Safa Young is presented with the Welcome Celebration free tuition grand prize by Alumni Association President Dorothy Leung, Winston, and Alumni and Advancement Director Kelly Gosselin. (PETER MARVAL / University of Windsor)
By John-Paul Bonadonna
Safa Young would be excused for struggling to hear her name announced as the grand prize winner at Wednesday’s Welcoming Celebration.
Her fellow students filled the Toldo Lancer Centre gym with their presence and sound in an excited display of UWindsor spirit as part of Welcome Week.
Sheer disbelief might have also played a factor.
“I really wasn’t expecting that at all,” Young remarked, smiling ear to ear just minutes after being presented her prize of $4,000 towards tuition.
“I can’t believe it!”
Young, a first-year Nursing student is originally from Ottawa and counted the Welcoming Celebration as one of the many events she enjoyed during Welcome Week.
“Everything has been a lot of fun and I’ve met so many really cool people in my program,” she said.
Kelly Gosselin, Director of Alumni and Advancement, and Alumni Association President Dorothy Leung attended the event, offering Young congratulations and presenting her with a ceremonial cheque.
“Moments like this truly show the important role the Alumni Association plays in the life of our university,” said Gosselin.
“We’re proud to play a role in the student experience from the very first day on campus through to graduation and beyond.”
Leung, herself a proud Nursing alumna, was proud to present the cheque to Young.
“We are proud to be part of Safa’s journey as a Lancer and to celebrate the bright future ahead for all our students,” said Leung.
According to Young, the free semester of tuition will make a big difference.
“Living in residence and going to school, obviously it’s a lot of money, so this will really help a lot,” she said.
“I’m so excited.”