The Tri-for-Life triathlon, hosted by the Human Kinetics Society on Sunday at the St. Denis Centre, attracted 20 contestants and raised $350 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

“No matter if you are tall or short, overweight or underweight, if you are a participant you are an athlete,” says co-ordinator Zikra Nilam, a third-year human kinetics student.

Nilam wants to switch focus from the physical performance and instead bring attention to the health benefits and amusement of participating in a triathlon.

“Many students neglect their health during their studies by sleeping too little and skipping meals,” she says. By having information booths from health-oriented organizations, she hopes to inform participants about how to achieve a healthy lifestyle and have fun in the same time.

One of the exhibitors was the Heart and Stroke Foundation, which received all the profits from the triathlon. The money will help raise awareness and fund research, so that more people can survive the diseases caused by an inactive lifestyle.

Fourth-year human kinetics student Andrew Penner performed the 15-minute cycling event for his team. Although Penner describes himself as competitive, that was not the main reason he was there: “It’s a cheerful event and it’s for a good cause.”

article and photo by Ida Karlsson

Whether they cheer for Detroit or cheer for Toronto, UWindsor grads and friends will have someone to cheer at a National Basketball Association game March 7.

The University of Windsor Alumni Association is offering a great deal for fans, with two options for the contest between the Pistons and the Raptors at the new Little Caesars Arena. The Alumni Night with the Detroit Pistons package includes one game ticket for seating in the west gondola area, plus a $30 food and beverage voucher redeemable at any concession stand:

• $90 Canadian includes return bus transportation from campus to the game;
• $80 Canadian does not include bus transportation to the event.

Tip-off is at 8 p.m. The bus will depart campus at 5:30 pm. and attendees will enjoy free parking in the Clark lot off Union Street. Buy tickets on the event website.

Would you hire you, if you Googled yourself today? When you graduate, are you more than a collection of courses and a transcript?

A free workshop Friday, February 9, will offer tools and approaches to get you started on building your brand online.

Instructors Tim Brunet, Alicia Higginson, and Lorna Stolarchuk will discuss:

• what an ePortfolio is and how it can help you brand yourself;
• how to connect your personal and professional life;
• the availability of and support for ePortfolio tools;
• how to use the powerful features within LinkedIn to build your online professional presence.

“Building Your Brand — ePortfolios, LinkedIn, and More” will provide an introduction to ePortfolios and a hands-on opportunity to build a LinkedIn profile. Those wanting to edit or launch LinkedIn profiles should bring laptops to the workshop.

Part of the UWill Discover! series, the session will run 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Friday in room 255, Dillon Hall. Register on the series website.

Autonomous vehicles are often referred to, by designers and policy-makers alike, as a technology that will bring greater inclusivity and accessibility to transit.

A panel of experts in autonomous vehicle technology and regulation, accessibility, and city transit planning will discuss some of the attendant technological, regulatory, and accessibility questions during a lunchtime session Wednesday, February 14.

LTEC Lab and the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law are pleased to present the Accessibility in Autonomous Vehicle Policy panel from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Faculty of Law Building’s Moot Court:

• Fahad Khan, project lead, automated and autonomous vehicles, City of Toronto Transportation Services Division;
• Krzysztof Czarnecki, professor of electrical and computer engineering, University of Waterloo;
• Laverne Jacobs, associate professor, Faculty of Law, University of Windsor; and
• Kristen Thomasen, assistant professor, Faculty of Law, University of Windsor.

Learn more about the panellists, who will also highlight access-to-justice issues related to the potential growing use of autonomous vehicles within cities.

The event is open to all faculty, students, staff and the general public and will provide an opportunity for questions, simultaneous transcription, and a light lunch.

As space is limited, to attend RSVP to www.uwindsor.ca/law/aavp/register by Monday, February 12.

An award for excellence in service is an honour, but it isn’t what motivates her, says Susan Dennison, lab and education co-ordinator in the Faculty of Nursing.

“It’s nice to be acknowledged,” she said Wednesday at a reception celebrating the sixth annual Employee Recognition Awards. “But what makes the job worthwhile is working with the students and having an impact. That’s why we’re here.”

Recipient of the individual Service Excellence Award, Dennison was one of nine honorees at the event, hosted by Human Resources.

“These awards support the university’s mission and priorities, reinforcing the importance of service, innovation, teamwork, leadership, safety, and engagement,” said Rita LaCivita, vice-president of human resources. “The passion and commitment of every one of the award recipients is truly inspiring.”

Besides Dennison, the winners included:

• Melissa Gabrieau, animal care technician in the Central Animal Care Facility, a Service Excellence Award in the First Five Years of Employment;
• Nick Baker, director of the Office of Open Learning, an Excellence in Leadership Award;
• Aaron Dickau, gardener in Housekeeping and Grounds, an individual Impact Award;
• the teaching awards nomination team of Beverley Hamilton, Peter Marval, and Jessica Raffoul, a team Impact Award;
• Frank Jeney, Lancer Recreation assistant/fitness co-ordinator in Athletics and Recreational Services, the “U” Make a Difference Award;
• Dave Yott, acquisitions/production and ILLO co-ordinator in the Leddy Library, the Excellence in Health and Safety Award.

Baker called the recognition “truly humbling” and noted he has been fortunate to have excellent role models in leadership himself.

“I try to bring their collective wisdom to my own work,” he says. “A leader is nothing without a great team behind them, and in my case, I have a phenomenally talented and committed group of individuals I am very proud to work with.”

Yott says his award for health and safety was a really nice surprise.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with our amazing Health and Safety team here at the University, and this award is just icing on the cake,” Yott says.

In addition to his work for Lancer Recreation, Jeney volunteers as coach of the Lancer baseball club, earning him nomination letters from its players.

“For myself and many of my teammates, playing Lancer baseball was the highlight of our university experience and has resulted in a sense of pride in both ourselves and the university,” wrote one.

Another wrote: “As a third-year medical student, it is remarkable how many times throughout the course of a day I can call on tangible life lessons I learned while playing baseball under Frank.”

Jeney said Wednesday’s event demonstrates the impact working on campus can make.

“Winning the award is one thing, but hearing what the students wrote is really what touched me,” he said.

An update to the website of the Student Awards and Financial Aid Office has prompted calls to other campus departments to update any hyperlinks directing readers to it.

The site provides information on financial assistance, scholarships, bursaries, and awards — needs- and merit-based — for students. With an upgrade into Drupal version 7, it has moved from http://www1.uwindsor.ca/awards/ to http://www.uwindsor.ca/studentawards/.

“We have put in place a forwarding message at the old site,” says Rob Aitkens, web development team leader. “But if everyone can look at their own websites and make updates that would be very helpful.”