Date post: | 23-Mar-2016 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | wilfrid-laurier-university |
View: | 224 times |
Download: | 4 times |
1911-2011 | Wilfrid LaurierUniversity | Ontario, Canada
100years inspiring lives of leadership and purpose.
DR. MAX BLOUW President & Vice-Chancellor, Wilfrid Laurier University
Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier established the foundation for the values Canadians cherish, and he
expressed his vision with passion, clarity and vigour.
Wilfrid Laurier University’s centennial year is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on how the spirit of
our extraordinary namesake continues to be reflected in the lives of our faculty, staff, students and alumni.
Laurier is dedicated to excellence in human development. I believe the most important benefit
universities can provide to society is an educated, motivated, capable and engaged citizen who has a
global perspective. Laurier’s graduates have an awareness of, and the courage to embrace complexity –
the world’s greatest and most intricate challenges. They do so productively, and with passion, because
they have the intellectual and personal tools that will enable them to succeed. In that sense, our vision
is also our mission – to inspire lives of leadership and purpose.
The more we can do as a university, and a society, to elevate the individual, the more we will serve
the needs of future generations.
As Laurier prepares to embark on its second century, I am delighted to introduce you to eight
individuals who embody the qualities of our namesake. Exceptional citizens and members of the
Wilfrid Laurier University family, they reflect the qualities of thousands more in our wonderful
learning and personal development community.
2 1911-2011 | Wilfrid Laurier University | LAURIER100.CA
When Jon Krohn arrived at Wilfrid Laurier University
he had every intention of pursuing medicine after
completing his undergraduate degree. But things would
change as Jon developed relationships with new
mentors – including two Canada Research Chairs –
and an extremely supportive network of friends and
study partners at Laurier. Suddenly, Jon was faced with
a world of new possibilities and ideas, and he set his
sights on Oxford.
Consider his time at Laurier:
founder of the Science Faculty’s
student mentorship program,
Editor-in-Chief of a science
newspaper, active member of the
boxing club, Executive Producer
of the musical theatre club, and a Teaching and
Research Assistant. To these accomplishments, Jon
would add a truly peerless academic record and earn
the highest grade point average of his graduating class
(a perfect 12.0).
Today, Jon is completing his PhD in neuroscience
at Oxford University on a prestigious Wellcome Trust
Doctoral Research Scholarship. His research focuses
on the genetics of anxiety and depression, because of
the high prevalence of these diseases and their massive
impact on an individual’s quality of life. He has
established Oxford’s first student-run business
incubator – a wildly successful venture that has the
distinction of helping facilitate Google’s first UK
acquisition.
“My work needs to have real world applications.
There’s no better benefit to society than to be able
to take science research and transform it into
a product that can actually impact people’s lives.”
“I didn't know that coming to Oxford was a possibility in my life. Laurier made me feel like I could go out and achieve almostanything I set my mind to.”
JON KROHN Alumnus 2007
3 100 Years Insp ir ing L ives of Leadersh ip and Purpose
Growing up in Mumbai, Bharati Sethi would escape life’s
difficulties by retreating to a pipal tree near a tiny stream.
She named this special place the “crossroads” and she
would later return to this memory many times throughout
her seven-year struggle as a new immigrant in Canada.
This stressful chapter in her life came to a close when
she received her Canadian landed immigrant status.
With that newfound standing, and a dream of earning
a PhD, Bharati approached Wilfrid Laurier University
where a compassionate admissions officer showed her
how she could leverage her Mumbai university
experience and fast-track her undergraduate degree.
She hasn’t looked back since. Her master’s thesis,
Exploring Newcomer Settlement and Immigration Supports
in Brantford and Brant-Haldimand and Norfolk Counties,
has garnered recognition in government, academic
and local community circles. Bharati also received the
prestigious $150,000 Vanier Canada Graduate
Scholarship to complete her PhD. As a core member
of the newcomer task force Immigrant Settlement
Transition Employment and Partnership in Brantford,
Ontario, Bharati continues to be an inspiration to
many local immigrants.
“A lot of people ask: ‘How did you manage alone?’
I knew that if I stopped walking, I was never going to
get there. If I kept walking I knew there was a chance
for me to get there.”
BHARATI SETHI Alumna 2007, 2009
“I really had to struggle to be here... Laurier took a chance on me and I pay itback by promising to do the best that I canfor the university and for the community.”
Liz Knox still tears up when she thinks back to the
first time she wore the maple leaf as a goalie for Team
Canada in an exhibition hockey game against Team
USA. “I was standing on the blue line and looking
down at my jersey as they played the national anthem
and I was so happy and emotional.”
One of Wilfrid Laurier University’s most storied
athletes, ‘Knoxy’ has an impressive list of athletic
accomplishments, from four Ontario University Athletics
titles to Canadian University Hockey Player of the Year in
2009/2010. Despite stiff competition from three more-
experienced players (who happened to play on Canada’s
2010 Olympic gold medal team), Liz has set her sights on
playing for Team Canada in the 2014 Winter Olympics.
And she hasn’t ruled out turning professional before then.
An inspiration to the community, her Golden Hawk
teammates and the young players who are fortunate
enough to have her as a coach, Liz strongly believes
in giving back to the sport that has given her so much.
“When I was growing up I was lucky to have girls in
my community who were willing to put time into us.
I hope to give my players someone to look up to and
to see them get the best experience possible. Hockey
is so much more than just competition – it’s about
building friendships and having fun, too. Sport has
entirely made me who I am.”
4 1911-2011 | Wilfrid Laurier University | LAURIER100.CA
LIZ KNOX Alumna 2010
“There’s nothing better than coming through foryour team. Being a Golden Hawk and winningfour championships are highlights of my life. I will carry those wins – and these friends – wherever I go.”
5 100 Years Insp ir ing L ives of Leadersh ip and Purpose
While he was an accomplished student – winning
the Scotiabank scholarship for academic achievement
in his first year – it wasn’t until an encounter in second
year with Wilfrid Laurier University President Max
Blouw that Kory Jeffrey really considered what he
wanted to do with his life.
It was after this meeting that Kory ramped up his
studies and his volunteer
activities and developed
a passion for student
governance. Kory’s
inspiring journey includes
a term as the student
representative on Laurier’s
Board of Governors and work with the Pave the Way
Scholarship Fund, an organization he helped start that
raises money and enables foster children to gain a post-
secondary education.
As a volunteer teacher in a small town in rural
South Africa, Kory was both humbled and motivated
by the children he met. He found a way to contribute
and help people, and consequently give his life
purpose. Indeed, in the process Kory gained much
more than an impressive curriculum vitae – he gained
experiences and an outlook that continue to inform
the person he is today.
Kory is pursuing graduate studies and has a strong
belief in the power of education to help and change
lives. His goal is to pursue his PhD in Ethical
Philosophy and then eventually apply his experience
and passion in university administration. “I want to
stay in institutions where I can do a lot of good.”
KORY JEFFREY Alumnus 2010
“Laurier helped me stretch my wings. The moreinvolved I got, the more inspired I became.I believe in the power of change and educationand I am committed to making a difference.”
6 1911-2011 | Wilfrid Laurier University | LAURIER100.CA
When Romeo Dallaire spoke at a conference at
Wilfrid Laurier University, international student TK
Mawuli Azaglo used this opportunity to ask the retired
Lieutenant-General about his thoughts on the future
of Africa. Dallaire spoke about the critical role children
and youth have to play in
order to tackle Africa’s
challenges head on.
“I am the future of Africa,”
TK declared to his own
amazement and the applause
of the crowd. He had taken a
stand and shortly afterwards he and his friend, John
Tsirimbis, went on to establish the Future of Africa,
a campus club dedicated to raising awareness and
supporting worthwhile development initiatives in Africa.
His homeland remains an inspiration, and TK is proud
to shatter stereotypes and open people’s minds to entirely
new values and ways of living. “A lot of people don’t see
life beyond their own perspectives... many people in
Africa live on so little and yet they are so happy to be
alive, to have family and to have community.”
With another non-Laurier branch already in place
and plans for expansion to other institutions,
the Future of Africa has clearly taken root and will
carry on long after TK has graduated. “It has been
great to find something you love to do and can
dedicate your life to. Life isn’t all about money;
life is about humanity and the legacy you leave.”
TK MAWULI AZAGLO Class of 2011
“Laurier has a very supportive environment.People were very, very interested in my storyand this made me realize that I was on theright path. It inspired me to keep going.”
7 100 Years Insp ir ing L ives of Leadersh ip and Purpose
Joanna Harries comes from what she describes as
“development stock.” The women in her family have a
deep history in, and passion for, societal work. But she
was very interested in pursuing a business degree.
Following graduation from Wilfrid Laurier University,
she worked as a successful marketing executive for
a global consumer goods company for seven years.
It was after attending a Laurier MBA class on
competitive business models for a sustainable world
that Joanna discovered the inventive development idea
of encouraging big business to treat low-income
populations worldwide as customers, and not just
recipients of charitable aid. This wasn’t finance,
marketing or accounting, but it couldn’t be more ideal
for Joanna. As she says, “I believe in the power of this
concept. I knew that I wanted to work to advance social
businesses globally. Everything clicked into place.”
From that point on, Joanna pursued opportunities
where she could apply her business skills to
development. She applied for and won the prestigious
Acumen Fellowship and spent a year in Mumbai.
She then moved on to Endeavor Global, an
organization committed to “establishing high
impact entrepreneurship for sustainable economic
development.” Based in Manhattan, she is currently
Director of International Expansion.
JOANNA HARRIES Alumna 2003, 2008
“Success is about recognizing an opportunityand having the guts to follow through.Laurier presented me with the opportunityand they enabled me to customize mystudies so that I could pursue it.”
8 1911-2011 | Wilfrid Laurier University | LAURIER100.CA
“I’m a Mohawk from the Tyendinaga Mohawk
Territory and I’m the first person from my family
to attend and graduate from university.”
That’s how Kandice Baptiste proudly introduces
herself, yet that description doesn’t even begin to cover
her inspiring story. Kandice graduated from high
school as an Ontario Scholar and was recruited by
several universities for basketball, including Laurier.
Living off the reserve was a big adjustment.
Fortunately, Kandice found support in her basketball
team and the faculty at Laurier, but she always felt
that something was missing. In her fifth year, she
founded the university’s first Aboriginal Student
Association – an organization aimed at raising
awareness and helping Aboriginal Peoples realize
their dreams of a higher education.
Kandice declined the opportunity to pursue
a master’s degree at another university in favour
of a full-time position as a recruiter for Laurier with
a special emphasis on Aboriginal Peoples. She has
chosen to focus on helping the community that
is closest to her heart.
“Aboriginal Peoples face so many challenges and
I’m proud to serve as a role model to show people
that they can do it and that there is something more.”
KANDICE BAPTISTE Class of 2011
“Being at Laurier has taught me so muchabout my identity and my passion. I am astrong Mohawk woman and I now knowwhat I want to do for the rest of my life.”
9 100 Years Insp ir ing L ives of Leadersh ip and Purpose
After graduating from high school, Reuben DeBoer
spent two years volunteering, first across Canada and then
in Bolivia, New Zealand and Australia. It could be said that
by the time he came to Wilfrid Laurier University, he had
very specific ideas about what he wanted to do with his life.
At Laurier’s Brantford campus, Reuben found in the
faculty and students a unique community that enabled
him to fully explore his passion for volunteerism and
the environment. Among other activities, Reuben has
been the Coordinator of the Laurier EcoHawks, the
Assistant Sustainability Coordinator and the Associate
Vice-President of Services for the Students’ Union.
Reuben also found faculty at Laurier who were willing
to indulge his passion for helping people by offering him
course credit for a 3-month volunteer project in Ghana.
Focused on community water and sanitation, this project
saw Reuben meeting with tribal elders, hiking up to
27 kilometres between villages and learning first-hand
what it means to take a “bucket shower.”“There’s a
community feel that you get in Africa that we’ve lost
in Canada. Nobody knows their neighbours anymore.
There’s a sense of common purpose that is very stirring.”
Reuben looks forward to making the most of his
studies and volunteer activities by leading sustainability
initiatives in the public or private sector. But before then,
he’d like to work on a project in Asia so that he can say
he’s volunteered on every continent before he’s 25.
“When I was a kid I loved Dr. Seuss and onequote stuck with me: ‘Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.’ I still believe that. And so does everyone you meet at Laurier.”
REUBEN DEBOER Class of 2012
1911-2011 | Wilfrid Laurier UniversityWaterloo | Brantford | Kitchener | TorontoOntario, Canada
At Laurier, we live and walk in the shadows of giants.
Yet there are few opportunities to pause and acknowledge
the journey of those who came before us. Or to celebrate
the fact that we too are casting shadows that will shape
the next century of Wilfrid Laurier University and the
world. Throughout 2011, we will acknowledge and
celebrate both what has passed and what is to come.
LAURIER100.CA
Photos: Max Blouw by Dean Palmer; page 2 by Brett Tully; pages 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 by John Beebe; page 8 by Sophie Forbes. Creative: STCworks.ca