WolfpackWelcome

Over the last few years, firstyear NWP student Gabrielle Nelles has learned a lot about herself. In the face of significant challenges, many of which were related to the pandemic, Gabrielle has come to realize the importance of connection, the value of curiosity, and the beauty of balance.

These themes show up again and again through her personal life, work life, and now as a student of NWP’s School of Applied Science and Technology.

school has become a really positive experience for me.”

It was the isolation brought on by the pandemic that taught Gabrielle just how important real connection is for her. She has learned that interpersonal and high-touch interactions are critical to her wellbeing, and she made attending in-person classes a non-negotiable aspect of her enrollment at NWP.

“I am a very talkative person – if fact, I probably talk the most of anyone in my classes,” she says with a smile. “One of the great things about NWP is having professors who, even in the first month, knew my name and cared about getting to know me.”

Gabrielle was among the top three students of the 2022 graduating class of St. Joseph’s Catholic High School in Grande Prairie.

“I have always been a good student. I have a curiosity and passion for learning, and education just seems to fit with how my brain works,” she says. “It took some time and effort for me to figure out what I needed in order to focus and excel, but with the support of friends and some great teachers,

In addition to appreciating the knowledgeable and engaging faculty, Gabrielle is enjoying the degree of acceptance and open-mindedness at NWP. She feels so comfortable in the environment that her ultimate goal is to become a professor herself, likely with a focus on history.

With classes like Indigenous and Cultural Minorities in the Modern World, Basic Psychological Processes, and Literature in Global Perspective, Gabrielle spends her days surrounded by people who are similarly interested in the world and in seeking an informed and balanced perspective.

Balance is something Gabrielle takes very seriously – both literally and figuratively. Now a dedicated yogi, she credits movement and sport as having always been a foundational force in her life. She has also found balance by opting for a lighter course load that allows her to work a job that brings further fulfillment (and dogs!) into her life, with some time left over for her various passions.

Arts and culture, plants, and spending quality time with her girlfriend are other important aspects of her life that ground and centre her.

Gabrielle is looking forward to the rest of her time at NWP. Having figured out the hallways (no small feat, according to her), finding passionate and like-minded people, and designing a schedule that successfully balances her work, education, and life priorities, it seems safe to say that her love of learning is in very good hands.

As technology, the environment, social conditions, and our economy continue to be transformed by time, the importance of research and innovation has never been greater. With its new name, look, and vision for the future, Northwestern Polytechnic is honing its focus on applied research opportunities and partnership synergy.

“As Alberta’s newest polytechnic institution, we now have a longer and more defined runway for our applied research endeavours,” says Andrew Dunlop, Dean of NWP’s School of Applied Science and Technology. “It’s exciting because we are even better positioned to advance meaningful partnerships with local industry leaders and community stakeholders.”

While research is a key driver of progress, not all research follows the same path. For instance, universities tend to be focused on expanding knowledge and theory through discovery-based activities across many disciplines.

Applied research is different. It involves the identification of solutions to specific problems and/or seeking answers to specific questions. It’s straightforward, practical, and purposeful.

Andrea Rosenberger-Deleeuw, an NWP alumna who recently graduated with her Bachelor of Social Work, is in the unique position of having contributed to a body of applied research that she now has the opportunity to put into practice.

After high school, Andrea worked at the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre – first as a summer camp facilitator and later as a full-time youth program lead. Although she had already completed some post-secondary education in graphic design and communication, encouraging youth to consider NWP inspired her to enroll herself in NWP’s Social Work Degree Transfer Program. The first two years of the degree program introduced her to a broad range of liberal arts and social science subjects before completing her Social Work degree through the University of Calgary Virtual Learning Circles program.

“Even though I was focused on social work as my career, I really enjoyed being exposed to new ideas and concepts through classes like Anthropology, Canadian History, Sociology, and Psychology,” says Andrea. “I also loved being involved, first as Secretary and then President, in the Circle of Indigenous Students group. All this, plus the knowledgeable and passionate instructors, made for a great experience.”

Being able to complete her degree while living in Grande Prairie allowed Andrea to involve herself in the Youth Engagement Survey project, an ongoing study focused on the specific factors impacting young people’s sense of belonging and connection.

The study is managed by Dr. Connie Korpan and Dawn Moffat McMaster, who together lead the Community Enhancement Research projects for the School of Applied Science and Technology.

“I was especially interested in helping out because of my experience working at the Friendship Centre in youth programming,” explains Andrea. “I recognized that there were gaps in the services available to our youth and I wanted to learn more about their every-day realities.”

Beyond the personal satisfaction that she gained from the experience, and the positive ripple of youth feeling empowered and that their opinions matter, Andrea is pleased to see the data collected is being used in a very real and meaningful way. In addition to being shared with community organizations who support and represent youth, the findings were also included in the 2021 Northwestern Alberta’s Vital Signs publication. This resource is produced by the Community Foundation to improve understanding of what is being done well in the community, as well as potential gaps, allowing organizations across Northern Alberta to be part of mobilizing informed change across the region.

“I often draw on the lessons I learned through the Belonging and Connection research project,” says Andrea, now a social worker focused on Indigenous Education Services for the Peace Wapiti Public School Division. “Having witnessed firsthand the positive impact of applied research, I look forward to all the future insights and information to be uncovered through NWP’s Rural and Northern Alberta Community Engagement research stream.”