Join the UPEI Alumni Association on Wednesday, March 27, 11:00 am-1:00 pm at W.A. Murphy Student Centre for Countdown to Convocation.

Find out more about grad week activities, alumni association benefits, post-graduate studies, scholarships, and more. Pre-order your degree frame for pick-up at convocation, by doing so, you'll receive a 10% discount! Convocation is a time for celebration, not stress-so come out and get your convocation questions answered and have the chance to win a Kobo eReader.

UPEI's Concert Choir will present their spring choral presentation 'This Shining Night' on Thursday, April 4 at 7:30 pm in UPEI's Dr. Steel Recital Hall. The audience will be treated to performances by the choir, under interim director Pamela Campbell and special guests-the Summerside Community Choir and Montague Regional High School Choir. Summerside conductor Mark Ramsay and Montague conductor Christie Beck are both alumni of the UPEI Music Department. In addition to directing their own choirs' performances, Ramsay and Beck will guest conduct the UPEI choir in Morten Lauridsen's 'Sure on This Shining Night' and Leonard Bernstein's 'Somewhere.' Also, appearing as guest conductor of 'Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day' will be alumnus Michael van der Gaag. A student conductor from the music department's choral techniques class will conduct the university choir in Eric Whitacre's 'The Seal Lullaby.' Collaborative pianist for the evening is Jeremy Gallant.

The UPEI Concert Choir's repertoire for 'This Shining Night' ranges from the boisterous French-Canadian folk song 'O-Yo-Yo' to 'In Remembrance' (Canadian composer Eleanor Daley's poignant setting of the Mary Elizabeth Frye poem 'Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep') to Aaron Copland's whimsical 'Ching-a-Ring Chaw.' The evening's finale finds the two guest choirs joining the UPEI Concert Choir for an intricate and moving arrangement of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah.'

Tickets for 'This Shining Night' are $10.00; $5.00 for seniors and students. For tickets & information contact music@upei.ca or 566-0507.

The UPEI women's basketball team is pleased to announce the commitment of top recruit Kiera Rigby for the 2013-14 season. She joins Candace Smith of Horton and Jessica Patenaude of Charlottetown Rural in what is shaping up to be a strong recruiting class.

'Kiera is one of the premier players in Atlantic Canada,' said UPEI head coach Greg Gould. 'She is very athletic, has excellent skills, a high basketball I.Q., and is a great team player. She will be able to step in right away and help take our program to the upper ranks of the Atlantic University Conference.'

Rigby has been a member of the PEI under 15 and under 17 provincial teams and has been named Basketball PEI player of the year four times. She was selected to attend the Canadian Women's Cadet team tryouts in 2010, 2011, and 2012.

'Kiera is a tremendous athlete who comes from a great basketball family,' said Gould. 'Her father Gordon was a standout at the University of New Brunswick, while her mother Eireann was a two-time UPEI Panther MVP, a three-time first team Atlantic University All-star, and a member of the 1997-98 AUS championship Panther team.

Rigby is not only accomplished on the basketball court but she also excels in the classroom where she maintains an academic average above 90%. She will be enrolling in the Bachelor of Science program and plans to major in chemistry.

'I am excited about the academic program that UPEI offers and look forward to getting a great education while pursuing my basketball goals,' she said.

Rigby has been fortunate to have had the benefit of a great high school coach in Chris Annett at Colonel Gray High School, in Charlottetown. In addition, she's been trained by UPEI assistant coach Kathy Murray who has helped develop her basketball skills and knowledge.

'I grew up watching the Panthers women's basketball team with my mom and grandfather who was a long-time Panther assistant coach,' said Rigby. 'I'm excited to be a Panther next season. The team is on a real upswing after several difficult years, and I feel fortunate to be a part of this new era of such an amazing program. I am looking forward to playing with my new teammates and working with Coach Gould and the rest of the coaching staff to improve my skills and make a positive contribution to the team.'

The Atlantic Book Awards Society released this week the shortlists for the 2013 Atlantic Book Awards. Among them, Riptides: New Island Fiction, edited by Richard Lemm, has been listed in the category for Best Atlantic-Published Book.

Dr. Lemm is a professor of English at the University of Prince Edward Island. Working with Acorn Press, Lemm issued an open call in 2011 for fiction from writers with a strong Island connection. The result was Riptides: New Island Fiction, a collection of 23 short stories, published by Acorn Press.

'This honour recognizes the emergence of talented fiction writers on PEI and that there is fictional life on the Island after L.M. Montgomery,' said Dr. Lemm. 'As well, the inclusion of UPEI faculty and graduates in the anthology is further evidence of this university as a place where excellence is nurtured and achieved.'

Among the authors in the collection are several writers from the UPEI community: Orysia Dawydiak (biomedical sciences), Malcolm Murray (philosophy), Alan Harrington (English), and a number of UPEI graduates including Melissa Carroll, Lisa-Marie Brunnen, Hannah Visser, and Dylan Riley.

'UPEI is extremely proud of Dr. Lemm and all of the UPEI writers who contributed to this excellent book,' said Dr. Robert Gilmour, Vice-President Research. 'It's exciting to see the culture of writing and creativity at UPEI being recognized in this way, which highlights the important role the university plays in the Island literary world.'

The Atlantic Book Awards are run by the Atlantic Book Awards Society: a non-profit organization with a mandate to promote and acknowledge excellence in Atlantic Canadian writing and book publishing. The 2013 Atlantic Book Award winners will be announced at a ceremony May 15 in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

The University of Prince Edward Island will confer four honorary degrees at this year's convocation ceremonies on May 11. Honorary graduands include business leader and volunteer Fred Hyndman; humanitarian and community activist Marie Burge; science educator and entrepreneur Regis Duffy; and environmental expert and researcher Diane Griffin.

The University's Senate approved the honorary graduands at a meeting earlier this year in accordance with University policy that states honorary doctorates of laws will be presented to individuals who display the highest levels of achievement in public and community service.

'I am pleased on behalf of UPEI to be presenting honourary degrees at this year's convocation to four distinguished individuals who have contributed to our university, our community, and to our country,' said UPEI Chancellor Bill Andrew. 'I believe that Marie Burge, Regis Duffy, Diane Griffin, and Fred Hyndman are outstanding individuals whose success has been matched with tremendous generosity and community service.'

Fred Hyndman, CM, managing director and CEO of Hyndman and Company Ltd., has made a significant contribution to the growth and success of the University over the past 10 years. Hyndman served as chair of the highly successful 'Building a Legacy' campaign for three years, and since 2006 was a member of the UPEI Board of Governors. Most recently, as board chair, he guided the University through its presidential transition when UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz assumed his role on July 1, 2011. Hyndman recently retired as chair on May 31, 2012. He is a member of the Order of Canada.

Marie Burge is a founding member and CEO of Cooper Institute of PEI where she works to advance its vision of empowering groups and individuals who are involved in social change. For over 40 years she has served disadvantaged individuals and families and continues to motivate communities to action. Burge is an alumna of St. Dunstan's University and has taught at UPEI as a sessional lecturer. She has also collaborated with the University on many research initiatives and projects. Burge was awarded the Order of Prince Edward Island award in 1998.

Dr. Regis Duffy, CM, is a UPEI success story. The St. Dunstan's University alumnus was the founding dean of science when the University was incorporated in 1969, and oversaw the melding of science educators and researchers from two institutions into one faculty. He is also Board Chair emeritus of the UPEI Board of Governors. Branching out from his work at UPEI, he became a leader in the PEI business community through his entrepreneurial endeavours-most notably with his first company, Diagnostic Chemicals, (DCL). As founding chair of the PEI BioAlliance, a sector-based bioscience consortium, Duffy was instrumental in assisting other companies to establish themselves in PEI. Through DCL and his more recent venture, BioVectra Inc., a remarkable number of UPEI and Holland College students have received valuable private-sector work experience in their chosen fields. Duffy is a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Prince Edward Island.

Diane Griffin is a graduate of UPEI and St. Dunstan's University, a former PEI Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, and is currently the PEI program manager of the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Griffin is passionate about preserving and protecting the environment, and is the recipient of many environmental awards. Griffin is also committed to volunteer work and has numerous publications and papers which she presents on a wide range of topics including agricultural and trade policies, eco-economics, national forest strategy, natural heritage, and protection and conservation. She is currently a councillor for the Town of Stratford. Griffin received the Order of Prince Edward Island in 2010.

The Convocation ceremonies will take place in the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre at 10:00 am and 2:30 pm, Saturday, May 11. Hyndman will address the morning convocation while Duffy will address the afternoon ceremony.

UPEI Athletics and Recreation celebrated their 44th year this evening by recognizing their student athletes at the annual UPEI Athletics Awards ceremony held in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre. The Alumni Athletes of the Year Awards went to field hockey's Marina MacAulay and Jimmie Mayaleh from men's soccer.

'We are very proud of all of our UPEI Panther student-athletes,' said UPEI Director of Athletics and Recreation Bill Schurman. 'It is a real challenge to balance performance in the classroom and high performance sport. This evening we recognized everyone's efforts as well as those who rose above and achieved even greater success.'

MacAulay began her career with the Panthers by being named AUS Rookie of the Year and ended the season strong as a CIS second team All-Canadian.

'MacAulay is a skilled and determined athlete with the ability to quietly lead her team by example,' said UPEI Field Hockey Head Coach Sheila Bell.'During her final year, she adapted to playing a new position with ease, making a difficult position look effortless. Playing in the middle of the field, she controlled the play and forced the opposition to be aware of her at all times,' added Bell.

MacAulay demonstrates the ideal combination of mental and physical strength which allows her to perform her best under pressure. As captain, she demonstrated a great work ethic as well as empathy to her team and earned great respect on and off the field.

Jimmie Mayaleh, a fifth-year senior, was one of soccer's best. He finished the 2012 regular season tied for third in the league in scoring and tied for third in the league in overall points. He was a first team AUS All Star and a CIS second team All-Canadian. He is the one threat every other AUS coach talks about. One AUS coach was quoted: 'We knew if we stopped Jimmie, we would win the game.'

'Mayaleh is a tireless worker who sets a great example for the younger players. He loves the game of soccer and his passion and enthusiasm will be missed next year,' said UPEI men's soccer Head Coach Lewis Page. 'It was a pleasure to have him for five years at UPEI, and I'm proud of what Jimmie has achieved in his time with the program.'

The J.T. 'Mickey' Place Awards were also presented to student-athletes who have made a contribution to student leadership on their team and on campus. John Thomas 'Mickey' Place was connected not only with Athletics at UPEI, but with all aspects of campus life. He believed in fair play and that through respect for one's opponent, an athlete could gain the ultimate respect for themselves. These awards are provided by the Student Union in his memory. The winners from each team include:

First-and second-year engineering students worked with clients on real-life challenges, and had the opportunity to show off their design skills at the annual UPEI Engineering Design Expo and Awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 3.

First-year engineering students worked with the Island farming community to find ways in which they could improve systems and machinery used by small, mixed farming businesses on PEI. The groups produced a range of simple solutions to problems in energy use, building design, and farm equipment. The project prototypes were based on discussions the groups had earlier in the semester with Island farmers and representatives.

Second-year engineering students worked with the following clients on various engineering issues: Laurie MacDuffee, Atlantic Veterinary College; Bill Whelan, Canada Research Chair in Biophysical Optics, UPEI; Bill Montelpare, McCain Research Chair, UPEI; Alan and Travis Burland, Green Island Getaways; Alan Brown, Camp Gencheff; Raymond Loo, Springwillow Farms; Mike Cassidy, Maritime Waste Services; and Robert Bertram, Vector Aerospace.

Kelsey Baker, Andrew Doiron, Connor O'Neill, and Travis Speelman worked with Whelan to develop a hand-held package to house an optical sensor for the early detection of bovine mastitis, an inflammatory infection often found in the udder tissue of dairy cows. Whelan asked the group to come up with a means to hold a particularly delicate new research sensor his lab has developed so that it could be used on a live cow in a real-life barn setting.

Baker truly enjoyed working hands-on with a client to solve an actual engineering problem. 'I found it extremely beneficial that Dr. Whelan was right here on campus; he always found time to meet with us, and attend our presentations,' she said. Speelman also pointed out the importance of group work and honing in on each member's specific skill-set.

'Our engineering program has developed into one which enables students to explore the key skills needed by today's engineers-understanding complicated problems and developing innovative design solutions,' said Andrew Trivett, associate professor and chair of UPEI's engineering department. 'Students who have mastered these skills are on their way to reshaping the future. We are proud of the ability our students show to develop practical and sensible solutions that go beyond the classroom.'

'It's really nerve-wracking to meet with a client, especially for the first time. It makes you step up your professionalism and maturity level,' said Nathan Palmer, fourth-year chemistry student who is also working towards his engineering diploma. 'It forces you to think about what you're going to be like in the future and how you'll present yourself in your engineering career.' Palmer's group worked with Vector Aerospace to assemble and rivet sealing rings for a particular engine component in rebuilt jet engines, an area where the client wishes to improve on speed and efficiency.

Other student groups also came up with innovative prototypes for their clients, including a device to reduce or eliminate nicking or scarring of bones during surgery, a novel dynamic impact device for school children to show the effect of head impact in sports, a sustainable ventilation system, a method for safe mobility, a commercial dandelion harvester, and a waste-sorting and storage container.

The student groups had roughly six months to meet, plan, build, analyze, and present their prototypes to their clients. The Expo then provided a venue to display projects to community members and industry professionals. Engineers PEI judged the projects and presented an award to the team that best demonstrated a high level of professionalism, understanding of the client's problem, and an ability to effectively explain their designs to the general community.

Award Winners

On Monday, March 25, UPEI students-Sara Ashnaei, Honeylyn T. Gubalane, Bita Saffary, and Yuki Lee-organized a film showing of 'Education Under Fire,' a documentary on the decades-long persecution endured by Iran's Bahá'í which featured interviews with members of the community and human rights activists. Members of the university community and the general public attended to show support for education equality.

Sara and Honeylyn welcomed the crowd and introduced the international campaign addressing the Iranian government's continued denial of the right to higher education to its citizens. A brief overview was given in relation to how the Iranian government systematically excludes individuals from pursuing their education as a form of punishment for exercising their right to freedom of expression.

UPEI's Dean of Education Dr. Miles Turnbull spoke and emphasized Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which confirms that everyone has the right to education and education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial, or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

'UPEI must advocate for, and speak out against, violations of the UN's Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Women and children, especially, are being denied access to education in many parts of the world and for many different reasons including gender and religion. This is just plain wrong.'

The documentary's compelling story of the Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) also depicted rare historical footage. Parisa B. who is a former BIHE student also shared her story to support the campaign of 'Education Under Fire,' as it is vital for the academic community and universities across Canada to be aware of the Iranian government's actions.

The event ended with hopes that the Canadian government will continue to take immediate steps to end all efforts to deny Iranian citizens, of whatever background and religion, access to higher education and to allow members of the Bahá'í community, and any others so deprived, the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills that will allow them to contribute more fully to the betterment of Iran and the world.

The event was sponsored by UPEI's Faculty of Education. UPEI professors, students, and members of Canada's academic community are invited to add their names to the open letter to the Iranian government. If you wish to add your name, please send an email with your name, title, and affiliation to gfilson@cdnbnc.org.

View the open letter by visiting http://educationunderfire.com/Open-Letter-from-Canadian-Academics.pdf

UPEI's Master of Arts in Island Studies (MAIS) recently recognized two professors as Island Studies Teaching Fellows-Dr. Palanisamy Nagarajan and Dr. Barry Bartmann. Both have been instrumental to the program in the public eye and behind the scenes.

'This honorific title [Island Studies Teaching Fellow] was created to recognize the long-term, high-quality teaching and mentorship provided to students by dedicated faculty. I can't think of anyone who is more deserving of this honour than Drs. Nagarajan and Bartmann,' said Dr. Jim Randall, Coordinator of the MAIS program.

Dr. Nagarajan has provided a reputable public face to the island studies program through regular and thought-provoking contributions to local media that assess what kind of society and economy we collectively envisage for our future. Nagarajan is a long-time member of the economics department at UPEI and is an emeritus professor. In his over 40 years of teaching at UPEI, and before that, at St. Dunstan's University, Nagarajan has taught courses in all major areas of economics, including graduate courses on public finance, advanced macroeconomics, and economic development strategies for small islands.

He maintains a regular interest in the transformations of the PEI economy and in the state of developing countries with a special focus on fiscal systems and trade. His more recent concerns have dealt with sustainability and sustainable development strategies from interdisciplinary perspectives and systems analysis, particularly for small islands economies. In this journey that spans almost half a century, he describes his transition and conversion to an ecological economist. He has been a vocal advocate of the island studies program, a member of its steering committee, and he has vocally championed the MAIS program and continues to support it through teaching and mentoring thesis students.

Dr. Bartmann is known for aiding in the development of the MAIS program over the past two decades as it was the academic entrepreneur and creative thinker in him who recognized three discrete but inter-related niches waiting to be tapped, and that UPEI was well-placed to seek and consolidate leadership in all three areas-the emergence of an optimistic school for the development prospects of small jurisdictions, the recognition of the North Atlantic as a region, and the birth of island studies as a legitimate area for academic research and teaching.

In 1999, during his role as chair of the political studies department at UPEI, an island studies minor was introduced, and in 2003, a master of arts and a dedicated Canada Research Chair in island studies was introduced. He is a recognized authority on sub-national island jurisdictions and the international relations of small (or micro) states. Bartmann has been pivotal to the MAIS program offering two courses annually, serving on the steering committee, and mentoring thesis students.

Congratulations to Dr. Palanisamy Nagarajan and Dr. Barry Bartmann!

Two UPEI students, Alexandra Thompson and Jennifer White, took part in a cultural trip to Sri Lanka through the University of Prince Edward Island's Department of Fine Arts. The following relates some of their insights and experiences.