With a tight deadline, Josh Balyo had to rely on his teammates to complete the project.

A grade 12 student at F.J. Brennan Catholic High School, he was on campus Thursday for the High School Design Competition, which challenged teams to design, construct and present a device to launch a ball at a target more than three metres away.

“There are too many things to do at once; you have to split up the tasks,” said Balyo. “Teamwork is being able to trust that others will do what they need to do.”

His team of four used the materials provided — craft sticks, tape, rubber bands, plastic straws, and clips — to build a model catapult they hoped would throw the projectile accurately.

“I learned a lot about the mechanics of catapults today,” said teammate Carly Jacobs. “I like solving problems that require you to think outside the box.”

That’s the idea, says Ben Levine, a third-year student of industrial engineering and one of the event’s organizers. Twenty-one teams representing 11 area schools took the day to come to the Centre for Engineering Innovation to put their skills to the test.

“It’s great to see the younger generation here,” Levine said. “Hopefully, they have fun but also spark an interest in engineering.”

Phoebe Xu, a science teacher from Maranatha Christian Academy, said her school likes to participate every year.

“We encourage our students to do this type of activity,” she said. “I want them to know the university, especially this building, which is so new and a wonderful facility.”

Free public performances by music students, Friday in the Music Building, will open a weekend full of recitals for fans of all musical tastes.

The SoCA Fridays event, at noon in the Recital Hall, the Music Building’s room 139, will feature individual performances by trumpeters Matthew Lepain and Niklas Pizzolitto, pianists Mary-Valene Daniel and Hu Zhining, mezzo-sopranos Hope Foreman and Rachel Dundas, soprano Hannah Campeau and tenor James Suresh.

At 7 p.m. Friday, students in the voice studio of Lesley Andrew will stage a “Messiah recital.” Featured soloists include Emily Houchen, Nikki Anderson, Rachel Loerts, Tulin Fadel, Andrea Obeid, Jefferson Hills, Angelica Sciacca, Deidre MacLeod, Celina Bechard, and Aimee Clifford. The event, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 834 Raymo Road, is free and open to the public.

Third-year music major Austin Di Pietro presents his jazz/pop recital, “Silver Trumpets,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 24, at the Rondo, 63 Pitt Street East.

Saturday at 6 p.m., students from the flute studio of Laurel Swinden will showcase works for flute solo and ensemble, including a special piccolo feature. Admission is free, in the Recital Hall, Music Building.

Jazz/pop guitarist Peter Stratil will perform his graduation recital Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Rondo, 63 Pitt Street East.

Additionally, the Piano Concerto Gala will showcase students of Gregory Butler, Sunday at 7:30 p.m. in the Heritage Auditorium, Assumption Hall; and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra has teamed up with Lancer women’s basketball for “A Night in Vienna” Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Capitol Theatre.

With the end of semester approaching and final exams looming, it is only natural to start feeling a little stressed out. Spending some time with a furry friend can help.

Therapeutic Paws of Canada volunteers and their friendly, certified dogs will be in Salon A of the Ambassador Auditorium on the second floor of the CAW Student Centre and are looking forward to meeting students from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday, March 27 and 29.

“Paws from Stress” is organized by the University of Windsor’s Senate student caucus, the Peer Support Centre and the Windsor Chapter of Therapeutic Paws of Canada. It is sponsored by the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance and Campus Parking Services.

Learning about opportunities for undergraduate research earned an iPad for one visitor to the UWindsor’s March 4 open house.

Laura Salinas-Crosby (pictured at right) drove from Holland Landing, Ontario, to tour the campus. She filled a special passport with stamps documenting her visit to the Discovery Hub, which highlighted many pathways to research open to undergraduate students.

“The undergraduate research in chemistry and biochemistry really made a strong impression on me,” she said. “It really interested me as I would like to go into research myself. My career goal is to become a neuropsychologist in the future.”

The Discovery Hub enjoyed significant foot traffic this March, says organizer Simon du Toit. Salinas-Crosby’s entry was drawn from more than 60 completed passports.

Universities Canada says the 2017 budget released Wednesday by federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau reflects the vital role of the country’s universities in growing prosperity and improving quality of life for all Canadians.

“The federal government is strategically investing in people and ideas to build a more prosperous Canada,” says Elizabeth Cannon, chair of Universities Canada. “Today’s support for university talent will help Canada become a model for the world in inclusive innovation.”

In its response to the budget announcement, the organization noted:

• $117.6 million over eight years to fund 25 Canada 150 Research Chairs, attracting top researchers from around the world;
• $221 million over five years to provide 10,000 work-integrated learning placements for Canadian postsecondary students and graduates each year;
• $90 million in increased funding to the Post-Secondary Student Support Program;
• $5 million per year for five years in new funding to Indspire, an Indigenous-led organization delivering postsecondary scholarships and bursaries for First Nations, Inuit and Métis students; and
• $225 million over four years to establish a new organization to support skills development and measurement in Canada.

Read the entire release, entitled Investments in students and innovation will build Canada’s prosperity. Universities Canada has also produced a document highlighting relevant budget items; read it here.