Drama grad Joshua Quinlan (BA 2013) calls his selection as a protégé by set and costume designer Gillian Gallow a “liminal moment” in his career in theatre.

In December, Gallow was named the 2021 laureate of the Siminovitch Prize, Canada’s largest and most prestigious theatre award. In addition to the $75,000 award, she received $25,000 to support an emerging artist of her choice. She named two: Quinlan and Joyce Padua.

“I have made my career as an assistant designer, but taking the next step, especially amid this pandemic, felt incredibly daunting,” says Quinlan. “Now, as a Siminovitch Prize Protégé, my aspirations suddenly feel possible.”

His set and costume design work was most recently a part of the Langham Directors’ Workshop at the Stratford Festival, where he has assisted on more than 20 productions. Quinlan has assisted many of Canada’s leading designers for theatres coast to coast, including Terra Bruce, Mirvish, the National Ballet of Canada, Arts Club, the Blyth Festival, Globe Theatre, Edmonton Opera, and Manitoba Opera.

Gallow called his designs “bold and elegant” and commended him for his openness, curiosity, and collaborative spirit, making him “the bright future of our industry.”

Quinlan credits the traditional core training and design mentorship he received at the University of Windsor as inspiring him to pursue theatrical design as a career. After his undergraduate studies, he went on to earn an MFA in theatre design at Ohio State University.

He has returned to his alma mater several times to design for University Players, most recently sets for its 2019 production of Beauty and the Beast. His previous accolades include the Ian and Molly Lindsay Design Fellowship in 2017, the 2019 Tom Patterson Award, and the 2015 Peggy Ezekiel Award of Distinction.

Now, he anticipates this national recognition of his work will support the next stage in his career — the move from assistant designer to principal designer.

George Thomson, chair of the Siminovitch Prize Foundation board of directors, praised all this year’s honorees as embodying “the concept of experimentation and the spirit of invention that are fused together” by the prize.

“We look forward to witnessing the significant contributions they will surely make to theatre in Canada for years to come,” Thomson said.

The Student Awards & Financial Aid Office is offering various ways to connect to address student award and financial aid questions while it is closed for in-person service.

In addition to expanded phone service hours for the month of January, the office will host four general support drop-in sessions via Teams during the week of Jan. 10, open to both current and prospective students:

• Tuesday, Jan. 11, 9 to 10:30 a.m. and 3 to 4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Jan. 13, 9 to 10:30 a.m. and 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Students with specific, personal financial aid matters who prefer not to ask their question in an open forum should contact the office directly during phone service hours, or they can pose questions in advance of the meeting through the Submit Your SAFA Question survey. No personal or identifiable information will be collected, so students submitting questions through the survey will not receive a direct response.

Drop-in sessions continue through the month of January to help students complete their UWinAward profiles to apply for University of Windsor scholarships and bursaries. Many opportunities have January deadlines, so apply now!

Growing up in LaSalle, Kaelyn Batten looked up to the Lancers women’s basketball program. The 5’7” point guard has committed to join the team when she begins post-secondary study in movement science this fall.

“I couldn’t find a reason not to choose Windsor,” she says. “It feels like the perfect place for me. The basketball program is one of the best in the country and the players and coaches welcomed me right away.”

Head coach Chantal Vallée says she is “thrilled” to add Batten to the line-up.

“I have watched Kaelyn play since she was in grade 10 and she was competing with and leading grades 11 and 12,” she says. “She is an excellent point guard that can also defend hard and has a great scoring ability.”

Read the full story at goLancers.ca.

In December, the Student Awards & Financial Aid office launched the Enriched Academy financial literacy program for students. Through a series of fun and insightful videos, Enriched Academy can help students steer away from poor money management and credit card traps and help them understand the fundamentals of saving and investing early.

Students who complete the program can be considered for one of five awards available for the current academic year. Once participants complete all of the Enriched Academy modules, they will receive a certificate of completion and are eligible to apply for this award via the UWinAward Profile/Application.

Start now — the deadline to complete the modules and to apply for this award is Feb. 15.

The Campus Safety Grant Committee (formerly known as the Women’s Campus Safety Grant) provides funding for projects to promote safety focusing on addressing issues of sexual violence on campus.

The committee is accepting applications for creative, innovative proposals from members of the university community, including faculty, staff, and student organizations.

The deadline date for the next round of submissions for funding through the Campus Safety Grant is Jan. 31.

In accordance with the parameters set by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, submissions are required to support one of the following broad categories or objectives:

• Awareness or education (e.g., workshops, websites, awareness campaigns)
• Student services and supports (e.g., campus walk safe programs, sexual assault prevention initiatives, volunteer training, resource materials)
• Facilities and equipment (e.g., lighting, mirrors, security cameras, emergency phones)

Funding requests are accepted on an ongoing basis by the Office of Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility at:

• Campus Safety Grant Application
• by e-mail to ohrea@uwindsor.ca,
• or by phoning 519-253-3000, ext. 3400.

Projects funded in the current round must be completed — and invoices paid — by March 15, 2022.