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Merit Scholarship Awards presented
The University of Guelph-Humber recently recognized its Merit Scholarship Award recipients over breakfast.
Each student received $1500 for placing in the top 10 percent of his or her program and year.
University vice-provost Dr. John Walsh joined program heads and staff to congratulate the students.
Meet a few of them right here.
Laynna Meyler, 4th-year Media Studies (Image Arts)
This photographer found her niche at the University of Guelph-Humber.
“I love working in studio,” said Meyler. “It’s one of my favourite things I’ve done over the past four years.”
Photography opened up the world of design, from interior and architectural spaces to fashion for this 21-year-old student. She also took pictures for the university’s recruitment publications last summer.
When she received her Merit, Meyler was pursuing internships at either Chloe magazine or as an event photographer at the Gladstone Hotel, with its artist-designed rooms, music and art spaces, in downtown Toronto.
Roopesh Ramkissoon, 4th-year Business (Finance) and Michael Chan, 2nd year Business (Accounting)
Ramkissoon, a transfer student from Humber College, expected a “culture shock” when he started third year at University of Guelph-Humber.
But it didn’t turn out that way, said the 38-year-old: “It was like one continuous education.”
Similarly, Chan took a couple years off after high school and was a culinary student at Humber College before coming to Guelph-Humber.
“I was really excited by the award,” said 23-year-old.
The recognition proved he was right to follow his instincts: “Numbers always came naturally to me.”
Jessica Reinhart, Caroline Tutakiewicz & Christa Andrews – All 4th-year Justice Studies (Police Foundations)
This trio met when they came to campus and continue to support – and to push – each other academically.
“We work together in a group,” pointed out Tutakiewicz, 21.
She’s planning to purse a graduate studies, focusing on either police ethics or parental influence on social deviance.
Reinhart, 21, is leaning to a probation career, following a desire to “help people rehabilitate.”
Andrews wants to join the police service, possibly Niagara where she has family ties.
She wasn’t always clear on how to follow this path, said the 22-year-old. “I didn’t really know what was out there, but then I went to the [Ontario] Universities Fair and decided I wanted to come here.”
Nicole Kovac, 4th-year Early Childhood
“When I finished high school I knew this is where I wanted to go,” said Kovac.
The 22-year-old lives near the campus.
“One of the things I think is really important is developing a rapport with your instructors,” she said. “It’s a really small school and I used that to my advantage. If I ever had any questions, I always, always, always asked.”
After graduating, Kovac will be answering the questions. She wants to work as an early childhood educator in junior kindergarten and kindergarten classes.
Learn more about the Merit Scholarship and other awards and bursaries for in-course students. And, watch for profiles of some of this year's recipients from FCSS, Kinesiology and Psychology.
Sean Flinn, Web Communications Specialist, 416-798-1331, ext. 6299, sean.flinn@guelphhumber.ca