UPEI men's basketball guard Deontay (D.J.) Smith of North Preston, N.S., was named the Atlantic University Sport rookie of the year for the 2012-13 season during the conference banquet on February 28 in Halifax, N.S.

Smith finished fifth in league scoring with 17.3 points per game and started all 20 games. He was also named an AUS first team all-star, finished second in the conference for assists (4.4 per game) and seventh in league rebounding with seven per game. He reached double figures in 18 of 20 games this season, including eight 20-plus point efforts.

'We are very proud of D.J. here at UPEI,' said head coach Tim Kendrick. 'We knew we were getting a very good basketball player and an even better young man. He has done everything that has been asked of him, and more!'

Smith will represent the conference as the AUS nominee for the Dr. Peter Mullins trophy at the CIS awards ceremony.

The AUS first and second all-stars were announced during the ceremony, along with this year's all-rookie team. Smith was the only Panther announced as a first team all-star, while Smith and teammate Mandrez Downey (also from North Preston) were named to the all-rookie team.

Congratulations to D.J. and Mandrez!

UPEI alumnus Bob Hanf will present 'Leadership, A Call to Service' on Tuesday, March 5, 1:00-2:15 pm in the Duffy Science Centre, Room 135, as part of the University 100 Vern Smitheram and Andy Robb Leadership Development Series-Winter 2013.

Hanf was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Nova Scotia Power Inc. in January 2013. Prior to his new position at Nova Scotia Power, Bob was Executive Chairman, Light and Power Holdings, and Director, Barbados Light & Power; Chief Legal Officer for Emera Inc. and Chief Executive Officer of Bangor Hydro; General Counsel for Emera and its affiliates; and was Partner with the law firm McCarthy Tétrault LLP.

A native of Nova Scotia, Hanf is a graduate of Dalhousie University Law School and is currently completing his master of divinity at the Atlantic School of Theology. He obtained his bachelor of arts in philosophy from the University of Prince Edward Island.

The University 100 Vern Smitheram and Andy Robb Leadership Development Series-Winter 2013, on the theme of 'Leadership, A Call to Service' is an opportunity to engage students and the community in important conversations about the theory and practice of leadership.

For more information, contact Inge Dorsey, University 100, at idorsey@upei.ca

Nadine Haddad & Morgan Wagner: Sing me a Story - Two Junior Recitals originally scheduled for Sunday, March 3, at 7:30 pm, Dr. Steel Recital Hall is postponed to Thursday, March 21, at 7:30 pm, due to illness.

The UPEI Department of Music Recital Series presents a recital featuring third-year students Nadine Haddad, soprano, and Morgan Wagner, soprano, assisted by Frances McBurnie, piano. The recital program will include works by J. S. Bach, Enrique Granados, Henry Purcell, Richard Strauss, Gioacchino Rossini, Antonio Vivaldi, and Hugo Wolf, as well as traditional and jazz selections.

UPEI percussionist Branden Kelly will present his senior recital 'Percussion Works' on Friday, March 8 at 7:30 pm at UPEI's Dr. Steel Recital Hall.

Kelly, a Cornwall native in his fourth year of his bachelor of music education degree, has enjoyed many successful performances over the past few years. He was one of two PEI representatives in the 2012 Canadian National Youth Band. He was a Rose Bowl finalist at the PEI Kiwanis Music Festival in June 2012, and was also selected to perform at the Indian River Music Festival that year.

Most recently in January, he placed first in the UPEI Music Performance Competition. Kelly can also be seen performing as the principal percussionist of the UPEI Wind Symphony and as second chair percussionist with the PEI Symphony Orchestra.

The recital will feature works from notable percussion composers Paul Smadbeck, Elliot Carter, and Steve Reich. Among the highlights, Kelly will perform Ney Rosauro's Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra-one of the most famous marimba concertos to date. Kelly will be accompanied by pianist Morgan Saulnier, Aaron Ellis on marimba, and members of the UPEI percussion ensemble. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.

For more information, contact music@upei.ca or (902) 566-0507.

The second event of the UPEI student conference series-'Difficult Dialogues'-takes place on Thursday, March 14, 5:30-7:00 pm in AVC Lecture Theatre A.

The event will feature a screening of the short film 'Toilet Training'-a documentary following several transgendered people as they talk about the struggles they had growing up as transgendered-as well as a presentation by guest speaker Greg Howard, Executive Director of the PEI Human Rights Commission, a panel discussion involving four people with a variety of transgender experiences, and a question and answer period, followed by a reception.

The evening aims to build awareness and education about transgender experiences generally, and on PEI specifically, and is organized by UPEI student Jay Jonah and sponsored by Webster Academic Services, UPEI Rainbow Alliance, UPEI Action Committee on Sexual and Gender Diversity, UPEI Women's Studies, and the PEI Human Rights Commission.

For more information, contact Jay Jonah at jjonah@upei.ca or Ann Braithwaite at (902) 628-4312 or abraithwaite@upei.ca.

UPEI's Deontay (D.J.) Smith was named Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Rookie of the Year today in an official release by the CIS. Smith will be presented with the Dr. Peter Mullins Trophy-CIS Rookie of the Year at the All-Canadians Awards Presentation on March 9 in Ottawa, Ontario.

Smith, a native of North Preston, Nova Scotia is the first UPEI athlete to receive the honour and only the second from the AUS conference. Smith also received a nod to the all-rookie All-Canadian team and was dubbed the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Rookie of the Year for the 2012-13 season during the conference banquet held on February 28 in Halifax.

The UPEI guard finished fifth in league scoring with 17.3 points per game and started all 20 games. He was also named an AUS first team all-star, finished second in the conference for assists (4.4 per game) and seventh in league rebounding with seven per game. He reached double figures in 18 of 20 games this season, including eight 20-plus point efforts.

'We are very proud of D.J. for receiving the AUS Rookie of the Year award, but adding the CIS national award is a step greater and such a thrill for him and the team,' said Tim Kendrick, UPEI Head Coach. 'For UPEI to have a player like D.J. as part of the men's basketball team, it's a true honour. He's a real tribute to himself, he's a great basketball player, and a fine young man.'

UPEI congratulates D.J. on this impressive national award!

UPEI music department faculty and guests will present 'Low Brass Extravaganza' on Sunday, March 10 at 2:30 pm at UPEI's Dr. Steel Recital Hall. Professor Greg Irvine has invited his friends and colleagues in the low brass world to join him for this afternoon concert.

The recital will feature special guest Michael Grose from the University of Oregon on tuba, Bob Nicholson (bass trombone and tuba), Dale Sorensen (trombone and euphonium), and Francois Godere (trombone and euphonium). The brass players will be accompanied by pianists Frances Gray and Fran McBurnie. Tickets are $15/$10 for students and seniors.

For tickets and information, contact music@upei.ca or 566-0507.

Canada lost one of its most patriotic citizens, and the University of Prince Edward Island one of its most colourful honorary degree recipients with the passing of musical icon Stompin' Tom Connors, OC, LLD, LittD, at the age of 77 years on March 6. UPEI was pleased to present Dr. Connors with an honorary doctor of laws in 2002.

The University extends its sincere condolences to his wife Lena, two sons, two daughters, and several grandchildren.

'The entire UPEI community is saddened to learn of Stompin' Tom's passing,' said UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. 'We have lost a musical treasure, a man whose name is synonymous with the Maritimes, and whose memorable and quintessential Canadian songs will be his great legacy to future generations. On behalf of UPEI, I offer my deepest sympathies to his family and legions of friends and fans.'

Connors was an Officer of the Order of Canada, and received many other accolades including his own Canadian postage stamp, the Governor-General's Performing Arts Award, and the Queen's gold and diamond jubilee medals. He also earned honorary degrees from Saint Thomas University and the University of Toronto.

Born Thomas Charles Connors in Saint John, NB and raised from an early age by foster parents in Skinners Pond, PEI, Connors lived for most of his adult years in Peterborough, Ontario-a public celebration of his life will take place in Peterborough on March 13.

Everyone at UPEI hopes Stompin' Tom will always be 'rollin' down the highway smilin'.'

Ashley MacDonald is a well known name to UPEI women's rugby. UPEI is excited to announce that the former Panther is coming back to the University to take on the role of assistant coach for the UPEI women's rugby team for the 2013 season.

As a Panther, MacDonald was an AUS all star and AUS Rookie of the Year. In 2005, she was a CIS All-Canadian and for the next two years, she was granted the same honour when she played rugby for the University of Lethbridge.

'Having Ashley's experience and expertise will greatly add to the refinement of technical skills for the UPEI team-especially in the front row,' said Shannon Atkins, Head Coach of the UPEI women's rugby team. 'Her passion and drive are second to none not only in the sport of rugby, but in the heart and soul of the Panther program. I cannot think of anyone who would be a better asset to the program. The whole team is anxious for her arrival.'

MacDonald has been playing rugby for over 10 years, in PEI, across the country, and around the world. She has been at two Canada West Championships, two CIS National Championships, and has received numerous awards including three CIS All-Canadian awards, four CIS Academic All-Canadian awards, and five Conference All Star awards.

The highest honour for any athlete is to represent their country, and MacDonald has worn the red and white uniform on a number of occasions. In 2010, she was a member of the World Cup Team, and this past summer, she represented Canada at the Senior Women's Nations Cup where she competed against teams from England, South Africa, and the United States.

'I'm very excited to be joining the UPEI Rugby coaching staff for the upcoming season. I'm looking forward to help build a program that allows talented young athletes to develop and excel at a sport we all love,' said MacDonald. 'Varsity sport at UPEI opened so many doors for me, and I'm thankful to have the opportunity to give back to the program which is so near and dear to my heart.'

Congratulations and welcome back, Ashley!

UPEI's executive MBA (EMBA) program and the PEI Business Women's Association are partnering on an event which focuses on workplace bullying. The presentation and networking event takes place on Wednesday, March 13, 5:00-7:00 pm in Schurman Market Square, Don and Marion McDougall Hall.

Jodi Murphy, a UPEI EMBA graduate and teacher with the Prince Edward Island English Language School Board will share her research findings on the current state of workplace bullying in Canada and the implications that this issue has on organizations. Some of her findings include the costs associated with workplace bullying, which come from loss of productivity, legal settlements, and loss of good employees who have been bullied and chose to leave the organization. Workplace bullying has negative effects on the target of bullying, the other employees who witness the incidents, the organization as a whole, and some believe there are societal consequences as well.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend. For more information on the event, or UPEI's executive MBA program, contact Grace McCourt at (902) 566-6474 or mba@upei.ca