Gentlemen Enjoy Ladies Open House

The annual event most enjoyed by CUC's male students, Ladies Open House, was held Sunday evening, October 28.  Presented by the dorm club Pneuma Limnes Theorius (PLT), the event's theme was, "I Spy."  Rooms were judged by Keith and Bernie Leavitt and Stacy Hunter.

This year's PLT officers are: 

• Daniel Kim - President
• Harrison Chokka - Vice President for Communications
• Abraham Samudio - Director of Video Media
• Makeva Dawkins - Pastor
• Randy Adusei - Director of Design and Distribution
• Dane Alexandre-Forde and Cara Boyce - Resident Assistant Support
• Shannan Blabey - Sponsor

In addition to the PLT officers other students who helped make the event possible were: Adriel  Salehiparast (Games), Kerra Chappell, Julia Loxdale and Angela McKenna (Food) and

Brian Cruz and Ashley Rosary who helped clean up and wash dishes.

Several "boys against the girls" games were played at the Open House, with the victorious team winning the right to be the gender that did the asking out for the PLT Banquet, November 25.  The men won and will be doing the asking. 

CUC Teams Face Tough Competition in ACAL Volleyball

Both the men's and women's team have faced tough opposition in this year's Alberta Colleges Athletic League volleyball season.  With only four more games until the tournament, the Aurora Men are 4-4, and the Aurora Ladies are 3-4.  Stats from all games played can be found here.

The Alberta Colleges Athletic League volleyball division consists of the Ambrose University College Lions, the Olds College Broncos, St. Mary's University College Lightning, the Prairie Bible College Pilots, and Canadian University College's Aurora.

Our ladies' team is again coached this year by Tim McLenahan, assisted by Glen Bluett.  The team captain is Katelyn Hutton.  The Aurora Ladies' leading scorer thus far this season, with 15 kills, is Marissa Clark.

The mens' team is coached this year by Shanon Hedgecock, assisted by John Masigan.   The team captain is Kyle Harrison.  Leading the men in scoring thus far with 40 kills is Chad Kelloway.

Benefit Concert Supports Hobbema Mission

A benefit concert featuring student musicians raised $2688 for Mamawi Atosketan Native School in Hobbema.  The concert, held Friday evening, October 19 in the College Heights SDA Church, was organized by Jessica Hall, Campus Ministries worship coordinator and emceed by Craig Edwards, a 3rd year Biology major from Whitby, ON, and Sharon Baragona, a 3rd year General Studies major from Edmonton.

"We are so grateful for the connection of service and care that has developed between CUC, the College Heights SDA Church and our work in Hobbema," said Peter Ford, pastor of the Adventist church in Hobbema.  "CUC students are inspiring mentors to the young people at our school."

Several Canadian University College students regularly volunteer their time and talent at weekly Sabbath School and Church  services held on the reservation.  (More information about this can be found here.)  "We are just blessed by the attitude of Christ shown by the young men and women of Canadian University College toward the ministry in Hobbema," said Ford.

Peter Ford, pastor of the Maskwachees Seventh-day Adventist Church,
coordinates the volunteer work CUC students do at Hobbema.

CUC Professor Edits Book on Madaba Plains Project

Dr. Larry Herr, professor of religious studies, is one of four editors of the recently-published book, The Madaba Plains Project: Forty Years of Archaeological Research in Jordan's Past.  Joining Dr. Herr in editing the 325-page volume published by Equinox Publishing were Dr. Douglas Clark from La Sierra University, Dr. Oystein S. LaBianca from Andrews University, and Dr. Randall Younker, also from Andrews University.

The book was recently very positively reviewed in the Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research  by respected archaeologist Dr. Piotr Bienkowski.  "The Madaba Plains Project has left a huge footprint on the archaeology of Jordan and the Middle East in general," wrote Bienkowski.  "Without it, we would all be working in a different way and with a poorer set of theoretical models.  This book justly celebrates those achievements and explains how they came about."  Bienkowski's full review can be found here.

The Madaba Plains Project is one of the longest-lived, continuously running archaeological excavation projects in the Middle East. Spanning four decades, the project, with its beginnings at Tall Hisban in the late sixties, has engaged 1,500 participants, produced scores of publications and spawned a dozen other projects.  Dr. Herr has been involved with the project since 1984, making 15 trips to Jordan to work at various sites.

Students Learn About AU's MBA Program
  
The School of Business hosted a presentation about Andrews University's MBA program last Thursday evening. Laura Johnston, the marketing and recruitment coordinator for Andrews University's School of Business, shared with a group of 20 students a delicious falafel supper and information about graduate programs in business.   "I thoroughly enjoyed meeting CUC students," said Johnston.  "My visit here has proven to be a valuable experience and I hope to return each year."

Sisters of Soul Raises Funds for Breast Cancer Research

Canadian University College's annual Sisters of Soul Concert, held Saturday night, October 13 in the Administration Building Chapel raised $740 for breast cancer research.  Trish King, from the Canadian Cancer Society was present to accept a cheque and additional funds that were contributed after the cheque was printed.  King expressed her great appreciation for the Sisters of Soul event and said she "can't wait for next year's concert."

"The evening was a huge success," said Bernie Leavitt, one of the event's organizers.  "The sisters of soul sang, signed, and played their hearts out!"  From Jessica Hall's curtain opener, Don't Rain On My Parade, to the powerful final number (There Can Be Miracles) When You Believe, by sisters Saida Belonio and Marcia Blanco, the girls held us captivated with their humour, high spirits, passion, and outstanding talent, said Leavitt. 

The first Sisters Of Soul event was held in 1999 as a benefit concert for breast cancer awareness and research.  It was organized by CUC music major, Rhanda Bonet-Graham, who at the age of 12 lost her mother to breast cancer.  Rhanda and her friends held an annual Sisters of Soul event for five years.  After Rhanda graduated the event was not held for several years. Thanks to encouragement from previous CUC president Dr. Andrea Luxton, the benefit concert was brought back and has been held annually since 2007.

Melina Potts, Nicole Thorp, Mariel Machar, Kayleigh McMann, Kayla Fitch, Danielle Aka, Annina Engelbrecht and Laura Kozak perform at the recent Sisters of Soul Benefit Concert.

SERVUS and City of Lacombe Partner with CUC to Present Concert Series 

SERVUS Credit Union and the City of Lacombe have joined Canadian University College and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts in supporting the Sunday@7 Concert Series.  "Support from our new partners will allow us to continue improving and expanding what is already an outstanding community resource," said Mark Haynal, President of CUC.

When announcing the City of Lacombe's new partnership, Brenda Vaughn, City of Lacombe Community Services Director said, "I extend sincere thanks to CUC for its demonstrated commitment and successful contributions to the arts and culture profile of our community."

The next concert in this year's Sunday@7 series will feature pianist Dale Wheeler and will be held in the College Heights SDA Church Sunday, October 21, at 7 pm.  Wheeler has taught at the post-secondary level for over twenty years and now  teaches piano and related subjects at Red Deer College. He also serves as Chair of the Performing Arts Department. He holds the doctorate in piano performance and pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma as well as degrees from the University of Saskatchewan and Trinity College of Music, London. 

CUC Hosts Lacombe's Annual Trail Run

Canadian University College recently hosted our community's 4th annual trail run known as Lacombe in Motion. Held this year on Sunday, September 30, the event offered more than 330 participants the opportunity to run along Lacombe's beautiful trail system in 21K, 10K, 5K and 2K races.  With over 330 participants, Lacombe in Motion is the largest wellness event in Lacombe.  Please click here for a map of this year's 10K run.

"Lacombe in Motion is a community event intended to promote health and fitness for participants from Lacombe and the surrounding areas in Central Alberta, " explained Dr. Klaus Irrgang, associate professor of wellness and one of the event's organizers.  Assisting Dr. Irrgang in presenting this event were more than 100 volunteers, more than half of them CUC students, faculty or staff.

Laurece Prendergast, Joy Launio, Jason Hunter, and Michael Jakovac are just four of several CUC students who volunteered their time to operate this year's Lacombe in Motion.

This year's Lacombe in Motion raised around $3000.  The money raised each year is used to maintain and expand the trail system and develop exercise stations at strategic trail locations.

Pianist and String Quartet Thrill Audience at First Concert in Series

The first concert of CUC's Sunday@7 Series featured the Cecilia String Quartet and Russian pianist Georgy Tchaidze.  The Cecilia String Quartet took 1st place at the Banff International String Quartet Competition in 2010.  Tchaidze was First Laureate at the Honens International Piano Competition in 2009.  The concert's printed program with more information about the artists and the pieces they performed can be found here: Cover and Inside

The Sunday@7 Concert Series is jointly sponsored by Canadian University College and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, the Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta and the Canada Council for the Arts.  The 2012-13 series continues Sunday, October 21 with a performance by pianist Dale Wheeler.  Information about concert dates, venues and all of the artists appearing in this year's series can be found here.

Board of Trustees Holds Productive Meetings September 28-30

Canadian University College's Board of Trustees met on campus Friday, September 28, and Sunday, September 30, to review and receive reports.  In addition to dealing with typical agenda items, board members toured Maple Hall and discussed the elements of CUC's distinctive brand.

Canadian University College's Board of Trustees(Please click on this photo to enlarge it.)
Back Row, left to right: Stacy Hunter, John Ramsay, Daniel Latchman, Jerrold Ritchey, Darrell Huether
Third Row: Kevin McKay, Loney Ziakris, Ken Corkum, Victor Dingman, Ken Wiebe
Second Row: Dennis Marshall, Laurence Wong, Gerald Grant, Jane Smallwood, Angie Bishop, Audrey Haggkvist, John Alai, Wayne Culmore, Barry Bussey
Partial Row Behind the Front Row: Carol Henry, Michal Strike Cooke, John Fournier
Front Row: Mark Haynal, Esther Aguilar, Joy Fehr, Mary Lou Toop, Ammmishadaih Flores, Mark Johnson, Arni Skoretz