Jocelyne Morin-Nurse
For many students, this spring’s convocation marks the end of the long, hard road to an education. Along the way, some have distinguished themselves through their excellence, versatility and tenacity, earning the admiration of their peers, prestigious awards and a place at the front of the class. But what have these star students drawn from their experience, and where are they headed?
A Member of Parliament for the Bloc Québécois since 1993, Réal Ménard has managed to balance part-time studies in the licentiate in civil law program and the mandate given to him by the electors. “I am proud of having persevered over the last seven years and of being able to balance the workload with my schedule as a Member of Parliament,” says Ménard. He will pursue graduate studies in public ethics, alongside his work as an MP or possibly a career in Quebec’s National Assembly.
On top of winning the Canadian Engineering Competition 2005 with colleague Colan Ryan, Vijay Narasimhan has a grade point average of 10.0 in his bachelor’s program in computer engineering. “I found a rewarding program that allowed me to apply my knowledge,” says Narasimhan. “I learned to use technology to create useful products both through my lab work and my co-op placements.” In the fall, Narasimhan sets off to the UK to pursue a master’s in microtechnology and nanotechnology at the University of Cambridge.
Cystic fibrosis kept Jennifer Gagnon in the hospital for much of her studies. But her perseverance and the understanding of her professors carried her through, and she received her bachelor of arts with minors in environmental studies and geography. Gagnon plans to rest this summer in her hometown of Baie-Comeau. “I know it’s going to be hard to find a job because of my condition,” says Gagnon, “but I’m not giving up and will try to work.” Gagnon hopes to undergo a lung transplant and has dreams of travel and discovering new cultures.
Rehab Nazzal arrived in Canada as an adult and overcame many of the difficulties of the immigrant experience. Through the bachelor’s program in visual arts, Nazzal learned to better understand not only art, but also society in general. Encouraged by prizes awarded by the faculty committee for the artistic merit of her work, Nazzal continues to explore different media. “Through my art, I would like to share what I have experienced and things that aren’t found in history books,” Nazzal says. “It’s a mission I have to accomplish.”
During the winter of 2007, Paul Sutcliffe, who was registered for the specialization program in mathematics, led mathematics discussion groups within the Residence Study Group Program. This defining experience resulted in him refusing an NSERC research grant to pursue studies in teaching. Plus Sutcliffe is preparing himself for the grade 10 piano exam, the highest level at the Royal Conservatory of Music. In spite of his virtuoso talent, Sutcliffe has his eye firmly on his education. “I can hardly wait to start my bachelor’s in education in September,” Sutcliffe says. “I would like to have a position in a Franco-Ontarian school one day, and I hope to have a long and successful career.”
Congratulations and best of luck to all our graduates!
