyBob FlorenceHeather PitmanTeri RosenfeltMacKenzie Warner

COVER PHOTO Dave Stobbe

PRODUCED BY:Student and Enrolment Services DivisionUniversity of Saskatchewan38 College BuildingSaskatoon, SK S7N 5A2

US is printed once yearly and reaches more than 3,000 people by mail and e-mail.Printed in Saskatoon, SK by PrintWest/Mister Print

RETURN UNDELIVERABLE ADDRESSES TO:Recruitment and AdmissionsUniversity of Saskatchewan105 Administration PlaceSaskatoon, SK S7N 5A2

Telephone: (306) 966-5788Fax: (306) 966-2115E-mail: admissions@usask.caWebsite: explore.usask.ca

15 | WORKING WITH YOUTH

Kinesiology student Silas Godard has a lot of experience volunteering and working with children. After spending time in impoverished neighbourhoods in Asia, he discovered that “a simple ball can bring a community together.”

20 | LIVE AND LEARN

More than 1,700 students currently live in residence at the U of S, and about 660 additional beds will open by 2013. As the demand for residence grows, staff members are focused on creating a positive student experience.

28 | WE’RE HERE TO HELP

The U of S offers many student supports and services to help you succeed, both inside and outside the classroom.

US Spring 2012 | 3

Important dates

Greetings from the University of Saskatchewan!

W e are pleased to welcome you to our campus and share with you the first edition of our new magazine, US.

Our magazine is called US because it represents the main letters in our name: University of Saskatchewan. Yet the meaning of our magazine’s title goes beyond that – it speaks to who we are as a campus and as a community. Get to know us, and you will see that we are prestigious, studious, curious, ambitious, adventurous and ingenious.

Before you begin classes in the fall, we invite you to visit us. Come get to know one of the most beautiful campuses in Canada, with a current U of S student as your guide. Learn about our student services, discover our remarkable buildings and facilities and acquaint yourself with the need-to-know spots at the U of S. To book a guided tour of campus, simply go online to explore.usask.ca/request/tour and fill out the form.

Feeling adventurous? You can also take a self-guided tour by following the directions in our easy-to-follow map, which can be found at explore.usask.ca/events/selfguided/selfguidedtour.pdf. Whether you decide to go solo or check out the U of S with the help of a guide, we know you will be impressed with the beauty of our campus and the warmth of our people.

Congratulations on your decision to attend university. With more than 100 programs available to undergraduate students, we are sure you will discover your passion here. Welcome to the U of S!

Sincerely,Your Recruitment and Admissions Team

U-Start Registration WorkshopsApril 30 – May 31explore.usask.ca/ustart

US

Best of Two Awards Deadline May 1explore.usask.ca/moneymatters/guaranteed

Graduation Powwow May 30students.usask.ca/current/aboriginal/powwow.php

Find your passionThe vibrant U of S campus is located in the heart of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. With

more than 100 undergraduate program options available in 13 colleges, you are sure to discover your passion at the U of S.

FIND OUT WHY more than 20,000 students make the U of S their institution of choice. Read about what we have to offer by visiting the following websites:

¡ Agriculture and Bioresources | agbio.usask.ca

¡ Arts and Science | artsandscience.usask.ca

¡ Edwards School of Business | edwards.usask.ca

¡ Education | usask.ca/education

¡ Engineering | engr.usask.ca

¡ Kinesiology | kinesiology.usask.ca

¡ Dentistry | usask.ca/dentistry

¡ Law | law.usask.ca

¡Medicine | medicine.usask.ca

¡ Nursing | usask.ca/nursing

¡ Nutrition and Dietetics |usask.ca/pharmacy-nutrition

¡ Pharmacy | usask.ca/pharmacy-nutrition

¡ Physical Therapy | medicine.usask.ca/pt

¡ Veterinary Medicine | usask.ca/wcvm

¡ Graduate Studies and Research | usask.ca/cgsr

Registration Check PAWS for your class registration date and time

Move-In Dates for ResidenceVoyageur Place – Sept. 2College Quarter – Sept. 3Seager Wheeler – Sept. 4

www.usask.ca/residence

US

Graduation Powwow May 30students.usask.ca/current/aboriginal/powwow.php

We’d love to show you around!Take a walk around the U of S campus, and you are

sure to notice our welcoming atmosphere and beautiful greystone buildings.

At the U of S, we are home to big science and world-class facilities, including the Canadian Light Source synchrotron, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, International Vaccine Centre and Innovation Place. We are the only university in English Canada that offers the full range of health science programs on one campus.

Book a guided tour of our campus at

explore.usask.ca/request/tour

OrientationGeneral Orientation Sept. 4

Programming for Aboriginal and International Students Sept. 5

US Spring 2012 | 5

KDressed for success

KENDAL NETMAKER HAS SOME EXCITING THINGS UP HIS SLEEVES. At 24, the ambitious U of S grad has launched his own clothing line, founded a non‑profit youth sports organization and captured several entrepreneurial awards.

BY SHANNON BOKLASCHUK

endal Netmaker is only 24 years old, but he has already accomplished a lot academically and professionally.

In addition to earning two degrees from the University of Saskatchewan—a Bachelor of Education degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Native Studies—Netmaker has started a successful Saskatoon-based clothing company, Neechie Gear, as well as NG Athletics Club, Inc., a non-profit organization that focuses on youth sports.

One of his proudest moments came in the fall of 2011, when Neechie Gear was a finalist for two prestigious Achievement for Business

Excellence (ABEX) Awards: The Aboriginal Business Partnership Award and the Community Involvement Award. The ABEX Awards are presented by the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce and celebrate the best in business throughout the province.

AS THE FOUNDER AND CEO of Neechie Gear, Netmaker says the best part of being an entrepreneur is “watching something you have created affect many people in a positive way.”

He has advice for other young people who dream of becoming an entrepreneur: “Don’t be afraid to ask for help and seek a mentor who has experience and vast knowledge.”

6 | US Spring 2012

Kendal Netmaker is the founder and CEO

of Neechie Gear. “Neechie” is a slang form

of “my friend” in the Plains Cree language.

PHOTOS BY DAVID STOBBE

The Neechie Gear line features hoodies, tees and fitness pants for men, women and youth.

“Without help, I wouldn’t have been successful,” he said.

Netmaker, originally from Sweetgrass First Nation, first thought about creating a clothing line during his third year of university. He wanted to create a viable business and do some good for the community at the same time, and decided to enter business plan competitions. From those competitions, Neechie Gear was born (“Neechie” is a slang form of “my friend” in the Plains Cree language).

“I initially just wanted to learn business basics in hopes of starting my own clothing company. But the awards and cash prizes kept rolling in, which gave me the confidence to start Neechie Gear,” said Netmaker, who has received more than $20,000 in prize winnings.

NETMAKER PLACED FIRST in the 2010 Aboriginal Youth Idea Challenge and third in the 2011 W. Brett Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence i3 IDea Challenge. While operating

Kendal Netmaker began to dream about

creating a clothing company during his

third year at the U of S.

under a previous clothing brand name, Moose Meat Apparel, Netmaker was recognized as the 2011 Student Entrepreneur Saskatchewan Champion in a national competition operated by Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE).

Also in 2011, Netmaker was a nominee for the Saskatchewan Young Professional of the Year Award and a runner-up in the 2011 Progress2Capital Business Planning Competition. He was one of 30 entrepreneurs chosen to make up Team Canada at the G20 Young Entrepreneur Summit in Nice, France. In addition, Neechie Gear received a Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO) Economic Developer of the Year Award in the Aboriginal Private Sector Business category.

HAVING RECENTLY COMPLETED his post-secondary studies, Netmaker recognizes the importance of getting an education. In fact, getting an education is a high priority for his

siblings, too – his three younger sisters are all U of S students.

Netmaker said his U of S education has been beneficial to him in his role as a business owner.

“The skills I’ve learned while attending the College of Education have transferred on to business in many ways. I wouldn’t have changed a thing,” said Netmaker, who says he has confidence in his public speaking abilities and leadership skills.

Netmaker said he chose the U of S as his university because he has family nearby and “the Aboriginal enrolment is the greatest, in my opinion, in the country.”

“I see an Aboriginal (student) every time I walk the halls of the U of S,” he said.

When asked what his favourite memory is of his time as a U of S student, Netmaker can offer a few: “Making many friends, learning many life lessons and realizing that entrepreneurship is for me!” ¢

8 | US Spring 2012

BY BOB FLORENCE

She has a business degree from the University of Saskatchewan and, at 24,

Ainsley Robertson (BComm’09) is now earning honours in management.

ON TOP OF BEING A communications coordinator at Westcap Mgt. Ltd., a Saskatoon-based venture capital and private equity fund management company, Robertson is the executive director of The Princess Shop, a non-profit venture she started with her friend Chantal Hounjet in the fall of 2007 to give young women a memorable high school graduation experience when they cannot afford to pay for the occasion themselves.

Through The Princess Shop, high school grads can borrow a dress, style their hair, ride in a limo and go in style.

“Every young woman deserves to feel confident, be proud of themselves,” said Robertson. “I think of these women who’ve had to work so much harder than I did, just to finish school. I had support, funds, all that. You take the work ethic these women show and apply it after, when they’re done school. They can go far.”

ROBERTSON HAS TWICE BEEN A FINALIST in Saskatoon for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award. ATHENA International, an organization for business women around the world, has recognized her leadership. And in

2010 she was in the running for Saskatoon city council, finishing second among six candidates in a by-election.

While the next graduation for high school students is months away, the beat goes on. Robertson has meetings to run, people to see, places to go.

The Princess Shop helped 39 women enjoy grad in its first year in 2008. There were 55 the second year, then 61. In 2011, numbers almost doubled to 103.

“This is a marrying of our skills,” Robertson said of her and Hounjet. “The first time we met was in May in 2007. She talked about (the idea) then.”

TALK SOON BECAME ACTION. At first they told just friends

and family about their idea. Donated grad dresses arrived and soon The Princess Shop was moving and grooving.

The shop is in a warehouse on the same block as an auto body place and an appliance centre. Not exactly a fairy-tale setting. Chrome there. Clothes here. But they are able to help young women feel special.

At The Princess Shop grads are fitted with a dress and can borrow it for free. They get shoes and make-up, pictures and corsages. The Business and Professional Women’s Club of Saskatoon as well as the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce both sponsor scholarships for any post-secondary program. Although The Princess Shop is in

Every young woman deserves to feel confident, says Ainsley Robertson, executive director of The Princess Shop.

Did you know?A recent survey

by the Edwards

School of

Business shows

that 20 per cent

more U of S

business grads

are now staying

in Saskatchewan

to start

their careers

compared to

2006.

Saskatoon, there are plans to have other places in Saskatchewan on board. There is already a presence in Lloydminster, Robertson’s hometown.

“Ten years from now? Hopefully I have handed The Princess Shop over to someone new, have started a family and have contributed to the community in many other ways. With Chantal focused on other exciting new things in her life, like a husband and a baby, we’ve done some restructuring to be sure the organization can continue to grow,” Robertson said.

“This has been a great way to learn about non-profit and a small business. My leadership and management style have grown so much.

“I’m a big advocate in you do what you do and you do it well.”

Celebrate graduation. Honour ambition.

“Help one woman,” she said, “and you affect the entire community.” ¢

(This article was originally published in Beyond the Bowl, an electronic newsletter for University of Saskatchewan alumni.)

SUBM

ITTE

D P

HO

TO

GIVING GRADS THE pr ncess

treatment

US Spring 2012 | 9

FIVE YEARS, 10 GOLDSMegan Buydens and Daniel Olver threw their weight around for the University of Saskatchewan

wrestling team. In their time with the Huskies, Buydens and Olver each nailed five straight conference titles and were medallists at the national championship every year. Buydens struck gold at the CIS Championship in 2005 and 2006, while Olver won his golds in two different weight classes in 2010 and 2011. Each set a new standard for Huskie wrestling.

10

9

8

THE COMEBACK It looked like game over for the U of S men’s volleyball team. Playing in the final of the 1979 Canadian

championship in Hamilton, the Huskies trailed the Manitoba Bisons 9-3 in the fifth and final game. With Brian Gamborg and former Huskies basketball player Don Saxton leading the offence and setter Grant (Shoe) Gudmundson running the show, Saskatchewan battled back. It won the game, the match and its first-ever Canadian championship just three years into the program’s history.

WHERE NO WOMAN HAD GONE BEFOREPat Jackson, who was a basketball coach at the U of S, had a feel for history. In 1973, she was the only woman

to be an athletic director at a major university in North America. Jackson was an impact player, especially in women’s sports. She helped start the women’s intercollegiate union in Canada. She was coach of the national women’s basketball team. Because of Jackson, the game changed for women in sports.

Throughout the 2011-2012 season Huskie Athletics released a series of

moments celebrating 100 years of Huskie pride. The Top 10 moments

were released on March 31 at the Huskie Centennial Reunion Banquet. Throughout the season

Huskie Athletics has joined together with fans across the province to embrace the idea that...

WE ARE ALL HUSKIES!BY BOB

FLORENCE

PHOTOS COURTESY

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

10 | US Spring 2012

7

FINALLY, CHAMPIONSAfter losing the Canadian final at the University Cup in the last minute in the

previous two years, the Huskies, led by head coach Dave King, were finally crowned national men’s hockey champion in 1983, defeating the Concordia Stingers 6-2 in the Moncton Coliseum.

CRACKING THE RECORD BOOKWhen she broke in with the U of S basketball team in 2003,

Sarah Crooks was a substitute player. By the end of her senior season, she was hitting three-pointers, owned the conference record for career scoring and rebounds and was twice named the CIS player of the year. The Huskie women’s basketball team retired jersey No. 14. Say no more.

WE BE BEASTIN’The University of Saskatchewan men’s basketball team went on a 13-game winning streak in the

2010 season, beating UBC 91-81 in the Canadian final in Ottawa to complete the run. It was the Huskies’ first-ever national crown for the program. How sweet it was. The players had a commitment to be a “band of brothers.” It came from a belief in each other that they had the potential to win and come together as a team. The team developed a family mentality on the court and believed that no matter what came before them on the court they could win the game. And together they did.

5

4

2

THE VANIER DROUGHT ENDSTalk about defence. The defence for the U of S football

team scored three touchdowns in the playoffs leading up to the 1990 Vanier Cup at Toronto’s Skydome. In the Canadian final, it delivered again. With Saskatchewan leading 24-21, St. Mary’s was on the move in the final minute. A call came in from the St. Mary’s bench to run the ball from the Saskatchewan 37-yard line. Quarterback Chris Flynn, the Hec Creighton winner for St. Mary’s, decided to pass instead. Flynn rolled right and was chased by Saskatchewan defensive lineman Don Bristow, who caught Flynn from behind. The ball was fumbled. Greg Mamer and Rob Dutton recovered. Saskatchewan won its first Vanier Cup.

THE LEGENDARY SANDERSON Lyle Sanderson was in it for the long run at the U of S. Sanderson trained as a distance runner by

himself as a kid on the family’s ranch in Piapot in southern Saskatchewan. He competed with the Huskies when he came to Saskatoon and ran in the Canadian trials in 1960 for the Rome Olympics. Next thing you know he was the Huskies’ head coach.

Sanderson is the longest-serving coach in the 100 years of sports on campus, leading the U of S to 11 Canadian Championships and 33 conference titles. He groomed some of the nation’s finest athletes, including Olympians and world-record holders, and built the U of S track and field program into one of the country’s most successful. You might say he gave the Huskies a finishing kick.

FROZEN SATURDAYOn a frozen Saturday in November 2006, the Vanier Cup was played in Western Canada for the first time. The game was at Griffiths Stadium

before a crowd of more than 14,000 people, starting under blue sky with a flypast by a pilot with the Snowbirds. Although the Huskies did not win the ultimate prize, the Vanier Cup hosted by the U of S set a new standard for the event.

3THREE IN A ROWThree years, three national championships. The U of S women’s volleyball team scored a triple crown. The Huskiettes won their first Canadian

championship in Hamilton in 1979. The next year it was on home court, in the Education Gym. Title No. 3 came in Victoria. Although Sherry Saxton, Melanie Sanford, Cindy Shepherd, Joyce Senyk and Cindy Crow were on the team with coach Mark Tennant for three straight titles, the championships were accomplished by three different and distinct Huskiette teams.

(Bob Florence is a Saskatoon writer who prepared this list for Huskie Athletics.)

1

6PH

OTO

BY

CH

RIS

UH

L

US Spring 2012 | 11

12 | US Spring 2012

BY MACKENZIE WARNER

Newcastle was not the first pick for my exchange. Initially, I had been

more interested in the university in Christchurch, New Zealand. However, Australia turned out to be a great match for me in so many ways, while Christchurch experienced a devastating earthquake shortly after I arrived.

Living on campus in Newcastle gave me a very literal taste of “living at the university” while I was abroad. My college, Barahineban – an Indigenous word meaning “a bright place to live” – could have no better name. It is a sunny place with an excellent view of Newcastle’s forest. I often had exotic birds outside my door – one cockatoo in particular liked to squawk in front of my door at 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. every day. A nighttime symphony of chirping crickets, frogs and birds kept me awake late into that first night away from home.

Because the campus was built on protected land, venturing to my classes was a great hike through eucalyptus forests each day. I often had to stop to let ducks cross the path or dodge one or two cockatoos. I was warned that one of Australia’s deadliest snakes enjoyed some of

Study notes from the land of Ozthe shadier spots on campus, but I never saw one (and probably for the best). Though the university’s buildings did not compare to its lush exterior, I did appreciate their air conditioning.

My classes were particularly interesting because I had the opportunity to take electives. Though the teaching styles and techniques are interchangeable with what I have experienced at the U of S, I learned a great deal regarding Australian politics, culture and environment. You do not take a philosophical class called Democracy, Economy and Global Warming without coming away with the knowledge of something extremely enlightening

and devastating at the same time. I also took a film class with a

Canadian film on the syllabus. It was interesting to read articles and hear the opinions of my classmates on Canadian identity – something I am not sure even we Canadians have figured out.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I learned “down under” is that Australians adore Canadians. I was always received with relaxed warmth and kindness. I had one Aussie friend describe her people as “the kind one hears before seeing.” This is most definitely true! Boisterous laughter, singing and the occasional shouting (particularly when rugby was

One of the first things I learned “down under” is that Australians adore Canadians.

In Lonely Planet’s Top Ten Cities for 2011, Newcastle,

Australia was chosen as one of the most underrated

cities in the world. Having lived there for five months

through the University of Saskatchewan Study Abroad

Program, I can concur with the writers of Lonely Planet.

Browse other international exchange destations: students.usask.ca/goabroad

Queensland

Northern Territory

South Australia

WesternAustralia

New South Wales

Victoria

Tasmania

NEWCASTLE

ROBINABRISBANE

CANBERRA

PERTH

1

3

4

5

2

EXCHANGE AND STUDY ABOAD OPPORTUNTIES IN AUSTRALIA

1. Bond University

2. Curtin University

3. University of Canberra

4. University of Newcastle

5. University of Queensland

US Spring 2012 | 13

on the television) are sounds that I will forever associate with my Australian friends. In fact, while touring through Asia after completing my study term, I heard a group of men and women laughing so loudly, I turned to my travel companion and said, “I bet they are Australian.” Sure enough, I heard them before I saw them.

I also came to appreciate that Australia is beautiful in every season. The summer heat is not for the weak, but luckily Australia has plenty of beaches where you can cool off.

Newcastle’s beaches are particularly stunning. It was a special treat to be able to dip my toes in the water between university classes.

MY FIRST OCEAN EXPERIENCE was quite memorable. Some friends took me to Bar Beach for an afternoon. I have never been the strongest swimmer nor am I the first one to jump into any of the lakes of Saskatchewan, so it should have dawned on me that swimming in the Pacific Ocean would be outside my comfort zone. Within seconds of venturing into the water, I took a big gulp of salt water. While still gasping for air, I was warned that a “blue bottle” was right behind me. I pictured something that was huge, slimy and dangerous, though it turned out to be a thumb-sized jellyfish. I remained safely on the beach for the rest of the afternoon.

Although I never tried surfing while in Australia, two Aussie friends convinced me that “Australian tobogganing” was worth the wait for tickets. We were the oldest people to go on the ride. The ride itself looked very interesting. Each participant was placed on something that resembled a skateboard attached to wire. The skateboard had a lever to control the speed. As we were carried up a steel tube in the middle of a forest, I kept

Did you know?You can study

in more than 30

countries around

the world, including:

¡ Bergen, Norway

¡ Fairbanks, Alaska

¡ Yokohama, Japan

¡ Bangkok, Thailand

¡ Singapore

¡ Svalbard, Norway

¡ Reykjavik, Iceland

all while earning credit toward your U of S degree. At the U of S, there are a variety of study abroad opportunities that vary from a few weeks in length to one academic year.

U of S students can study in more than 30 countries across the globe, and our reach is continually expanding. In today’s globalized world, adding an international component to your studies has many professional, educational and personal benefits.

International experience helps:

¡ enhance your career prospects; ¡ expand your horizons and cross-cultural understanding;

¡ broaden your knowledge in your field of study; ¡ develop relationships; and ¡ improve your foreign language skills.

IT IS NEVER TOO EARLY TO START PLANNING. Some programs require students to apply a year in advance of the program. If you are interested in a program that will be taught in a language other than English, it is a good idea to start learning the language early.

THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AND STUDY ABROAD CENTRE (ISSAC) will help you during your entire international learning experience, so that your time away from home is academically, culturally, socially and geographically enriching (and affordable).

Visit ISSAC’s Go Abroad site for information on study abroad options at students.usask.ca/goabroad.

reassuring my friend that she would survive.

Once at the top, we shot down a winding steel tube through the trees. It lasted about three minutes and was so exhilarating that I almost forgot to break. Luckily, I pulled the throttle of my skateboard back seconds before hitting my nervous friend. I have since decided that Australian tobogganing is remarkably more fun than the cold and snowy Canadian version.

I COULD GO ON ABOUT how excellent Australian food is and how wonderful its people really are, but that would require another essay. I will say, however, that my study abroad opportunity has encouraged me to explore

more of the world. In fact, after I finished my classes last June, I headed to Asia for a month. My journey through Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia put many things into perspective.

When I came back to Australia to collect the rest of my belongings and head home to Canada I was grateful for three things in particular: A western-style toilet, my new international friends and the opportunity that allowed me to see the places I did while away. For those students who are thinking of travelling, the study abroad program is great. In fact, it is more than great: It is invaluable. ■

(MacKenzie Warner is an English Honours student in the College of Arts and Science.)

Imagine living abroad, experiencing a new culture and gaining international experience,

14 | US Spring 2012

BY SHANNON BOKLASCHUK

Silas Godard’s career goal is to work with children in the area of sport.

Godard, a fourth-year Kinesiology student, has extensive experience volunteering and working with children. For example, he has run basketball camps in Thailand and has been involved with children’s summer camps in Panama. He has also worked and volunteered in Indonesia, has been a leader at various youth and children’s camps in Saskatchewan and British Columbia and has worked with the Children’s Wish Foundation.

GODARD DECIDED TO ENTER

THE College of Kinesiology a few years ago after volunteering in Asia for a non-profit organization based out of Australia, called Youth With A Mission (YWAM).

“I’d gone there on a three-month training course, and then three months of going into Asia to do sports outreach in lower-class communities and slums,” he said.

“In that experience, I really saw the impact that sports can have on a community and how a simple ball can bring a community together.”

Godard was born in Saskatoon

but grew up in Colombia, where a lot of the people he knew didn’t have the opportunity to attend university. Godard sees the value in getting an education, and believes his Kinesiology degree will help him make a difference in impoverished communities and in the lives of children and youth.

“Before I had gone out to Australia, I had been involved with a group home for high-risk youth in Saskatoon. So I did that for a year,” he said.

“It was the debate between do I go into social work or sports, and kind of where’s that passion. My passions have always been working with youth and playing sports, and just seeing youth develop through life and see them reach their potential.”

The University of Saskatchewan’s College of Kinesiology was recommended to Godard by a friend, who told him “it was a great program,” so Godard applied for admission.

“I’VE REALLY COME TO

APPRECIATE the experience I’ve had here at the U of S,” he said.

Once Godard graduates, he hopes to work for an international non-profit sport agency promoting peace, child development and local community, such as Right to Play,

Making adifference in the

Silas Godard hopes to work with an international non-profit sport agency promoting peace, child development and local community.

Did you know?Kinesiology is

the scientific

study of

the body in

movement. It

involves the

understanding

of how and why

people move

and the factors

that limit and

enhance our

capacity to

move.

lives of children

the UN Department of Peace and Sport or UNICEF. His decision to work with youth was inspired, in part, by his parents, who worked with gang members in South America.

Godard is the recent recipient of the Ron Moe Award, which is offered annually to a Kinesiology student who shows enthusiasm and potential to be an excellent leader of youth.

He is excited about what the future holds.

“I’d really like to work with a non-profit organization that could use sport as a development tool to holistically develop children and youth, through all aspects of life. That’s the end goal,” he said. ■

JASO

N A

LLEN

US Spring 2012 | 15

STUDY SPOTSThis is definitely a subjective one. I like to study where there’s noise and commotion, because I like to be able to look around and see the things that are happening – then I don’t feel isolated. But there are so many spots on campus to study. The Law, STM, Natural Science, Engineering and Health Science libraries are all super quiet. The Education and Murray libraries are a little noisier. Murray has a lot of floors, and they get quieter the higher up you go. But, like I said, I like it to be noisy. So the winner is . . . Ground floor, Murray Library, right by the Starbucks.

FOODThere are a lot of good places to eat on campus. We have Choices at St. Thomas More College (STM), the Arts Buffeteria, the cafeteria in the Agriculture Building, three Tim Hortons locations, Vanellis, Extreme Pita, Umi Sushi, Mac’s, Treats, Harvey’s, A&W and a whole bunch of other places. But in the interest of picking my favourite, I’m going to say that the winner is . . . Choices at STM! I like Tuscany Tuesday.

ATHLETICSWe have the Physical Activity Complex – known as the PAC – as well as a couple pools, a clubhouse and a few fields. The winner is . . . The Physical Activity Complex. It’s a full gym. With a swimming pool. And racquet courts. And a dance studio. And basketball/volleyball courts. And a gymnastics room. And a running track. And a climbing wall. And all the weight and cardio equipment your heart desires. The best part is it’s included in tuition for U of S students!

OUTDOORSOur campus is beautiful, so we have lots of spots outside that are perfect for studying, playing or just relaxing. I think most other students will agree with me when I say that the winner is . . . the Bowl. It’s like a small piece of wilderness in the middle of a busy campus, and it’s a great place to relax, play Frisbee or even skate in the winter.

BY HEATHER PITMAN

Pitman is in her fourth year of studies at the U of S, where she also works as a student ambassador in the Student and Enrolment Services Division. She is currently pursuing a degree in the College of Education. Here, she offers her thoughts on the best of the U of S.

Best of of SU

16 | US Spring 2012

BUILDINGSOne thing I heard from a prospective student who visited campus is that you can always tell if a building belongs to campus or not. Our buildings have consistent themes in architecture and building materials, but are still unique. My favourite, though, is the oldest building, and it looks like a castle. The winner is . . . the Thorvaldson Building.

COFFEECaffeine has been essential to my university experience. We have a lot of options on campus: Tim Hortons, Starbucks, Mac’s, Treats, and the Food Services places. But considering all things – price, taste and value – I have to say that my favourite place for a coffee fix is . . . Mac’s.

HANGOUT SPOTSDuring my years at the U of S, I’ve developed a real love for this place, and that’s because of all the friends I’ve made. So I have a favourite hangout spot but, really, anywhere on campus where you have friends can be an awesome hangout spot. But the winner is . . . Louis’, our campus bar and restaurant. It has college atmosphere and college prices.

TRANSPORTATIONYou can definitely buy a parking pass on campus and drive yourself here every day. But I have found that the best way to get to school is . . . the U-PASS. Included in your student fees, the U-PASS is a discounted bus pass for use anytime during the school year.

CLASSROOMSWhen I start developing my schedule for a new school year, if there are different sections for a class I look at the times, then the professors and then the classrooms. These are all indicators of how the class will go. We have so many great classrooms on campus. Arts 241 is a former movie theatre and Arts 143 is the biggest lecture hall on campus. Lectures in the Quance Theatre feel like I’m watching a play. But my absolute favourite classroom is . . . Thorvaldson 271 (the Airplane Room). It has so much oral history and myths attached to it, so you will have to come to campus to check it out.

BOOKSWe have eight libraries and two bookstores. My favourite thing to do when I’m assigned a textbook for a class is to check and see if the library has it on reserve. If not, I go to Browsers to see if they have it. The thing is, Browsers is a used bookstore, so if it doesn’t have what I need, I go to the U of S Bookstore. That said, the winner is . . . the U of S Bookstore, because they always have what you need. ■

of S

US Spring 2012 | 17

BY SHANNON BOKLASCHUK

When fourth-year students Justin Shepherd and

Curtis de Gooijer saw a need in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, they sprang into action to address it.

In the fall of 2011, Shepherd, who is studying agribusiness, and de Gooijer, who is studying agronomy, initiated and organized a field trip for exchange students in their college. Shepherd and de Gooijer noticed that exchange students

from other countries often didn’t have the opportunity to travel outside of Saskatoon and experience farm life, and they wanted to change that.

“I think it originated from us being in Sweden,” Shepherd said of the field trip idea.

“We both went on an exchange last spring, so that’s kind of where it all came from. At SLU (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences), where we studied, they had a very progressive and really friendly student group that came out and took us to events and took us to farms and things like that.”

Fourth‑year Agriculture and Bioresources

students Justin Shepherd and

Curtis de Gooijer realized that many

international students studying in their college

never had the opportunity to set foot on a prairie

farm... so they did something about it.

FieldTrip

Justin Shepherd (left) and Curtis de Gooijer grew up on farms in rural Saskatchewan.

18 | US Spring 2012

“When we were there, it was like, ‘Wow, we don’t have anything like this,’ ” added de Gooijer.

AFTER RETURNING to the University of Saskatchewan following their visit to Sweden, Shepherd and de Gooijer, who grew up on farms in rural Saskatchewan, were inspired to show international exchange students and Master’s students in the U of S College of Agriculture and Bioresources some examples of local agricultural operations. They realized that because the students didn’t grow up in Saskatchewan, they didn’t have rural connections and were not visiting nearby farms as a result.

“If you don’t know anybody, you can’t just go to someone’s farm,” said de Gooijer.

While sitting in the Ag lounge one day, Shepherd started asking people about farms the student could visit. He learned of a

10,000-acre grain farm north of Saskatoon, and decided to include a visit to the farm as part of the field trip. The grain farmer then provided Shepherd with the name of a dairy farmer, who also extended an invitation for the students to visit his operation.

TO KICK OFF THE DAY-LONG field trip, a College of Agriculture and Bioresources staff member offered a tour of the University of Saskatchewan’s research farm. The students were also provided with college vans to travel to the two farms outside of the city. A lunch was organized for the students upon their return from the field trip, and professors dropped by to chat with the students.

About a dozen international students – from Sweden, Mongolia, China, Germany and Norway – participated in the field trip.

Both the Canadian and international students learned a lot.

“We took them and saw a huge combine. The one guy from China was telling us how they would lay down grain on the roads and let people drive on it, and then at night they go and collect the grain,” said de Gooijer.

“It was kind of cool; there was learning for everybody. It was kind of neat to hear that kind of stuff.”

Shepherd and de Gooijer will be graduating in the spring, but they would like to organize another field trip before they leave campus – possibly to an ethanol plant. They are grateful for the assistance of staff at the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, and they say they would like to see similar field trips continue to take place in the college once they have graduated.

“I think if you get it going a few years in a row, then hopefully it will just snowball and keep going,” Shepherd said. ■

“If you don’t know anybody, you can’t just go to someone’s farm.”

explore.usask.ca/ustart

U-Start registration workshops are free for

all students and their parents and are held

throughout Western Canada each spring. All

incoming students are encouraged to attend

a U-Start session, as it is an important step in

preparing for life as a university student.

US Spring 2012 | 19

BY TERI ROSENFELT

New residences opened last fall on the University of Saskatchewan

campus, and they are quickly making a difference for students from around the world.

“In terms of developing social relationships, there’s nothing better than living in res,” said Renae Zook, a third-year biochemistry student and resident advisor (RA) in Spruce Hall, one of the new student residences in College Quarter on the U of S campus.

She has lived in residence since she originally moved to the U of S

from Trochu, Alta., about an hour and a half northeast of Calgary, to take the classes she needs to apply to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.

“When I first moved here, I stayed in my room and only left to buy textbooks. After a day and a half, I was starving,” Zook said with a laugh. “I went to Marquis Hall to eat and sat down with some people, and I’m still friends with some of the people that were at that table.”

More than 1,700 students currently live in residence at the U of S, with about 660 additional beds slated to open by early 2013. The growing demand for student

housing is fuelled in part by the support and services offered to residence students, which are especially helpful to students new to Saskatoon.

“The ethos of residence is student support,” said Sylvia Cholodnuik, residence manager. “The student life staff, the residence staff, the custodial staff, we’re all here to create a positive student experience.”

That staff includes RAs like Zook, who are upper-year students who are there for students to talk to and co-ordinate residence activities; advisors, who co-ordinate and support the RAs; and residence

Live & learnU of S residences roll out the welcome mat

20 | US Spring 2012

life coordinators, who are full-time live-in staff. Between the three levels of staff, residence students have 24-hour coverage.

Additional support is found with the faculty-in-residence, currently offered at Voyageur Place and College Quarter. The faculty member lives in residence and offers students academic advice and support, and co-ordinates drop-in tutoring time led by graduate students.

As more students live at the U of S, residence staff members are finding new ways to work with other groups both on and off campus.

“It’s really exciting to see what the possibilities are to work with others to create positive experiences and support for all these groups,” said Cholodnuik. “In terms of how students are building a community, I think we are meeting our goals.”

A range of activities, such as pancake breakfasts, casino nights and dances, Saskatoon Blades games and sushi-making nights,

ensure there is something that everyone will enjoy.

Zook knows first-hand the benefits of not only participating in the activities but living in student residence and would recommend it to anyone moving to attend the U of S.

“There’s always something going on,” she said. “If it’s 3 a.m. and you can’t sleep there’s someone watching TV or studying. And for parents, it’s just a comfort factor. You don’t have to worry.”

For information on the U of S student residences, visit www.usask.ca/residence. ■

(Teri Rosenfelt is a communications coordinator in University Advancement.)

Find out all about your new home at www.usask.ca/residence

Top left: Students relax in one of the common lounges in Aspen Hall. Top: Apartments in the College Quarter residence are modern and fully furnished. The only items students need to bring are cooking utensils, dishes, cutlery and linen. Bottom: Spruce Hall, one of the new undergraduate residences, opened for students in fall 2011.

Photos by Dave Stobbe

US Spring 2012 | 21

as soon as I walk out the door,” he said.

“If I’ve taken a Geological Engineering course – I’ve taken several – part of what I like to do outside of school is walk along the river. When I do that now I see . . . what’s happening on the slope of the river, how the biology and the geology are interacting. Those are all concepts that could remain so abstract, but they become incredibly real and it makes it so easy to recall that information in testing situations. I convert the theory to real life immediately, and over and over again.”

Parker, who is originally from Naicam, Sask., has lived in Saskatoon for the last 10 years. He is pleased with his decision to attend the University of Saskatchewan.

He said the College of Engineering features a lounge where students socialize, and the professors have “real-world experience and are quick to give examples of how what we’re learning applies to what’s in the field.”

“One of the things that I really appreciate about the U of S is just how beautiful the campus is,” he added.

“Every single building is so stunningly gorgeous. They’re huge and well designed. I walk to school in the morning and I see the College Building, which is such an amazing structure, and behind that is a red sky as the sun’s rising, the clouds floating across the sky.

“It’s a wonderful and, I think, a unique experience to have that beauty on your way to school every single day.” ■

BY SHANNON BOKLASCHUK

David Parker has achieved academic success during his

time at the University of Saskatchewan.

The third-year College of Engineering student has been the recipient of six awards during the past two years, for a total of $10,500.

“To me it’s just a really powerful affirmation of the choices I’ve made and the work I’ve put in,” he said.

Parker is studying Environmental Engineering because he sees it as a way to combine his interest in environmentalism with his math and analytical skills. He said the program has brought those things together for him, and has sparked his interest in other things.

“It has gone beyond environmentalism to interest in cultural changes, too,” he said.

“I have various pursuits outside of school that maybe will develop the social and cultural side of my passion, whereas the Engineering is going to give me the credentials to make the kinds of impact that I want to make.”

PARKER RECENTLY TRAVELLED TO THAILAND to take permaculture design training, which he describes as an area of study that “focuses a lot on agricultural and food systems, and tries to identify sustainable ways that we can continue to produce food for ourselves.” Parker wants to look at systems that have positive

environmental impacts, rather than negative or neutral ones.

“I’m not sure what my direction is going to be when I leave school. I am trying to keep my options open,” he said.

“Permaculture concepts will definitely be part of the design process – how directly they are implemented will have to be seen. If I went very directly down that route, I might open up a consulting business where I help people rearrange their own urban landscapes to conform with permaculture principles or work on farms or things like that.”

PARKER ATTRIBUTES SOME OF HIS academic success to the fact he takes an active interest in everything he learns.

“Every time I come out of a class, I take the concepts I’ve learned and I apply them to situations that I see

Applying theory to real life secret to success

Did you know?After a common first year,

Engineering students can

choose from nine programs

based on their interests:

¡ Biological Engineering

¡ Chemical Engineering

¡ Civil Engineering

¡ Computer Engineering

¡ Electrical Engineering

¡ Engineering Physics

¡ Environmental Engineering

¡ Geological Engineering

¡ Mechanical Engineering

David Parker says Environmental Engineering combines his passion for environmentalism with his math and analytical skills.

DA

VE S

TOBB

E

22 | US Spring 2012

U of S student Kelly named Rhodes Scholar

University of Saskatchewan graduate student Anne Kelly has been awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. She is one of only 11

students in Canada to receive the honour for 2012.“This success, for me,

is the outcome of the exceptional training and support which I have received from so many different people over the years,” said the 23-year-old Kelly.

“I have been fortunate to engage with a wide and diverse community of people in Saskatoon and owe much to L’École canadienne-française high-school, to St. Thomas More College, and to the University of Saskatchewan.”

As a Rhodes Scholar, Kelly will receive tuition, school fees, and a stipend for living expenses while studying at the University of Oxford. Kelly will be enrolling in the Master of Studies in Medieval Studies at Oxford in the fall of 2012, after which time she plans to continue her education and pursue doctoral studies in a related field.

In addition to her exceptional academic record and research, Kelly is also an accomplished athlete and active volunteer in the community around Saskatoon.

David Parkinson, Kelly’s graduate supervisor and vice-dean of humanities and fine arts at the U of S, said it is rare to encounter a student as exceptionally bright, motivated and concerned with the welfare of others as Kelly.

“Anne’s capacity for leadership arises from her extremely good eye for character and talent. She is very interested in the ways people work, and work together,” said Parkinson. “She seems to take delight in encouraging and guiding others to combine their complementary talents. She wins respect and loyalty by her commitment to the success of others.” ■

(This article was originally published on the On Campus News website at news.usask.ca)

Anne Kelly

If you have missed the Feb. 15 Best of Three deadline, it’s not too late!

Apply for admission, pay the $90 application fee and submit your

marks before May 1 to be eligible for two average calculations, the

best of which could earn you money!

Your next steps

1. After Semester One of Grade 12

Five approved Grade 12-level subjects, completed by January, will

be used to your best advantage in the average calculation. This

calculation can include January mid-term marks for non-semestered

subjects and/or a Grade 11-level English.

2. At the end of Grade 12

Five approved Grade 12-level subjects, completed by June, will be

used to your best advantage in the final average calculation.

Competitive Entrance AwardsIf you applied for the 2012-

2013 Competitive Entrance

Awards by the Feb. 15

deadline, watch your mailbox!

If you are selected to receive a

Competitive Entrance Award,

you will be mailed a notification

package in May and June.

95% or higher $3,000

93% to 94.9% $2,000

90% to 92.9% $1,000

85% to 89.9% $500

Guaranteed Entrance Scholarships

Watch your

mailbox!

US Spring 2012 | 23

BY SHANNON BOKLASCHUK

An innovative program offered by the College of Medicine

is connecting future physicians with marginalized communities and is helping medical students learn more about the social determinants of health – both at home and internationally.

Making the Links, which is delivered through the College’s Division of Social Accountability, is a certificate program that combines academic courses with service learning in underserved communities.

The program has been a hit with the medical students who participate in it each year.

“I couldn’t imagine doing medicine without Making the Links,” said fourth-year student Kristen Siemens.

“It’s on the forefront of global health training and definitely the College of Medicine is very supportive.”

THE 10 UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS involved with the program annually have the opportunity to work in Saskatoon’s inner-city, at the Student Wellness Initiative Towards Community Health (SWITCH) clinic, as well as in the remote communities of Ile-a-la-Crosse and Dillon in northern Saskatchewan and in the countries of Mozambique and Zimbabwe in Southern Africa.

Those students who successfully complete the two-year program now

College of Medicine program focuses on underserved communities

Dr. Kieran Conway (left) provides medical care to a child in Mozambique. He now looks back on the Making the Links program as “one of the better parts of medical school.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MAKING THE LINKS AND THE NEW CERTIFICATE IN GLOBAL HEALTH, VISIT www.medicine.usask.ca/leadership/social‑accountability

receive a Certificate in Global Health, which is believed to be the first and only undergraduate certificate of its kind in Canada. While the Making the Links program has been in existence since

2005, the proposal for the global health certificate was officially approved by the U of S University Council in 2011.

Dr. Ryan Meili, the head of the Division of Social Accountability, said Making

the Links helps connect altruistic students with communities in need. Meili said the program requires students to tap into their sense of adventure and step out of their comfort zones to experience another reality.

“ They invariably describe it as a life-changing experience. They love it. I think it often alters the direction of their careers.”

SUBM

ITTE

D P

HO

TO

24 | US Spring 2012

“Really, are they open-minded enough to proverbially walk in someone else’s shoes?”

THOUGH MAKING THE LINKS has been offered for nearly seven years, Meili is hopeful the new global health certificate now associated with it will further legitimize global and rural health as core areas of training for physicians. He also hopes the certificate program will encourage students to continue to work in underserved communities once they complete medical school.

Meili said Making the Links helps medical students understand “their context within health care, that it’s not just about doctors and hospitals.”

“They develop relationships with people in the communities, and they get to know them as friends,” he said.

“They invariably describe it as a life-changing experience. They

love it. I think it often alters the direction of their careers.”

Siemens, who participated in Making the Links from 2008 to 2010, describes her time in Mozambique as “incredible.” She said she also values the “early exposure” she had to rural medicine as a result of the time she spent in the Saskatchewan communities of Ile-a-la-Crosse and Dillon.

Siemens now plans to focus on family medicine upon graduation. She remains connected to northern Saskatchewan, where she visits friends and continues to learn about traditional ceremonies and other elements of community life.

DR. KIERAN CONWAY, a medical resident working in Prince Albert, said his life changed as a result of Making the Links.

He appreciated the hands-on approach and interdisciplinary

Did you know?The U of S

College of

Medicine

now offers

a Certificate

in Global

Health, which

is believed

to be the

first and only

undergraduate

certificate of its

kind in Canada.

nature of the program.“It was probably one of the

better parts of medical school. The friendships that we formed and the additional experiences that we got out of it – I think for all of us who did it, that really made an impact,” he said.

“We spent six weeks living in northern Saskatchewan. Many of us still visit those communities whenever we can and have relationships there. The other highlight would be the trip to Mozambique for six weeks there.”

Conway, who participated in Making the Links from 2007 to 2009, said many of his colleagues who didn’t take part in the program now wish they had. He encourages all undergraduate medical students to explore it as an option.

“I think it’s a wonderful program, and I think if people are even remotely interested they should apply,” he said. ■

I’m One

When you receive your University of Saskatchewan degree, you’ll be one too— a member of the U of S Alumni Association—135,000 strong and growing.

alumni.usask.ca

Monique Haakensen, BSc’04, PhD’09, one of Profit Magazine’s Top 20 Canadian

Future Entrepreneurial Leaders under the age

of 30 and founder of Contango Strategies Ltd., a microbiology research firm

specializing in bioconversion and bioremediation.

US Spring 2012 | 25

BY DEAN FEY

The University of Saskatchewan Bookstore is your bookstore. We are

an integral part of your university experience. We guarantee the correct, most up-to-date course material and we will put you on the right path to academic success. The Bookstore is aware of the rising cost of educational material and we have put a lot of thought and research into keeping your costs minimal.

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN NOW RENT YOUR TEXTBOOKS? Did you know that we sell used, as well as new, textbooks? Did you know that we bundle your course material to keep costs down? And that we are your source for e-Books, including medical and reference e-Books?

We have also made it easy for you to gather your course material simply by logging on to “My Textbooks,” either through PAWS or our Bookstore website. The textbooks required or recommended for all of the courses you have registered in will populate in one list. Simply add to your shopping cart on our online store, or print your list as a handy reference for in-store shopping.

OUR ONLINE STORE IS A FAST AND EASY way to purchase your textbooks and university clothing. Rather than stand in a long lineup during term rush, simply place your order online and Canada Post will “Express” deliver to your door, often the very next day.

Our brand new, easy-to-navigate website works great with smartphones and tablets. You will be able to quickly find what you need. We have a great selection of University/Huskie clothing and gifts, an awesome selection

Find what you need at the U of S Bookstore

The Bookstore offers several options to minimize costs, such as textbook rentals and a buy-back service.

of general books for your reading pleasure and a caring, friendly and very knowledgeable staff who are always here to help you.

Did you know that we will buy back your textbooks? If your textbooks are needed for next term we will purchase them from you for up to 50 per cent of the original cost. We have made it easier to find out what we will buy back and for how much – just visit our website and download our handy Buyback Apps for Android or iOS smartphones or tablets. Just scan the book’s barcode with the app (not

our price sticker) and you will be told instantly if we need the book and how much we will pay you for it.

Our greatest asset is our staff, some of whom are students! We have

experienced, knowledgeable and friendly staff members whose dedication to our students, faculty and customers is equal to none.

(Dean Fey works in communications and marketing at the U of S Bookstore.)

1

2

43

1

FAB FINDS1. Women’s tee: $19.50

Shoulder bag: $29.95

2. Plush graduate: $15

3. Huskies toque/mask:

$16.95

4. Men’s shirt: $39.95

Men’s sweatpants: $36.95

Hat: $28.95

26 | US Spring 2012

JENN EGROFF

Q What did you study at the U of S?

A I studied commerce and majored in marketing at the Edwards School of Business.

Q Why did you choose that area of study?

A I chose marketing because of the many career opportunities and the importance of communication. The market is always evolving and you must adapt your message in order to understand people’s perceptions and behaviour. It can also be a fun major, as there is always something new to learn about people.

Q What did you do upon graduation?

A Before I graduated, a friend referred me to the Vice-President of Marketing for CollegeMobile, a multi-platform app development company in Saskatoon. We went for breakfast with the CEO and, shortly after, I enthusiastically accepted a full-time position as the Accounts & Marketing Director. On a day-to-day basis, I am accountable for many business-related tasks in the company. I work with clients from many different industries to customize apps that meet their mobile objectives. I also handle marketing and communications, such as social media, blogging, website content and tradeshow materials. Business development is also part of my job and I assist the CEO to secure appropriate partnerships.

JILLIAN EGROFF

Q What is your major?

A I don’t have a major, but I am hoping to get into Dentistry in the next few years. I’ve always been interested in sciences and I thought Dentistry would be the perfect career goal for me to shoot for.

Q What do you plan to do once you graduate?

A I plan on travelling for a few months, then start searching for a job somewhere in Canada where I can settle down for a few years after I graduate.

Q Why did you choose the U of S as your university?

A I chose the U of S as my university because I love Saskatoon! I have the opportunity to live with my sister and be close enough to friends and family in Moose Jaw, my hometown. The fact that my sister and I can live together and share a closet definitely helped in my decision.

Q What has been the best part of being a U of S student?

A The options are endless! Whatever your interest, whatever classes you want to take, there is almost always a class for you to take and opportunities for you to reach whatever your career goals may be. There are also so many social events and recreation teams you can join to get involved and meet people. The possibilities are endless!

A TALE OF

SISTERS

2

Jenn and Jillian Egroff are sisters with something big in common: They both chose to attend the

U of S. Jenn graduated in May 2011 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Edwards

School of Business. Jillian is in her first year of university and plans to become a dentist. Here,

the sisters share their thoughts on the U of S and why they made it their institution of choice.

PHO

TOS

BY J

ASO

N A

LLEN

US Spring 2012 | 27

LEARNING COMMUNITIES are your academic social network – small groups of first-year students who take a common set of two or three classes and meet once a week with upper-year student mentors in an academically supportive and enriching environment. Find out more about Learning Communities at www.usask.ca/ulc/lc/.

ACADEMIC HELP is available through tutor registries, academic advisors, professors, classmates and more. In our University Learning Centre, we offer specialized help in math and stats, academic writing and study skills. Find out more about the University Learning Centre at www.usask.ca/ulc/.

AT THE U OF S, WE VALUE CAMPUS SAFETY because we value our people. We strive to create a culture of safety that protects and prepares students and other members of our campus community through several offices, initiatives and services, including:

¡ 24/7/365 Department of Campus Safety ¡ Safewalk program ¡ Safe study sessions ¡ Safety education ¡ Safety alert board ¡ USafe mass alert tool

THE STUDENT EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER CENTRE (SECC) is an excellent resource for students wanting to find a great part-time job or the perfect career. For more information, visit usask.ca/secc.

1. The Learning Centre offers specialized academic support. 2. Learning Communities allow first-year students to work together outside the classroom. 3. The International Student and Study Abroad Centre is a meeting place on campus for international students. 4. Elders Walter and Maria Linklater host weekly soup and bannock lunches at the Aboriginal Students’ Centre.

Starting university can be an exciting but overwhelming

endeavour. That’s where our student supports come in.

We are here to help you every step of the way!

From academic

support

1.

2.28 | US Spring 2012

to planning your career,

we’re here to helpAPOTEX CENTRE: STUDENT HEALTH AND COUNSELLING SERVICES is comprised of two complementary services located in the Place Riel Student Centre. Student counselling services offers short-term individual, couple and group counselling for students. Student health services deliver health care to all students, their spouses or partners, and their dependents. For more information, visit students.usask.ca/current/life/health.

THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AND STUDY ABROAD CENTRE (ISSAC ) is a place where students make friends from around the world, get involved in international events and activities and explore study abroad opportunities. For more information, visit students.usask.ca/current/international/issac.

STUDENT CENTRAL staff members help students navigate the university. They can provide information on becoming a student, registering and paying for classes, getting student loans signed or even finding a building or classroom.

DISABILITY SERVICES FOR STUDENTS (DSS) provides programs and services to support students with disabilities.

All students with a disability are encouraged to register with DSS, so that DSS can ensure their needs are met. For more information, visit students.usask.ca/current/disability.

THE ABORIGINAL STUDENTS’ CENTRE (ASC) promotes the spiritual, physical, emotional and mental well-being of Aboriginal students. Students can hang out at the centre between classes, get academic support and eat free soup and bannock with elders every Wednesday. For more information, visit students.usask.ca/current/aboriginal/asc.php. ■

3. 4.US Spring 2012 | 29

SUBMITTED BY THE COLLEGE OF NURSING

A new partnership between the College of Nursing and the North Central Community Association (NCCA) has created a dynamic community health clinical placement in Regina.

NCCA is located in the heart of North Central Regina, one of Regina’s largest inner-city neighbourhoods. The NCCA is well integrated into the community and offers a wide range of successful and thriving programs.

“The NCCA provided an ideal setting for our students to experience a different kind of nursing,” explained Jaime Mantesso, Clinical Coordinator, Southern Saskatchewan.

CLINICAL GROUPS GET INVOLVED IN almost all of the programs offered by and with NCCA including Project People, Transition to Trades, the community garden, Care and Share seniors’ meals, Go Green Roughriders partnership, and the food bank.

Mantesso praises the commitment and work of the students. “It is very gratifying to see the positive impact that students can make

on the agency or organization, its clients and, most importantly, the community it serves. The reciprocation is evident as students come away with a wonderful and enriching experience.”

Jenelle Ott, a fourth-year nursing student in Regina, was inspired by her community health experience at NCCA. For her, the highlight was working on the Project People initiative, Community4Connection.

Ott said a variety of community agencies, community members and volunteers joined forces to offer a full day of services to the homeless population in Regina. Services included foot care, dental cleaning, first aid, mental health and addictions counselling, street guides, clothing and hygiene items, legal aid, and more. Project People also ensured hot meals and child care were available.

“It was amazing to see everyone come together in one place for the community to provide accessibility to health services,” she said.

SASKATOON NURSING STUDENTS Andrea Collins and Jennifer Cowie were also profoundly affected by their community health placement experience. They worked with community partners to collaborate and provide outreach health services to the city’s core neighbourhood. Working closely with a diverse population allowed a direct insight into the broad determinants of health and gave them a more expansive view of nursing and community. One of the major projects that Collins and Cowie were involved with was the organization of a street health fair. More than 12 community agencies participated and it coincided with a free flu clinic and barbecue.

“Our vision was to create an atmosphere that welcomed people of the community to learn more about the different services available to them,” said Collins.

“Organizing the street health fair was a great experience. It introduced us to new people and community agencies and resources. Everyone was supportive to help make this happen,” Cowie added.

Working in the community was a great learning experience for Andrea Collins (left) and Jennifer Cowie.

Prince Albert nursing student Virginia Deobald participated in a community health senior practicum in Shellbrook, where she worked in both home care and public health. Deobald experienced the breadth of community nursing by participating in numerous health-related activities, from performing physical assessments to delivering health education presentations. The practicum also provided the opportunity to work as part of a health-care team, which Deobald valued most.

“Working as a team with other health-care professionals to promote best practices and positive changes in a community is just as important as the individual tasks and assessments we do,” she said.

IT IS THROUGH A STRONG

network of community health clinical placements that College of Nursing students can make practical, immediate contributions that improve the health of individuals and populations in various communities across Saskatchewan. These opportunities provide students with the challenges and rewards of making a difference and seeing the results first-hand. Community health nurses partner with people where they live, work, learn, meet and play to promote health. ■

GETTING OUT OF THE

CLASSROOM AND INTO THE

COMMUNITY

“It is very gratifying to see the positive impact that students can make on the agency or organization, its clients and, most importantly, the community it serves.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO

30 | US Spring 2012

Choosing to attend university is a life-changing decision. As a university student, you will

experience new things, meet new friends and develop the skills you need to be successful in your future career and throughout your life.

At the University of Saskatchewan, we take pride in the quality and diversity of our academic programs. We offer more than 100 undergraduate program options in 13 colleges. We also have excellent instructors; in fact, our professors have earned eight 3M National Teaching Fellowships. They care about you and your success, and they want to see you reach your academic goals.

Once you have received your university acceptance letter, your thoughts may turn to finding a place to live. At the U of S, students from across Canada and around the world choose to live in residence, such as in our stylish and modern new College Quarter development. More than 1,700 students currently live in residence,

and more than 600 additional beds are slated to open by early 2013. There are many benefits to living in residence, including making new friends, becoming part of a diverse and global community and living in the heart of campus, where trained staff members are available to offer students the support they need.

One of the great things about attending the U of S is that in addition to receiving a high‑quality education you can experience many things outside of the classroom. We offer a variety of enriching cultural, recreational and service‑learning experiences – everything from exciting Huskies games to the thought‑provoking Alternative Reading Week and our annual graduation powwow. Through our international exchange and study abroad programs, you can visit more than two dozen countries around the world, including Australia, China, France, Guatemala, India, Japan and Thailand. Whether you are in need of academic support,

student health and counselling

services or job or career advice, we

are here for you.

A benefit to attending the U of S

is that our warm and welcoming

university community is always

there to help you every step of

the way. If you have questions

about the U of S, a member of

our friendly Admissions and

Recruitment team would be happy

to speak with you.

Please call us at (306) 966‑5788 or

e‑mail us at admissions@usask.

ca. You can also read information

for prospective students online at

explore.usask.ca.

Congratulations on your decision

to attend the U of S! We look

forward to seeing you on our

campus.

Sincerely,

David Hannah, PhD

Associate Vice‑President

Student Affairs

A welcoming community awaits you at the U of S

We offer a variety of enriching experiences — everything from exciting Huskies games to the thought-provoking Alternative Reading Week and our annual graduation powwow.

US Spring 2012 | 31

Do you have questions? We have answers!

Contact our friendly Recruitment and Admissions team.

Recruitment and Admissions

University of Saskatchewan

105 Administration Place

Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A2

Canada

Tel: (306) 966-5788

Fax: (306) 966-2115

Email: admissions@usask.ca

Website: explore.usask.ca

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WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU AT ORIENTATION ON SEPT. 4.

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