Scholars Celebrate an Outstanding Experience

Even though she will retire later this year, Barbara Niewitecka says she hopes to continue her involvement with the Outstanding Scholars program.

"It is the favourite part of my job," says Dr. Niewitecka, who has coordinated the program since its inception. "I love the interaction with that calibre of students."

The program gives top students in select disciplines scholarship support and an opportunity to work directly with faculty on academic projects, from research to administrative functions. A reception held on March 24, 2010 in Vanier Hall fêted 51 members of the program who will graduate this summer.

Elyse Waddick and Denise Kwan are among the first cohort in the program to major in women's studies; both are pursuing double majors with social work. Kwan says the opportunity to join the Outstanding Scholars program persuaded her to add women's studies to her curriculum.

"Of course I appreciate the financial assistance, but there is so much more—participating in research, getting to know your professors, the support systems that are available. It was really worthwhile," she says.

Waddick served work terms with social work professor Betty Barrett and women's studies professor Anne Forrest. She says she had never realized the demands of a career in academe.

"I didn't know how much goes into being a professor. I always just thought about the teaching," she says. But her experience is proving valuable: "When I do research now, I'm pretty good at it."

Both Kwan and Waddick will begin graduates studies in social work this spring. Dr. Forrest points to them as examples of the success of the Outstanding Scholars program.

"Besides bringing recruits to small-enrollment programs, it means there are very good students in the mix to raise the level of class discussion," she says.
 

Anne Forrest, director of the women's studies program, congratulates Elyse Waddick and Denise Kwan, members of the program's first graduating class of Outstanding Scholars. Missing from photo: Sheryl Walker.

Reprinted from Daily News, March 25, 2010