The Master of Arts in Island Studies (MAIS) program is pleased to announce that it will host the annual meetings of RETI, a consortium of 24 island universities, July 4-9, 2014. The theme of this year's event will be "Livable Islands: Culture, Politics, Economy and Environment." It will consist of four components:

Four UPEI Men's Hockey players-Matthew Maoine, Alex Wall, Chris Desousa, and Wayne Savage-have secured spots on the Canadian men's hockey roster for the 2013 Winter Universiade in Trentino, Italy. Canadian Interuniversity Sport announced the official 23-man team on Wednesday, November 13. The 26th biennial Games will run from December 10-21, with the men's hockey gold-medal match set for the final day of competition.

UPEI Men's Hockey Head Coach Forbes MacPherson will serve as one of Team Canada's bench bosses in Italy as well. The roster was finalized following an all-star game featuring top prospects held last Friday in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Read more from The Guardian here

For more information, visit http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/winter/2013/index and http://www.universiadetrentino.org/

In the speech from the throne on Tuesday, November 12, UPEI's plans for a new engineering school was announced. The provincial government pledged to support the University's plans to move the proposed school forward.

Through the development of a School of Engineering, UPEI aims to provide top students with a unique project-based engineering education to be delivered through an industry-driven model with both local and global partners. UPEI's goal is to be transformative on all levels, provide industry and communities with globally-aware, problem solving engineers who are capable of innovation and shaping the future.

As mentioned in an interview with The Guardian, UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz said the University is working on the proposal, but it is not yet approved by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC), although he is optimistic.

'I'm hoping that by September 2014 that we can see the first intake,' said Abd-El-Aziz. If the degree program receives approval for a September intake, this would allow current engineering students to enter the new program for their third year of study and complete their degree on Prince Edward Island.

The proposed Bachelor of Science in Engineering Design, unique to Atlantic Canada, would provide significant opportunities for students, as well as UPEI, industry, and the economy that have never been fully seized before. It's designed to build on the best practices of leading engineering schools throughout North America, and be the country's first engineering school with a project-based, clinic approach.

In addition to UPEI's engineering proposal, the speech from the throne also referenced the University's Master of Education (MEd) program designed to provide experienced educators with the knowledge and skills required to become effective educational leaders. The overall aim of the program is to promote and support educational scholarship, research, and practice.

Miranda Hill, author of Sleeping Funny and a UPEI Winter's Tales visiting author, is a new fiction writer from Hamilton, Ontario. She will read from her stories at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery on November 14 at 7:30 pm. Hill will also speak at UPEI's MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing event on Friday, November 15 at 3:00 pm in Don and Marion McDougall Hall.

In a Toronto Star review, Jennifer Hunter says that 'Hill's stories reflect an understanding of the human comedy...Hill is able to slip unerringly into many voices: a group of suburban mothers, a man pining after a country singer who was his former love, a boy picked on at school and ignored by his parents in favour of his beautiful younger sister...They are characters we can relate to...'

PEI readers are familiar with her husband, Lawrence Hill's, novel The Book of Negroes. Hunter's reaction was 'to put that in another mental compartment and approach Miranda Hill's book as completely unique, which it is absolutely. Lawrence Hill may have encouraged her and read her stories but they are very different from his work...what a talented family!'

In Sleeping Funny, Miranda explores the consciousness of a teenage girl trying to navigate an embarrassing sex education class; a country-village minister in the 19th century going through a crisis of faith; a young pilot's widow coping with her grief by growing a Victory Garden during World War II; and a group of professional women living on a gentrified street whose routines are thrown into disarray with the arrival of a beautiful, bohemian neighbour.

Her reading is sponsored by the UPEI English Department and co-hosted by the Art Gallery, with support from The Canada Council for the Arts and The Writers' Union of Canada.

UPEI celebrated the MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing on Friday, November 15 at its second annual event in recognition of the importance of effective writing as a foundational skill for academic success and lifelong learning. The award-presented to over 40 students and four faculty members this year-was established in 2011 by the MacLauchlan family to honour H. Wade MacLauchlan's contributions to the University and his 12 years of service as UPEI president and vice-chancellor from 1999-2011.

UPEI's interim vice-president academic, Christian Lacroix, acted as the event's master of ceremonies. 'The MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing enable us to identify students across a variety of disciplines who have distinguished themselves by producing exceptional written work, or have shown substantial improvement in their writing,' he said. 'Faculty and staff who have contributed to the development of our students' writing skills are also acknowledged through these awards.'

Third-year nursing student and award winner, Rebecca Mahaney read an excerpt from her piece entitled 'Opioid Dependency and Treatment.' Mahaney also received a Prize for Effective Writing last year and said that receiving the award for a second year in a row was a tremendous honour.

'I am very grateful to the MacLauchlan family for their continued generosity to students,' said Mahaney. 'This award is an excellent way of showing support to students. When students are overwhelmed by large workloads, deadlines, and worrying about grades, it is heart-warming for someone to recognize that a student is trying, and to take the time to identify their dedication. This acknowledgement of achievement and continued support is extraordinary.'

Mary-Claire Sanderson, AVC class of 2015 student and award winner, also read an excerpt from her piece entitled 'Think Positive! Positive reinforcement training makes for well-trained, happy dogs.'

'On behalf of the entire UPEI community, I thank the MacLauchlan family for their generosity, and President Emeritus Wade MacLauchlan for his commitment to encouraging excellence in writing among students at UPEI,' said president and vice-chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. 'I congratulate each of our prize recipients and encourage them to continue to communicate through the gift of writing as it is critical to lifelong success.'

Prize winning poetry writer Miranda Hill was the event's special guest speaker. Hill spoke to the crowd about her personal journey as a new author and the importance of writing as an effective skill for success. She also read an excerpt from her recently published book of fiction, Sleeping Funny.

The MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing distribute up to $30,000 annually in awards. The family has made previous contributions to the Harry W. MacLauchlan Scholarships in Entrepreneurial Leadership, MacLauchlan Arena, Robertson Library, athletic scholarships, and student prizes in mathematics and entrepreneurship. The event was celebrated on National Philanthropy Day, a fitting time to honour the MacLauchlan family and their continued generosity to UPEI.

The UPEI Wind Symphony will perform its final recital of the Fall semester on Thursday, November 21 at 7:30 pm. In a departure from tradition, this performance will take place at St. Dunstan's Basilica in downtown Charlottetown. This change in venue will ensure all Wind Symphony patrons are able to attend and can take advantage of the architectural and aesthetic beauty that St. Dunstan's offers.

For this performance, the Wind Symphony will be performing several symphonic masterworks of the wind band genre-one of the most ambitious Fall programs in its history. Among the featured works is 'Endurance' by the American composer Timothy Mahr. According to the composer, the work is a musical reflection upon the infinite endurance of the human spirit, the religious spirit, and the spirit of the earth. Initial inspiration for the piece came from a book of the same title by Alfred Lansing documenting the amazing story of the ill-fated expedition of the Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton in 1914-1916. His ship, the Endurance, became ice-bound and eventually sank, stranding Shackleton and his crew of 27. They experienced over 15 months of life exposed to the unrelenting, dangerous Antarctic weather, and, miraculously survived to tell it. The strength of character exhibited by these men in enduring incredible hardships is truly awe-inspiring.

Concerto soloist for this performance is marimbist Branden Kelly. Kelly is a fifth-year UPEI music education major who hopes to continue his percussion studies at the graduate level next year. He has been highly active as a performance major, completing two solo recitals, being awarded the first prize in the most recent UPEI Performance Competition, and represented PEI at the National Competitive Festival of Music this past August. 'The David Gillingham Marimba Concerto,' which he will perform, exploits the technical facility of the marimba, showcasing its diverse colors and styles. Recently, UPEI acquired a beautiful sounding five-octave marimba, on which Kelly will be performing.

Two major compositions by Englishmen will fill out the program. Philip Sparke's 'Celebration' is a virtuosic work. It was written for the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, one of the world's finest wind bands. A sonorous extended opening fanfare gives way to a busy Presto based of material derived from the Fanfare in addition to contrasting lyrical themes. Frank Bridge's 'Pageant of London' is a suitable companion to the well-known band works by Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Gordon Jacob. This five-movement work consists of two royal marches and three Renaissance dances. The evening will conclude with the delightful and energetic 'Danse Diabolique' by Austrian Joseph Hellmesberger.

The Wind Symphony has performed this program three times this fall, with enthusiastic response from audiences in Montague and Summerside, and at Acadia University in Nova Scotia.

During the past fifteen years, the Wind Symphony has produced an annual compact disc featuring selected repertoire from each year's performances. 'Cathedrals,' released in May 2010 received the 2011 Music PEI Award for Best Classical Recording. In February 2011, the Wind Symphony released its O Canada CD, a project exclusively for PEI public schools. Its most recent compact discs, Freebirds, Lord of the Rings, and Four Horsemen have been highly acclaimed. Additional information, including audio tracks of the Wind Symphony, may be found at http://music.upei.ca/windsymphony.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at the UPEI Music Department or at the door on the night of the performance. Tickets are $10 adults/seniors; $5 students.

For information:

Dr. Karem Simon

Professor, Department of Music, UPEI

ksimon@upei.ca (902) 566-0702, (902) 892-5993

UPEI Athletics and Recreation announced the UPEI Panther Athletes of the Week for the week of November 10-17. UPEI Athletics and Recreation showcases these talented athletes to recognize their hard work and dedication to their respective sports throughout the season. UPEI Athletes of the Week are also nominated to Atlantic University Sport and Canadian Interuniversity Sport for possible recognition in the region and/or country.

Who: Rosa Wagemakers, Swimming; and Donathan Moss, Men's Basketball

What: UPEI Panther Athletes of the Week

When: Week of November 10-17

Why: Rosa Wagemakers, a second-year business administration student from Victoria, PEI had a strong showing at the AUS Invitational Swim Meet at Dalhousie. Wagemakers broke three UPEI records in the 800m Free, 400m Free, and 200m Fly, and also set a new provincial record in the 800m Free.

Donathan Moss, a fourth-year business administration student from Nassau, Bahamas is showing signs of taking his game back to his solid level with a strong performance in two close losses at UNB this past weekend. Moss recorded 19 points and seven rebounds in Friday's game, and 14 points and six rebounds in Saturday night's game.

Wagemakers and Moss will be recognized at this week's UPEI Athletes of the Week Celebration on Thursday, November 21 at 12:45 pm in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre's McMillan Hall. All are welcome.

Go Panthers Go!

Donathan Moss

For information:

Ron Annear
UPEI Athletics and Recreation
(902) 566-0991, annear@upei.ca

The UPEI Panther basketball teams are hosting their final home games before the holiday break on November 22 and November 23. In support and celebration
of the holiday season, a few events will be taking place during the games.

On Friday, November 22, Panther fans will be treated to a salsa dance halftime show during the men's basketball game. On Saturday, November 23, fans are asked to bring a teddy bear for a teddy bear toss during the men's game, with all bears being donated to the QEH children's ward. Donations to the UPEI Campus Food Bank will also be collected. In addition, fans will be treated to giveaways, promotions, and entertainment at both home games!

Come out and cheer on your UPEI Panthers as they take on the Dalhousie Tigers. The women's team will compete on November 22 at 6:00 pm, followed by the men's game at 8:00 pm. On Saturday, November 23, game times will be the same. The UPEI women's basketball team is currently in second place, while the Dalhousie women's team remains in fourth place. The UPEI men's team is in eighth place, while Dalhousie sits in sixth place.

Go Panthers Go!

For information:

Ron Annear

UPEI Athletics and Recreation

(902) 566-0991, annear@upei.ca

The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW)-a national, non-profit, non-partisan organization of nearly 10,000 female university graduates in 122 clubs across Canada-is offering graduate scholarships to eligible applicants.

Beginning in the 2014 academic year, CFUW Charlottetown scholarships will be awarded to masters and/or doctoral students who have resided in PEI for five of the last 15 years. Students who are enrolled in, or applying to, a masters or PhD program on a full-time basis at UPEI are eligible. UPEI graduates who are enrolled in, or applying to, an accredited Canadian university are also eligible. Graduate program applicants must be accepted and enrolled in their program of choice by September 1 of the application year. Upholding the commitment of the CFUW since 1919, preference will be given to female students.

'The Canadian Federation of University Women Charlottetown Graduate Scholarship in Arts or Education,' valued at a minimum of $5,000, will be awarded to an eligible student who is pursuing a graduate degree in the area of arts or education.

'The Canadian Federation of University Women Charlottetown Graduate Scholarship in Science or Nursing,' valued at a minimum of $5,000, will be awarded to an eligible student who is pursuing a graduate degree in the area of science (including veterinary medicine) or nursing.

CFUW provides its members with an opportunity to enjoy fellowship; to be stimulated and informed; to promote education through the awarding of scholarships, bursaries, and grants; and to improve the status of women and human rights in general.

Applications must include a letter of interest, university transcripts, and two letters of reference. The letter of interest should refer to the following selection criteria: academic performance, contributions and potential contributions to the field of study, and career goals and aspirations. Completed applications can be submitted to the UPEI Scholarships and Awards Office, c/o Heather Keoughan, Registrar's Office, Kelley Building, UPEI, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3. Application deadline is January 31, 2014. For more information, please contact Heather at (902) 566-0358,hkeoughan@upei.ca