Acclaimed playwright to lead writing workshop

Margaret Sweatman, assistant professor at the U of W and acclaimed playwright, lyricist and novelist, will be leading fiction workshops at the Canadian Mennonite University’s annual School of Writing taking place Monday, May 10 to Friday, May 14. The School of Writing, in its fourth year, also offers sessions on poetry, life writing and writing for children and young adults. The School of Writing has helped many people by providing a challenging and supportive environment for writers to hone their skills. Other authors contributing to the workshops include Barbara Nickel, Joanne Klassen and Anita Daher. For more information, contact Michael Van Rooy at [email protected].

Alumni to honour esteemed graduate

The U of W Alumni Association is seeking nominations from the public for their Distinguished Alumni Award to be given out at the spring convocation. Graduates of the U of W, United College or Wesley College who have made great contributions to their professions or community are eligible for nomination. All nomination forms and reference letters are due Wednesday, March 31. The award, which was first given out in 1990, is the Alumni association’s highest honour. Last year’s recipient, Howard Pawley, graduated from United College in 1957 and eventually served as an MLA for Selkirk from 1969-1988.

Wesmen coach honoured

Inner City Junior Wesmen coach, Bob Axworthy, received the Manitoba’s Coach of the Month award for February. Axworthy hosted the first ever Summer in the City Street Festival and Basketball Tournament last year and coaches the Inner City Junior Wesmen basketball program, which provides participants with tuition credits to encourage them to go on to higher education.

“He is caring and is a great coach. He believes in us, therefore, we are committed to the sport,” said 15-year-old Almaz Aschalew, who nominated Axworthy.

Those interested in nominating their coach can follow the links at www.coachingmanitoba.ca

Teaching expert to lecture at U of W

Dr. Charles Dziuban will be presenting a lecture at the U of W on emerging trends in education and technology. Dziuban, who has been researching the subject for 14 years, is the director of the Research Initiative for Teaching Effectiveness at the University of Central Florida and is a widely published authority on the subject of education. He was awarded the Sloan Consortium Award for Most Outstanding Achievement in Online Learning by an Individual in 2005. The lecture takes place Friday, March 19 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Convocation Hall and is free for all to attend.

Wesmen athletes honoured

A number of Wesmen athletes have recently been honoured for their athletic achievements. Jessica Stromberg was named the Canada West Women’s Basketball nominee for the Tracy MacLeod Award. Catie Gooch, for the third time in a row, has made it onto the Canada West Women’s Basketball Second All-Star Team. Men’s Volleyball player Dan Lother and Women’s Volleyball player Lauren Sears have been awarded the Lea Marc Printing Wesmen Athletes of the Month for February. Lother was also named to the Canada West Men’s Volleyball Second All-Star Team and Justin Duff was named to the Canada West Men’s Volleyball First All-Star Team.

Published in Volume 64, Number 22 of The Uniter (March 11, 2010)