Fourth-year Panthers hockey forward Jordan Knox received the Canadian Interuniversity Sport Dr. Randy Gregg Award at the SaskTel Awards Presentation at TCU Place in Saskatoon on Wednesday, March 13. Knox was honoured with the award for his excellence in hockey, academics, and community service.

The Skinners Pond native also received an Academic All-Canadian mention in each of the four seasons he played in the Atlantic conference. He finished this past season 16th in AUS scoring with nine goals and 16 assists to give him 25 points in 28 games. During his Panther career, he has collected 33 goals and 67 assists for a total of 100 points in 108 regular season games.

Knox's volunteer efforts have not gone unnoticed. He was instrumental in raising funds for two families during times of tragic loss-families of former Panther Drew Power, and Kameron Cooke, who was from the same West Prince community as Knox. Knox has also volunteered with hockey camps, hockey associations, fundraising events, and community awareness activities.

'Jordan exemplifies exactly what the spirit of this award represents,' said UPEI head coach Forbes MacPherson. 'Jordan is the epitome of outstanding AUS achievement in hockey, academics, and community involvement. Jordan ‘gets it' and he is a model student-athlete. He is a leader in our program, is becoming a young strong leader of our community, and is a tremendous nominee for the Dr. Randy Gregg Award.'

'For Jordan to be recognized at the national level for his commitment, academic success, and community work is something we are very proud of,' said UPEI's Director of UPEI Athletics and Recreation Bill Schurman. 'Jordan leads by example and is the perfect example of the character that we look for to play for the green and white.'

UPEI congratulates Jordan on this prestigious and well-deserved award!

UPEI's Executive MBA (EMBA) program and the PEI Business Women's Association partnered on a workplace bullying presentation on Wednesday, March 13. The event took place in Schurman Market Square, Don and Marion McDougall Hall, on the UPEI campus.

Jodi Murphy, a UPEI EMBA graduate and teacher with the Prince Edward Island English-language School Board shared her research findings from her signature project, an independent research project and key component of the UPEI EMBA program. These signature projects provide structure for students to conduct a deep examination of a particular area, advised by a faculty member. It also provides students with the opportunity to apply management concepts and skills that they have acquired during the EMBA program.

Her project focused on the current state of workplace bullying in Canada and the implications that this issue has on organizations. Some of her findings include the costs associated with workplace bullying, which come from loss of productivity, legal settlements, and loss of good employees who have been bullied and chose to leave the organization. Workplace bullying has negative effects on the target of bullying, the other employees who witness the incidents, the organization as a whole, and some believe there are societal consequences as well.

During the session, Murphy discussed trends in workplace bullying in Canada and made a call to action. 'Awareness and education is not enough to stop bullying, there needs to be action,' said Murphy. 'Awareness and education are a good start, but these approaches alone are not enough to stop bullying. We need to encourage people to stand up and not be silent to this epidemic in our workplaces. I believe our collective efforts can help us create the respectful workplaces we all desire to work in.'

'It is a pleasure to partner with the PEI Business Women's Association on this event and we are pleased to share some of the valuable and interesting research by our executive MBA students,' said Dr. Roberta MacDonald, director of UPEI's EMBA program. 'This sharing and working together will help us to become a stronger community of PEI business women.'

'Prince Edward Island workplaces are not immune to workplace bullying. Jodi's research will raise awareness about this important issue and hopefully encourage further ongoing discussion within our own business community to nurture healthier working environments,' said April Ennis, president of the PEI Business Women's Association.

Murphy's research illustrates that for such a serious problem, Canada has been slow to implement legislation which would make workplace bullying illegal. There is no national legislation in Canada dealing with workplace bullying and only four provinces have adopted provincial legislation-Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan-to make workplace bullying illegal.

For more information on the event, or UPEI's executive MBA program, contact Grace McCourt at (902) 566-6474 or mba@upei.ca

Clea Roberts lives in Whitehorse, Yukon, on the Takhini River. She will read and talk about her poetry on Monday, March 18 at 7:30 pm in the UPEI Faculty Lounge, Main Building as part of the Winter's Tales Author Reading Series.

Here Is Where We Disembark, her debut collection, consists of two sections. The first follows cycles of the season and domestic life. 'You know you've found a real poet when she observes that mud, in a Yukon springtime, was ‘never so exotic, / tracked across the kitchen floor,'' writes poet and critic Gary Geddes. The second section portrays the people and backdrop of the Klondike Gold Rush. We hear a pioneer wife speak to the river, a prostitute to a sergeant, and a woman to a king salmon. Roberts gives voice to river, fish, and fire, as well as to human settlers and sojourners.

'From many perspectives-historical, social, biological-Roberts' keen poetic intelligence imagines an ecology of inclusion that the landscape of the North, or of any particular ‘here,' calls us to,' states poet Sharon Thesen. 'Survival is a major theme, but there is a transcending joy and beauty in these poems.' (The Malahat Review).

Roberts is a three-time recipient of the Yukon Government Advanced Artist Award and co-organizes the Whitehorse Poetry Festival. Her poems have appeared in The Antigonish Review, The Dalhousie Review, The International Feminist Journal of Politics, Lake: A Journal of Arts and the Environment, and other magazines. Her work has been nominated for a National Magazine Award, and she was a finalist for the 2011 Gerald Lampert Award for Best First Book by a Canadian Poet.

Her reading is sponsored by the UPEI English department with support from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Yukon government. A reception will follow her reading. Admission is free.

The UPEI curling team is off to Kamloops, BC, for the 2013 CIS/CCA University Curling Championship which takes place March 20-24 at the Kamloops Curling Club. The team, consisting of skip Veronica Smith, Jane DiCarlo, Emily Gray, and Aleya Quilty, is coached by Paul Smith.

UPEI and Saint Mary's University had strong showings at the AUS curling championship back in January-UPEI advances to nationals as Atlantic B final winners, while Saint Mary's advances as A winners. Both teams will represent the Atlantic conference with the hope of earning national medals.

'It's always a special feeling of pride when teams have the opportunity to compete on the national stage for the UPEI community and the province as a whole,' said UPEI Director of Athletics and Recreation, Bill Schurman.

UPEI will take on Thompson Rivers University in their first of seven draws at 10:00 am on Wednesday, March 20. National semi-finals will take place on Saturday, March 23 at 7:00 pm, with finals on Sunday, March 24 at 2:00 pm (PDT).

Best of luck to our UPEI team. Go Panthers Go!

CIBC has generously donated $125,000 to the University of Prince Edward Island and its School of Business to assist UPEI business administration students.

The CIBC Awards in Business Administration will be granted on an annual basis over a five-year period, to ten undergraduate students enrolled full-time in the bachelor of business administration program. The scholarships are valued at $2,500 each.

'We are delighted to present the CIBC Awards in Business Administration to ten deserving students this year,' said Alan Duncan, dean of the School of Business. 'We can't thank CIBC enough for their support. These students best reflect the vision and commitment of CIBC and are so grateful to be the first recipients of these new awards.'

Award recipients had the opportunity to thank representatives from CIBC during a reception held on the UPEI campus on Friday, March 15 at Don and Marion McDougall Hall. The first recipients of this scholarship include: Ashley Deighan, Christine DeVries, Amy Doyle, Kaleigh Duffy, Nikkie Gallant, Justin Lank, Rachelle MacArthur, Jeffrey Taylor, Michael Warren, and Alex Whalen. Representatives from CIBC included Dave Hopper, district vice-president for northern Nova Scotia and PEI; branch managers Floyd Jackson and Glenn Trueman; and representatives from CIBC Wood Gundy Rick Gallant, Deneen Ferguson, and Dale Turner. UPEI's dean of the School of Business Alan Duncan was the event's master of ceremonies.

'CIBC supports causes that matter to our clients, our employees, and our communities. With a community investment focus on kids and youth, CIBC is helping these students reach their full potential. We are proud to support the business administration program at UPEI,' said Hopper. 'Every year, CIBC invests millions of dollars in scholarship funding, skills training, and mentoring programs that benefit thousands of young people across Canada,' he added.

On Thursday, March 21 at 7:30 pm the UPEI music department will present 'Sing me a Story' featuring third-year soprano students Nadine Haddad and Morgan Wagner with the assistance of Frances McBurnie on piano. The recital will include works by J.S. Bach, Enrique Granados, Henry Purcell, Richard Strauss, Gioacchino Rossini, Antonio Vivaldi, and Hugo Wolf as well as traditional and jazz selections. After months of preparation Nadine and Morgan look forward to sharing many stories in song.

UPEI music student Echo Lau will present her senior piano recital on Sunday, March 24 at 2:30 pm. The program will include Chopin's Sonata no.3 in B minor, Debussy's L'isle Joyeuse, and Ravel's Concerto in G, accompanied by Dr. Frances Gray. Echo was born in Hong Kong and moved to PEI with her parents in 2004. She studied piano with Frances McBurnie throughout her high school years and is now studying with Dr. Frances Gray at UPEI. Echo has represented PEI in the National Music Festival and has twice been awarded the Rose Bowl at the PEI Kiwanis Music Festival. Echo has played violin with the PEI Symphony and is a member of the UPEI Jazz Ensemble.

On Tuesday, March 26 at 7:30 pm the UPEI Jazz Ensemble will present their end-of-semester concert under the direction of David Shephard. The ensemble will perform favourite big band charts from Duke Ellington to Gordon Goodwin. Once again, the jazz ensemble will be joined by members of the UPEI vocal department. Morgan Wagner will perform 'Step to the Rear' from the broadway production 'How Now, Dow Jones.' Melissa MacKenzie will join the band on 'At Last,' and recent Music PEI award winner Hannah Rollwage will be featured on 'Somewhere' from 'West Side Story.'

Over 70 high school students across the province are taking part in UPEI's first ever open class days being held March 18 and 19. UPEI invited high school students to attend classes, have lunch, tour the university, and experience what a university class is all about.

'This is a great opportunity for students to experience UPEI in the company of friends and classmates,' said Christian Lacroix, Interim Vice-President Academic. The open class days initiative was led by the offices of the Vice-President Academic, Recruitment, and the UPEI Student Union.

Students were able to register in a variety of classes from the nursing, science, arts, and business programs including first-year to fourth-year courses. On Monday, lunch was hosted by the Atlantic Veterinary College and followed with guided tours of the facility. Tuesday's lunch will be hosted by the UPEI Student Union and will follow with campus tours.

UPEI kicked off National Co-operative Education Week today with the signing of an official proclamation by PEI's Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning Allen Roach. National co-op week (March 18-22) is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Canadian co-op students.

The UPEI Co-operative Education program will celebrate the national week by recognizing student work term accomplishments during its annual co-op awards ceremony on Wednesday, March 20. 'Co-op Student of the Year' awards in business, physics, and computer science as well as 'Employer Recognition' awards will be presented. Winners of the 'Co-op Student of the Year' awards demonstrate high academic achievement, a valued contribution to their employer and community, and exemplary personal and professional development.

'The UPEI co-op program motivates students and encourages them to take a positive step beyond their comfort level,' said Lisa Hoskins, UPEI's national co-op week coordinator.'It allows students to take initiative to develop a prosperous career path. It also progresses learning, maturity, and ambition while easing the transition from university to the workplace.'

UPEI is among 130 colleges and universities across Canada that are actively involved in developing their students into workplace professionals through co-operative education. UPEI's co-operative education program fosters next generation leaders and gives students the opportunity to push themselves, while at the same time giving back to the local community. Through real-life experience and guidance from employers and co-op coordinators, students gain valuable knowledge and skills that will be used throughout their career upon graduation.

For more information on UPEI's co-op program, visit upei.ca/co-op or email co-op@upei.ca. For more information on the CAFCE's National Co-op Week, visit www.cafce.ca/en/co-op-week

UPEI students will host the second annual Battle of the Jocks fundraiser on Saturday, March 23. The event showcases varsity athletes competing in hockey, basketball, and soccer games and skills competitions to raise funds for the Children's Wish Foundation (PEI Chapter) and UPEI's Passion for Life Award, an award created to honour Rene Ayangma, a member of the UPEI men's soccer team who passed away in 2008.

Beginning at 6:00 pm, athletes will compete in a 45-minute indoor soccer game at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, followed by a basketball-skills relay and dunk competition. The third event will take place on the ice surface at the MacLauchlan Arena where teams will compete in a fast-paced hockey game. This year's Children's Wish Foundation honorary coaches are Shendrit and Dylan, two children living with high-risk, life threatening illnesses.

Tickets can be purchased for $10 at the Mickey Place Kiosk at the W.A. Murphy Student Centre or from Carol Heartz, UPEI Athletics and Recreation, heartz@upei.ca.

For more information on the event, or to volunteer, contact Julia McKenna at jpmckenna@upei.ca

A pair of undergraduate physics students at UPEI were awarded top honours at the 2013 Science Atlantic Physics & Astronomy Conference, held recently at the Université de Moncton. Logan Montgomery won the Science Atlantic Science Communication Award, and Taylor Dunn won the ACEmat Award in Computational Modeling of Materials.

Dunn's award is for his project, titled Polymer translocation dynamics through a nanopore, which he worked on last summer as an NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award-winner. Dunn used computer simulation methods to study the dynamics of a polymer as it squeezes through a tiny hole in a barrier, a process called polymer translocation. He says this type of research could lead to improvements in DNA sequencing.

'I was thrilled to receive the award from ACEmat,' said Dunn. 'Receiving the award has given me even more motivation to continue my research, and to pursue more projects in computational modeling in the future.'

Dunn's supervisor is Dr. James Polson, associate professor of physics at UPEI.

'There are various competing theories of polymer translocation dynamics, and it's not yet clear which provides the correct physical picture for the experimental context,' said Dr. Polson. 'Taylor's work will help resolve this theoretical problem, and this, in turn, will guide the development of the DNA sequencing technology.'

Logan Montgomery's winning project was titled Analyzing the effects of phaseless CT images on cancer treatment plans. It was based on his co-op work last summer at the Prince Edward Island Cancer Treatment Centre.

'The centre uses a CT simulator to develop radiation treatment programs for cancer patients on P.E.I.,' explained Montgomery. 'A small number of the images created by the simulator had errors in them, and we were having trouble understanding why. I was able to help discover that a part of the program originally designed to compensate for irregular data was, in fact, over-compensating and creating errors.'

'I'm really proud of Logan and the work he did at the cancer centre as part of his co-op work term,' said Dr. Bill Whelan, physics co-op director. 'Here is one of our top physics students making a real difference in how cancer treatments are delivered on Prince Edward Island."

Science Atlantic (formerly APICS, the Atlantic Provinces Council on the Sciences) is a charitable association of 18 post secondary and research institutes in Atlantic Canada with a mandate to advance science education and research at the undergraduate level.