CUC Students Run New Summer Program at Hobbema

A team of eight CUC students have been hired by the Alberta Conference to run a new and innovative summer program for children in Hobbema.  Thus far the team has been leading weekly worship services, presented a Week of Prayer, and presented 4 full-day "nature excursions" for children ages 4-15.  The team will soon present four different Vacation Bible School programs that will run from the last week in June to the middle of August.

The team consists of Craig Edwards, YaYa Flores, Matt Edwards, Janelle Mutya, Chantal Leotaud, Sharon Baragona, Sapphire Woods, Zurty Flores and Ted Merceus.  "The impact these young people have had in Hobbema has been great," says Peter Ford, pastor for the Hobbema area.  "God is blessing them and the children they are ministering to!"

The summer ministries team has already been invited to Yellowknife and Lethbridge to minister to First Nations youth in those areas.

PAA Class of 2012 Celebrates Graduation

Parkview Adventist Academy honoured this year's graduating class of 38 seniors with a full weekend of special services culminating with Commencement Sunday morning, May 27.  A copy of the program with a list of the graduates can be found here.

PAA Chaplain Steve Reasor spoke for the Sabbath morning service.  Tracy Ganson spoke Sunday for Commencement and titled her talk, "Oh, What Will Become of Me!"

President of the Class of 2012 is Ali McKay.  The group's aim is, "No God; no peace.  Know God; know peace."  Its motto, "You're off to great places! Today is your day!  Your mountain is waiting, so . . . get on your way!"

Students Enjoy Visit to Galapagos Islands

Thirteen CUC students and 4 faculty members recently returned from a study tour that took them to the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador and the Amazon basin.  "Because the biodiversity of Ecuador is unparalleled it is hailed as nature's paradise on earth," said Dr. Paul Ramalingam, Professor of Biology, and one of the tour leaders.  "From the sea coast to the Andean mountains which feed the Amazon basin, the natural beautiy of every part of the country is a visual feast!"

Joining Dr. Ramalingam to lead the tour were Dr. Tennyson Samraj, Professor of Philosophy, Dr. Laurence Wong, Professor of Biochemistry, and Dr. Richard Bottomley, Professor of Physics and Business .   

Dr. Ramalingam reports, "The students and the faculty had a marvellous time that included river boat journeys to visit the Siona Indian community, observing the native medicine man, swimming in a lagoon, piranha fishing, playing with the pocket monkey (the world's smallest monkey), observing the colorful macaws resting on high branches while an anaconda with a full belly slept nearby on the bank of the river."

"As anticipated the Galapagos Islands, also known as the Enchanted Islands, offered

dramatically different ecosystems," said Ramalingam.  All are volcanic islands and 30% of the fauna and flora are endemic species.

Some of the interesting life forms students observed on the Galapagos Islands were: Tortoises, lava lizards, iguanas of land and marine ecosystems, Scalesia forests, sea lions, dolphins giving company to the sea cruise during the island hopping,  blue-footed boobies, red pouched frigate birds nesting on the islands, and, as expected, finches in numerous habitats.

"Hiking the slope of a volcano to see the 11 km diameter crater of the Sierra Negra, swimming with iguanas, and perhaps at a distance with a few reef sharks, are just a few of the unforgettable moments our students experienced," said Ramalingam.  Students' investigations ranged from medicinal drugs from the plants of Amazon to conservation of Amazon-Galapagos ecosystems.

Chamber Singers Win First Place in Provincial Choral Festival

Canadian University College's Chamber Singers, under the direction of Dr. Wendolin Munroe, won first place in its division (ages 19 and up) at the Alberta Music Festival Association's Choral Festival in Edmonton, May 10-12.   The group also received the Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival Scholarship and the Alberta Music Festival Association Plaque.  The adjudicator commended Chamber Singers for their lovely tone, expressiveness and also for being well prepared.

Faculty and Staff Clean Up a Portion of Highway 2A

Recently a small group of faculty and staff picked up trash along Highway 2A.  Under the direction of Ron Schafer, associate professor of physical education, CUC has since 1992 been responsible for trash patrol from where Highway 2A intersects the C&E Trail south to Visions Trucking.  "We are supposed to do it at least once a year but they recommend twice a year," explained Schafer.  "We usually do it twice a year and I try to pick up big items, such as boxes and tires as I see them throughout the year."

 

Dr. Otieno Receives Excellence in Teaching Award

Dr. Peter Otieno, assistant professor of chemistry, is this year's recipient of Canadian University College's Excellence in Teaching Award.  Shown below are remarks made by Dr. Joy Fehr, vice president for academic administration, when she presented Dr. Otieno with his award during the commencement program Sunday, April 22.

Dr. Joy Fehr presents Dr. Peter Otieno with this year's Excellence in
Teaching Award.

When Rank & Tenure Committee met to select this year’s recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award, the committee was impressed by the overwhelming response of students. We received more nominations and more teachers were nominated this year than in any other previous year.

In a typical year, 8-10 teachers are nominated and 25-30 nominations are received.  In contrast, this year, 85 nominations were submitted and 26 teachers were nominated. 

As the Rank and Tenure Committee, of which I am chair, reviewed each nomination, I was moved by the many, detailed descriptions of excellence in teaching exhibited by faculty on our campus.  At several points during the selection process, I paused to exclaim how honoured I was to work with such great teachers.

Unfortunately, there can only be one recipient per year of the Excellence in Teaching Award.  After much deliberation and careful consideration the Rank and Tenure Committee selected Dr. Peter Otieno.

You can read Dr. Otieno’s biography in the graduation program.  This morning I wish to take a few moments to share with you what some of his students said about him when they nominated him for this award. 

• Dr. Otieno represents an ideal Christian professor. Throughout the semester, Dr. Otieno works more than a student. His office is always open at night, and he takes care of students like his own children. 
• Dr. Otieno is a brilliant teacher on many accounts.  His teaching style is very coherent, concise, and thorough.  He is always prepared for class and his organizational skills are top notch.
• Dr. Otieno helps students anytime without any complaints, but with a great smile on his face. He is very patient with students, has the best qualities for being an excellent professor, and is also a person I’d like to become.
• Dr. Otieno is the fairest yet most difficult teacher I have. I am forced to work extremely hard in his class, because he always wants more from students and always covers every scrap of material in the textbook. Dr. Otieno is insanely enthusiastic in class and is able to keep everyone paying attention. He is not a teacher who works to get paid, but a teacher who works to see students learn.
•  Dr. Otieno is an excellent teacher.  He is outstanding at conveying relevant information and happily provides chances for clarification if he’s unclear. I love that he explains not only the what, but also the why.  As a student, I am motivated to do well in his class.  I also love his natural incorporation of Christ in class.  I never thought he could use Chemistry to illustrate the bible or illustrate Chemistry using the bible. He often pauses just to remind us how amazing our heavenly Father is. Prayer is just something you expect at the beginning of every class at CUC, but I like it that Dr. Otieno asks the students to pray at times as well, though he never pressures someone who is uncomfortable. I feel that Dr. Otieno truly cares about me as a person and genuinely wants me to do well.  This is why I nominate him for the Excellence in Teaching Award.

Clearly, Peter, you are a teacher who inspires, motivates, and encourages students.  Your work on this campus positively impacts our students’ lives.  Thus, I am pleased and honoured this morning to present Canadian University College’s 2012 Excellence in Teaching Award to you.  Congratulations!

Report from the Road:

Orchestra Crosses Border and Returns to Canada Without Incident

The President's Page Blog is pleased Kendra Hill, a 3rd-year Biology major from Lacombe, has agreed to submit regular updates as CUC's orchestra tours and performs through BC, Washington, Oregon and California.  

(Monday, April 30)

Tonight is our final night of tour, sadly enough. The last couple of days have been spent on the road. On Sunday we drove through three states, all the way from Sacramento to Twin Falls, Idaho.  At least ten hours were spent on the bus that day, and we entertained ourselves with everything from sleeping to bracelet braiding. We stayed in Twin Falls that night, and refreshed ourselves for more driving the next day. It's amazing how tiring sitting all day can be. 

This morning, we had a fairly early start, but stopped to admire the magnificent canyon of Twin Falls. There were even some parachuters getting their adrenaline rush by jumping from the bridge. 

Today’s drive was not quite as long as Sunday’s, but we still covered a lot of ground. The scenery through Montana was beautiful. We have witnessed so many distinct ecosystems during this trip; it’s really quite remarkable.  

We ended our days drive in Great Falls, Montana, and booked into our hotel for the night. Tomorrow brings the border crossing, and we anticipate some difficulties due to the numerous missing ID’s. If all goes according to plan, we are set to arrive on campus in the late afternoon.

(Tuesday, May 1) 

All’s well that ends well. The orchestra has made it safely back to CUC! None of our fears for the border were realized, and everything went as smoothly as it possibly could. As we crossed into Canada, the entire bus broke into the national anthem. After a stop in Calgary for food, we pulled onto campus at 6:00

. 

Everyone is quite tired from the last two weeks of being on the road. But, it was a worthwhile two weeks, and the group has bonded through it. Now life begins again, and it’s back to work, summer school, or whatever else the summer has in store. I would like to thank everyone who was on tour or who supported us along the way. It takes everyone to make a tour successful, and despite the theft, it was successful. A special thanks goes to our conductor, Jennifer Penner, for a great year. She will be sorely missed.