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Mallory Jones Nursing Graduate JONES FOLLOWED HER DREAM OF ASSISTING IN THIRD-WORLD NURSING BY VOLUNTEERING HER TIME WITH HAITI VILLAGE HEALTH. (SUBMITTED PHOTO) Publications Mail Agreement No. 40010360
All Roads Lead to MHC .8
Heavy Metal .6
Cares Centre Opens Eyes .2
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Volume 2 Issue 1 Office of College Advancement Medicine Hat College 299 College Drive S.E. Medicine Hat, AB T1A 3Y6
PUBLISHER Mark Keller mkeller@mhc.ab.ca EDITOR Rose Paulgaard rpaulgaard@mhc.ab.ca GRAPHIC DESIGN Tammy Seibel PHOTOGRAPHY Pixeldust Photography
MANDATE Real people. Real stories. Real life. Our mandate for real is to share news and information about the people—students, alumni, employees, and supporters—who make Medicine Hat College a vibrant place to learn and grow. This focus on the ambitions and accomplishments of people is core to the nature of the college and the publication. real will be produced three times annually, perhaps growing in frequency and scope in the months and years ahead. The publication is mailed to alumni and donors, and provided free to the Medicine Hat community. The editor reserves the right to limit, select, edit and position submitted copy. Views expressed in real do not necessarily reflect college policy. real contents may be printed with acknowledgement.
CIRCULATION/ CHANGE OF ADDRESS Contact College Advancement at 403.504.3667 or via email at alumni@mhc.ab.ca.
Mallory Jones Nursing Graduate
BY JENNIFER THOMPSON
After finishing years of nursing classes and practicum, some students might take a vacation before embarking on their career. But not recent graduate Mallory Jones; she had work to do and a passion to follow. In the midst of Haiti’s post-earthquake cholera outbreak, Jones followed her dream of assisting in third-world nursing by volunteering her time with Haiti Village Health, a small organization dedicated to the provision of front-line medical care for Haitians. Two weeks and hundreds of cases of cholera later, Jones returned home to Canada to begin her nursing career in Peace River, Alberta but her time in Haiti is an experience she doesn’t want to soon forget. “I have Haiti in my heart,” she said recently in a phone interview. “And I’m hoping to go back as much as I can.” Jones’s studies at Medicine Hat College prepared her for life in a Haitian clinic, she said. “Medicine Hat College has one of the top nursing programs. I remember being so inspired by my public health instructor, but I felt helpless. This [experience in Haiti] opened my eyes.”
Jones’s eyes were also opened to other third-world problems: security. “I wasn’t too concerned about getting cholera, because I knew how it was transmitted and how to protect myself,” she said. “I was more worried about safety. There were lots of riots in the area, and the airport was closed.” Jones said the risk paid dividends when she saw the Haitians she treated recover from cholera. She describes kids arriving
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“It was crazy to have them come in and bounce back in a few short hours. It has been incredibly rewarding,” said Jones. Anyone interested in the organization Jones volunteered with can find more information at www. haitivillagehealth.ca.
Jones kept in close contact with her instructors, fellow students and family during her time in Haiti, sending detailed accounts of the long days and lives saved. One email mentions a boy she saved that particularly tugged at her heart:
“There was a little 13-month-old baby who was really sick and I had some trouble getting an IV in. One of the Haitian doctors put a jugular IV in, but the baby ripped it out later in the day. He came in the morning and wasn’t looking any better by nighttime. We had left clinic by 2:30 for a breather and didn’t come back until about 7:30 because it had died down a little bit. But when Dr. Tiffany and I went to do a final check I saw this little boy again. He was my very last cholera patient to take care of. His heart was beating like crazy, he was lethargic, and eyes very sunken so we all said a little prayer and I got an IV! So that was a nice ending :) He perked up quickly and started drinking well and hopefully will recover soon.”
Medicine Hat College maintains a database of all alumni and donors. This database is used to send you news about MHC, including real, and invitations to special events and requests for support. On Sept. 1,1999, post-secondary institutions were required to comply with Alberta's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. In accordance with this legislation, please respond to one of the following options:
in the clinic who were extremely lethargic with sunken eyes and how quickly they were able to recover with treatment.
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(SUBMITTED PHOTOS)
realPEOPLE . 2 From left to right: Jayne Kergen, Whitney Dunn, Cynthia Young, Kaylie Lowe and Chelsea Rivard.
CARES CENTRE
Opens Eyes BY ROSE PAULGAARD
What comes to mind when you think of Medicine Hat? Long summer days and sunny skies? A friendly and safe community for the young and young-at-heart? While these may be the images that most Hatters conjure up when they look around their community, five third-year nursing students discovered quite a different picture this fall when working with the Medicine Hat Cares Centre in the city’s downtown core. These students were exposed to a variety of social issues including homelessness, HIV/AIDS and drug addiction that are very real in our city, despite the common misconception that these problems are strictly related to larger urban centres. Cynthia Young, Jayne Kergen, Whitney Dunn, Chelsea Rivard and Kaylie Lowe worked with the Cares Centre every Wednesday throughout the fall semester as part of their Community Nursing rotation to better understand the issues facing the organization and the services it offers. Time was spent learning about the Centre and talking to other community service providers, as well as working with the actual population, estimated to be 130 people. The students were required to follow four steps critical to the nursing profession – assess, plan, implement and evaluate – and write group papers for each stage in the process. The research gathered by the nursing group helped lead to the organization and execution of two interventions – a clothing drive called Project Connect and the Black Bag Campaign. Project Connect was a large scale community effort that helped supply the Cares Centre with warm clothing for people in need as well as public and personal services from various local businesses. For the Black Bag Campaign, the nursing students collected a variety of goods including winter accessories and healthy snacks in MHC bags and distributed the items at the CORE hot supper program in November. These interventions, as well as the experiences gained from working with the homeless and vulnerable population, have made a lasting impact.
“I’ve learned that dealing with this population needs to be a community effort,” says Young, who recognizes the stereotypes surrounding homelessness and drug addiction and the deficiencies in public awareness. “People really don’t think that homelessness can affect anybody and everybody but it can.” Dunn was “absolutely shocked” by the experience and how her eyes were opened to the reality of homelessness in Medicine Hat, an issue she didn’t even realize existed here before she started working at the Cares Centre. “Sometimes we had to try and intervene
Connecting with the population during their limited time at the Centre and building trust with the clientele was an ongoing challenge, as was putting aside some of their own personal feelings about issues they faced. Watching individuals and families trying to access support services was particularly frustrating and sparked concerns that people would fall through the cracks. Unlike organizations in larger centres where support services are available under one roof, those seeking assistance often have to visit multiple locations in Medicine Hat to access the services they need.
“It’s happening here,” says Madonko of homelessness, drug use and HIV/AIDS. “These are community issues that we can all work together to improve.”
Barbra Madonko, Medicine Hat Cares Centre
or counsel, and sometimes it was just a matter of lending an ear. You had to be a jack of all trades. It was very different than being on the floor [at the hospital].” The biggest rewards for the group were being able to help and watching people respond to their help. “They’re making the connection,” says Rivard about clients who started recognizing them as nursing students. “They’re seeing us out in the community at different events and I think that consistency is great.” The hope these students have is for their work to continue through future nursing classes and for the Cares Centre population to be comfortable approaching MHC students and see them as a source of compassion and support. Despite the rewards the students experienced with this rotation, they had their share of challenges too.
Young credits her positive clinical experience in part to her instructor Una Weich, and the size of the college and community. “I’m not sure that we would have had the same clinical experience at a bigger college. I feel we’ve been pretty fortunate to have the small town experience. You get to be out in the community more and learn about the community.” Weich was particularly impressed by the group’s effort during their community rotation and their individual reflections on the experience. In fact, their work was so well received that a new group of students will be heading to the Cares Centre during the winter semester to work specifically with the HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C population. The Medicine Hat Cares Centre opened its doors in July 2010 under management from AIDS Calgary Awareness Association, taking over operations from
the HIV Society of Southeastern Alberta. It offers a variety of services including a needle exchange program and drop-in centre where clients can access Internet and phone resources, as well as receive assistance navigating other support organizations in the city. Counselling, advocacy, outreach, and public health services are also important aspects of the work done through the Cares Centre. Cares Centre Project Coordinator Barbra Madonko echoes the students’ sentiments about the challenges faced by the Centre. Overcoming stigmas and educating people about HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and intravenous drug use are critical to the success of the organization. Harm reduction plays an important role at the Centre with 65,000 clean needles being distributed through the needle exchange program since July, or just over 10,000 each month. While sometimes controversial, harm reduction programs are not about enabling a situation, says Madonko, but providing an opportunity for education and counselling. “We want to reduce harm. We’re trying to keep people safe by giving them options and providing an opportunity for engagement,” explains Madonko, adding that without this program, the cycle continues and issues like HIV/ AIDS and Hepatitis C will only continue to spread. “We want to encourage people and let them know there is a place to come for help.” Madonko, who is currently enrolled in MHC’s Social Work diploma program, believes the nursing students made a positive impact and welcomes additional community involvement to bring greater awareness and support to the Medicine Hat Cares Centre. “It’s happening here,” says Madonko of homelessness, drug use and HIV/AIDS. “These are community issues that we can all work together to improve.”
“You are never finished learning.� Dr. Linda Schwartz
real caught up with Dr. Linda Schwartz, MHC's new Academic Vice-President for her thoughts on her new home, new job and the new challenges ahead. Originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, Dr. Schwartz worked at Trinity Western University, Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Balmoral Hall School before joining Medicine Hat College in July 2010.
DR. LINDA SCHWARTZ
realSTORIES . 4
with Dr. Linda Schwartz
Q. What made you consider
Q. What do you see as your role
Medicine Hat and MHC for your new home and workplace?
in the community?
I believe my role is to represent MHC responsibly with a view to encouraging the stewardship of college resources in the community and region, and to be a good listener with the ability to discern and mobilize institutional responsiveness to community educational and training needs.
Medicine Hat was a good move for me because I’m from the prairies – Saskatchewan and Manitoba – and love the geography and the feeling of being 'close to home'. Why MHC? I’m attracted to smaller schools because I feel there is more opportunity to effect change and growth. I am fully supportive of the MHC mandate to be accessible and comprehensive in programming.
Q. What is your favourite thing
about Medicine Hat College so far? The people (colleagues and students) are my favourite part of MHC. It is a pleasure to come to work every day and to be surrounded by people who carry a concern for the welfare of others and who really care about the learning environment including the student experience and quality of programs and instruction.
Q. What would you like to see more of at MHC in the future?
I would like to see MHC become a place where learners – regardless of age – are equipped with more than a credential or skill set that prepares them for the marketplace. Colleges like ours need to focus increasingly on curriculum and instruction that offers the tools for learners to be critical thinkers, with transferable skill sets for problemsolving and teamwork. We need to become known as an environment where creativity and the imagination are fostered, where worldview is enlarged, and where self-actualization is nurtured in learning contexts that transcend local and immediate concerns and attend to global challenges and opportunity.
I also want to encourage people to see opportunity for collaboration, to grasp the larger picture, and to engage in conversation that explores how we continue to live and work together – in our local communities and in a world that is becoming increasingly complex.
Q. Tell us more about research at Medicine Hat College.
MHC has been mandated to become an active participant in applied and innovation research. After several years of sponsoring small research projects (mainly in science and ecology), Medicine Hat College has taken the next step toward the development of a full research platform. Since August 2010, a Research Management Committee (RMC) has steered the institution toward an appropriate policy framework, an institutional research focus (including an emphasis on active student research and a focus on the scholarship of teaching and learning), and has developed an institutional research plan which includes the creation of a centre for innovation and scholarship that is set to launch in 2011-12. Currently, the RMC is overseeing eight funded research projects involving students and staff, and is supporting several faculty who have ongoing projects that require ethics approval.
Q. What’s the top trend or
opportunity facing Canadian colleges today? The ability of colleges to work innovatively with regional partners in education, industry, healthcare and human services to create opportunities that provide training for local markets, enhance regional economic opportunity, and improve quality of life for all citizens, extending from the local context to a more global reach.
Q. Describe the impact of
post-secondary education in your life. Two-thirds of my life has been spent studying, teaching, or tasked with administrative leadership roles in postsecondary institutions. I have 'grown up' within the post-secondary context (college/university), nurtured within a professional academic community as a scholar (music/interdisciplinary studies), and mentored into a variety of leadership roles within academe, which, I hope, reflects and impacts positively on my daily work with others.
Q. What’s your most memorable career accomplishment to date?
Completing my PhD was stimulating intellectually and has been instrumental in advancing my career and securing this position at Medicine Hat College.
Q. Who or what inspires you? Too many things to mention here — music of all kinds, philosophy, and intellectual discourse that has the potential to transform the way people think and act…
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Q. What advice would you have for other female leaders?
You are never finished learning. One of the best ways to enter into a new or challenging work dynamic is to engage your colleagues with questions. A process of inquiry serves leaders well: in decision-making, we use it to weigh varied opinion against cultural practices and in light of our own experience; our curiosity displays a level of personal interest and engagement with colleagues as we enter their spaces of passion and responsibility; and the inquiring stance fashions and solidifies our life-long commitment to the discourses of the academy. Furthermore, a distinct feminine character trait (though not uniform for all women) is to be more digressive in approaches to problem-solving; an inquiring stance is not easily bent toward a will to power or to the need to control situations. Rather, a more open and responsive stance that supports the freedom of the other to transform a situation is permitted in feminine discourse, and straight-line reasoning for instrumental purposes tends to be a low motivator toward personal satisfaction. Bottom line: be true to yourself, and do not be swayed by political ambition or insecurity, both of which are inauthentic responses to a genuine call to leadership.
Q. Share a story about your most memorable mentor/teacher/leader?
Again, too many to recount. Here's something close to home. As a faculty member and department chair, I had a dean who enabled me to exercise my gifts for decision-making and leadership, without a lot of micromanagement. His example was the best model for the kind of leader I wanted to be – flat, transparent, and willing to admit that he was not the expert and that he trusted others’ judgement. I value that mentor relationship to this day.
Q. Tell us something about
yourself that nobody would guess. I am a huge fan of western legend, lore, poetry, art and music (Ian Tyson’s music / storytelling and the paintings of Charlie Russel are examples of some of the most inspiring work in that genre). I am also a rabid Saskatchewan Roughrider fan – though I think most people here know that already. The CFL is the one professional sport league I follow religiously!
s TV ire p s in MHC donor
BY ROSE PAULGAARD
With shows like Jersey Shore, Cribs and Pranked, MTV programming would hardly be described as a source of inspiration for most people but for one MHC alum, it was just that. Carla Froyman, 27, was watching a popular reality show on MTV about teen moms and the challenges they face when she decided she could make a difference. The source of inspiration was a 16-yearold mom who wanted to go back to school and worked hard to earn a $1,000 scholarship. Her story struck a chord with Carla, who recently graduated from Lethbridge College with a diploma in Environmental Assessment & Restoration after completing her first year of programming at Medicine Hat College. Carla also earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership here in 2004. “The mom started to cry. The only thing she said was ‘my tuition is $20,000 and now I only have $19,000 to go’. She was just so excited and that’s what made me
clue in – I can help somebody like that,” says Carla. “I really believe in second chances.” The importance of education was a valuable lesson Carla was taught at an early age while growing up in Vanguard, Saskatchewan. As someone who benefitted from scholarship opportunities throughout her academic journey, Carla recognized that she had the power to change someone’s life now. Despite her career being in its early stages, Carla is all about sharing what she has.
recognized multi-billion dollar company that specializes in “supplying consultancy, engineering and project management services to the world’s natural resources, nuclear, clean energy, water and environmental sectors.” Now she handles plants and wildlife and soil and groundwater remediation and protection projects and has had the opportunity to work at Dinosaur Provincial Park on a sensitive reclamation project. She’s also looking to the future, hoping to encourage others to follow her path at MHC.
“We get too caught up in material things. Five hundred dollars to me isn’t a lot of money – like that could be three pairs of jeans if I was selfish – but it’s a college class to someone else,” says Carla, whose chose to direct her scholarship money to single moms or dads because it can help an entire family, not just one person.
Her post-secondary experiences at Medicine Hat College were so positive that she believes everyone should have the opportunity to go to school here. Her love of biology, interest in the Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership program and the size of Medicine Hat are what attracted her to MHC.
With school behind her, Carla is back in Medicine Hat and enjoying her new career with AMEC, a highly
“I love this school. I think Medicine Hat College is an awesome facility and all my instructors were so intelligent and
helpful and supportive. I just think the more people who can get an education here the better. It’s a different attitude than university.” If you are interested in more information about how scholarships can change lives, please contact Deanna Haysom, Development Officer at 403.504.3643.
“I just think the more people who can get an education here the better.” Carla Froyman
GREAT GRANDMA FINDS FUTURE ONLINE REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM ECAMPUSALBERTA EZINE She may be 72-years-old, but eCampusAlberta’s oldest student certainly isn’t ready to sit back in her rocking chair and watch the world go by. In fact, Norma Hastie, mother of five, grandmother of 12 and great-grandmother of three, has a very busy life. She keeps the books for four different companies; works part time for a local travel agency, I.T.S. Travel & Cruise Ltd.; and takes two or three trips a year; all while studying to complete her Travel Counsellor certificate offered by Medicine Hat College. “I love life as a general thing; I believe you have to make life work for you,” Hastie says from her farm in central Alberta. “You don’t want to wait at my age, there are no dry runs.” Hastie married at 17 and didn’t get to finish high school. Then, nearly 50 years later, when her husband went into long-term care suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, Hastie decided to go back to get her high school diploma to keep her mind off her worries. “I needed something to take me away from all the challenges in my life,” Hastie says. “I was finding life hard to swallow and wanted something to get up in the morning and do. It was then I discovered I love learning.”
“The chemotherapy took my memory, I couldn’t remember anything for a while,” she says. “But I got to where I could make my mind work again and went back to my studies.” Hastie credits the online program with giving her a mental and physical boost. “The ability to learn from home has given me something else to live for. Being able to take these courses has meant so much to me; it’s been important in helping me heal from my husband’s illness and as a cancer survivor.” In addition to the accessibility, Hastie likes the flexibility online learning affords. “I am an early morning person and I can work on my courses at 6 a.m. if I choose. Also, sometimes when I’m not feeling well, or when I travel, I can take time off then catch up later.” Hastie says the college and her instructors have been wonderful. “They really go the extra mile. And they’ve bent over backwards to help me in any way, especially when accommodating my time off to fight the cancer.”
Upon her daughter’s suggestion, Hastie decided to combine her love of learning with her interest in travelling and enrolled to become a travel agent.
Hastie is looking forward to starting her practicum in January at I.T.S. Travel & Cruise and hopes to complete her program this coming spring.
“My courses have helped me in my travels,” she says. “I’ve learned how things work and I’m able to sort out problems with lost luggage and difficult booking arrangements.”
Learn more about Medicine Hat College’s Travel Counsellor certificate program by visiting ecampusalberta.ca.
Three years ago, when Hastie was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, she was forced to put her schoolwork on hold to fight the disease. But she didn’t give up.
realLIFE . 6
HEAVY METAL
SHANE MARTIN
BY JENNIFER THOMPSON Most Medicine Hat College students are not able to dead lift 408 pounds, nor have they toured the United States playing drums with a punk band. But Shane Martin, an Arts University Transfer – Sociology student likes to surprise people with his background. At 22-years-old, Martin has lived life to its fullest. He signed a contract with a recording label in 2008, and he and his band mates of She Writes Phoenix spent much of 2009 on tour. Martin not only played drums but also wrote lyrics and produced and arranged the band’s songs. After the tour, he returned to his hometown of Medicine Hat and found a surprising new outlet: powerlifting.
away a winner, earning first prize in his weight class and second overall. And that 408 pound dead lift? It was his first attempt. He also lifted 451 pounds in the back squat and 297 pounds in bench press. With those stellar results, Martin turned his months-old hobby into a trip to nationals this March in Charlottetown. “I didn’t expect to make it to nationals,” says Martin. “It was only my second meet. It takes most people years.” Until he makes the journey to Charlottetown, you will find Martin training with the Powerlifting Club at least ten hours per week. Along with his
“In the average week I will eat 36 eggs, drink eight litres of milk, and use a huge tray of ground beef.” Shane Martin After pooling money with his friends to put together a garage gym last spring, Martin was scouted by Medicine Hat College alumnus Kain Lyon to join the Medicine Hat Powerlifting Club. Within two months of beginning training with Lyon, he found himself at the Edmonton Power Surge, Alberta’s provincial championship meet for powerlifting.
training he tries to eat 220-240 grams of protein per day.
At an event that some might look at as a learning experience, Martin walked
Martin’s expensive trips to the grocery store may explain his desire to stay
With so much need for muscle-building protein, Martin’s food budget exceeds that of most students. “In the average week I will eat 36 eggs, drink eight litres of milk, and use a huge tray of ground beef,” he says.
at home in Medicine Hat while he completes more courses toward a sociology degree. Having also experienced life at a larger college, he says MHC has many benefits. “There is more warmth and accessibility to your professors here,” he says. “You can get to know them better, and they want to help you more. It is also nice to see a familiar face every 10-15 footsteps.” Martin is also a certified personal trainer and has taken advantage of several work opportunities at the college, having learned the ropes in the weight room, summer sports camps and the library. After tasting success in several venues of life, Martin is ready for more. His fiveyear plan includes finishing his sociology degree, possibly in Vancouver. “[Sociology] gives you a different perspective on why people are the way they are,” he says, adding that the knowledge gained studying sociology can be transferred to many different career fields. With a lifetime’s worth of experiences under his belt, and a solid perspective on society, Martin hopes his connections in the music industry will help him gain a job working in artist relations or music production after graduation. Another field in which he’s sure to be a winner.
Globalization: Around the block and around the world BY MARK KELLER There’s an odd conflict between the reality of globalization and the sheltered lives we lead within our neighbourhoods. We watch the news from a half a world away, for example, and when tragedy strikes we give because we care about people but at the same time, we don’t necessarily cultivate a relationship with the people next door if their cultural background is different than ours. When we go shopping and read the manufacturer’s label it becomes obvious that much of what we buy comes from someplace far away. But most of us don’t plan careers that consider opportunities in other provinces, let alone the rest of the world. How can it be that the world is so small on one hand, yet so dauntingly large on the other? Helping students and the community find answers to that question – and new opportunities once they do – is just one of the reasons Medicine Hat College continues to build a strong international education program. And putting small, quiet, largely-unheard-of Medicine Hat on the world map is but one of the challenges. Russel Boris, manager of the college’s international department, says the world has quickly become more and more of a “global village,” a place that requires nations to behave more like neighbours on the same street than isolated strangers. “In order to give students a global perspective and prepare them to be citizens in the global village, it is imperative that they have the opportunity to study with, interact with and build relationships with people from different cultures and societies,” explains Boris. The importance of exposure to different cultures is also recognized by Academic Vice-President Dr. Linda Schwartz. “The intentional cultivation of a diverse learning environment results in rich and more complex experiences for all students and instructors. Such diversity opens possibilities for dialogue and insight leading to new opportunities for personal fulfilment and service to humanity that might not otherwise be evident or realized,” she says. The value to students and the community is significant, Schwartz explains. “When conditions are created that emphasize worldview thinking and encourage intercultural dialogue, people begin to value difference. This appreciation for diversity brings with it an increased tolerance for and desire to accommodate multiple perspectives. Change that accommodates diversity leads to creative problemsolving and encourages innovative teaching and learning.” Helping Medicine Hat gain international perspective is a success Boris points to with pride. “For the last ten years, Medicine Hat College has had between 150-250 students from different cultures in our city at any given time. With students from 63 different countries, the college has definitely has added culture and diversity to our community.”
While acknowledging the college’s international successes, Dr. Schwartz believes broader college and community efforts will be required to achieve full value from international investments. “Internationalization at MHC has been based largely on the efforts of one office. While strong recruitment efforts have brought many international students to MHC, more effort needs to be expended – once they are here – to integrate international students socially into the culture of the educational environment.” She hopes to help the college expand its vision and embrace international studies to grasp what she sees as a priceless opportunity. “I believe Medicine Hat College is uniquely positioned to become identified as a centre for global/international studies,” she says, adding that the transformation from internal player to international leader fits the college and southern Alberta. “MHC has a good infrastructure for bringing international students to the city; the region has experienced a major influx of new Canadians who require cultural orientation and language/skills training for successful integration into the local community. We have tremendous potential for extending our academic programs – many of which are applied and focused around community engagement – beyond the local experience.” The result would be a sharpened brand for the college, one that provides a global perspective to all programs. “There is no other post-secondary institution in the province with a primary emphasis on globalization in curriculum and instruction that prepares students to be citizens of the world,” says Dr. Schwartz. Reaching out to that vision brings old and new challenges. Boris knows all too well that international activity is subject to international trends whether they relate to bust and boom economics or health scares like H1N1 and Mad Cow Disease. He also says, with a smile, that Medicine Hat’s reputation doesn’t extend all that far. “Medicine What???” is the reaction he often gets when travelling abroad. “On a positive note we don’t have to fight off many stereotypes…what people think about Medicine Hat and Alberta is purely how we present it.” Dr. Schwartz says her challenge also relates to helping people understand new concepts. Foremost is “the enormity of the opportunity we have as a college – because of our current strength in several international markets – to play on a world stage.” “The lives of our students, colleagues, and the community-at-large could be forever transformed by making a decision to invest planning and resources in a focused direction that sets a course by which MHC comes to be known, and for which there already exists a solid infrastructure.” Your thoughts on the college’s international growth are welcome; feel free to email either college leader: rboris@mhc.ab.ca or lschwartz@mhc.ab.ca.
realLIFE . 8
all roads lead to
BY ROSE PAULGAARD
For Alannah Maurer, all roads lead back to Medicine Hat College. Her journey began in 1991, when fresh out of high school, she asked herself the age-old question of “what do I want to be when I grow up?” That question, which most people can probably relate to, has taken Maurer down many paths. She started out at MHC by taking some French and English classes “to see if that would point her in a direction.” After deciding that languages weren’t the answer, she moved into the eightmonth Office Technology program to gain marketable skills that could be used in a variety of workplaces. She worked for several years in different office environments before deciding it was time to get back to class. This time the idea of kinesiology caught her attention because she got to take science and play sports in class, so she returned to MHC to start her physical education degree. “Because I have a short attention span I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” laughs Maurer, so not surprisingly after her two years at MHC were up it was time for a change of scene. Travelling to warmer climates, learning to scuba dive, obtaining her EMR certification and volunteering with Medicine Hat’s ambulance service occupied the next couple of years before she thought, “how about med school?” She came back to MHC to finish her science requirements before moving on to the University of Calgary where she completed her kinesiology degree. Sticking to her plan, she applied to medical school but didn’t get in. While this news may have been devastating for some, Maurer rolled with the punches and decided to do a master’s degree before reapplying and signed on for a research position focused on early dietary programming. At this point she had the opportunity to take
ALANNAH MAURER
MHC
classes with students currently enrolled in the medical program and discovered that she didn’t quite fit the mold of the profession, so the decision was made to roll her master’s into a PhD.
As part of her doctoral studies, she was a teacher’s assistant in a couple of classes including statistics. During the process she discovered that although she hated stats, she loved teaching. “I thought, ‘oh boy,’ if I can love teaching something that I don’t like I think I might have found my career path,” recalls Maurer. It may have taken Maurer 20 years to find out what direction she wanted to go, but now that she’s here, there’s no doubt that it’s exactly where she should be. So where’s ‘here’ for Maurer? Right back at Medicine Hat College where it all began. She finished her PhD in 2009 and returned to her hometown of Medicine Hat where she began bugging Dr. Peter Wallis, her former instructor and now dean of science, for a job. A temporary part-time position teaching introductory biology turned into a full-time gig last spring and now Maurer is working alongside those who used to teach her.
“I did a lot of ‘so now what?’ I narrowed it down, crossed off a few options.”
She admits to finding it a bit surreal to be working with the very people she admired so much as a student and never would have guessed at that time that she would one day be the one in front of the class. As for teaching, the real reward for Maurer is spending time with students, sharing their interests and watching their understanding grow. While her journey has been a long one, she’s learned a lot along the way. Her advice to future students is to get exposure to as many different things as possible.
Alannah Maurer
“Try it out before you completely commit,” encourages Maurer, who discovered certain areas weren’t good fits for her simply by volunteering. “If you’re thinking about becoming a paramedic, take your EMR certification. Interested in vet medicine? Try job shadowing at a local clinic. Observe those fields and spend a couple days in those people’s shoes. I did a lot of 'so now what?' I narrowed it down, crossed off a few options. “I love school. I got to the point where I realized ‘what do I like to do?’ I like to learn. I love being in school. So how do you stay in school for good? You teach. I’ve finally got it figured out and go home at the end of the day in a good mood.” If you are interested in starting your journey at Medicine Hat College, talk to one of our friendly advisors at 403.529.3819.
Sights SetforHigh BY MARK KELLER Developing instrumentation to study the space between Earth and Sun, while juggling hot dog lunches for a couple hungry kids, is just another day in the life of Medicine Hat College alum Ian Schofield. Using magnetometers – scientific instruments used to measure the strength and/or direction of a magnetic field – Schofield studies the skies from the Athabasca University Observatory where he’s worked in research since 2007. Most Canadians have seen the bright lights of the aurora borealis shimmering in the night sky, for example, but may not realize that the light show is triggered by charged particles colliding with the Earth’s magnetic field. Schofield's job is to advance the technology behind the science. Schofield’s work also has more down-to-earth application and he explains that the same magnetic storms that affect the space between Earth and Sun can also create electrical currents in metal objects on the ground. That electrical current accelerates corrosion, and corrosion in turn shortens the life of metal. While he says there’s no need to worry about your car, if you’re budgeting for billion dollars investments in pipelines, having a handle on their maintenance needs and lifespan is definitely worth your time. So how did this alum find his way his way to a university research career? Medicine Hat College wasn’t Schofield's first or last educational experience. He enrolled in 1994 already prepared with a Bachelor of Arts degree. After investing three years on campus, he transferred – admittedly not without some difficulty – to the University of Lethbridge where he completed a bachelor's and master's degree in science.
At the U of L, Schofield says he “hooked into good research in astrophysics” and was hired by Athabasca University right after graduation. “My Medicine Hat College experience was probably my most positive experience,” he says, adding that the quality of instruction was excellent. “The time was vigorous because they (faculty) had high expectations; they were actually pretty hard.” His advice to students, and those considering college or university, is to develop good work habits before attending post-secondary because that’s tough to do once you’re in class. “You also have to have a plan. You don’t want to float through school, those days are gone. “There are lots of careers in science and computing science,” says Schofield, but warns students that a degree by itself is not a meal ticket. “If you’re good at something there will be applications for you.”
“My Medicine Hat College experience was probably my most positive experience.” Ian Schofield
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College Launches New Website
t ’ n Do et! g r o f UARY
FEBR
2011
Medicine Hat College has a new look online as a result of its recent website launch. Over the past 18 months, MHC has worked hard to develop a new web presence to better serve its students and community stakeholders. The college consulted with leading educational website developers, Non-Linear Creations of Ottawa, to completely overhaul the site and its approach to delivering information online. In today's society, websites provide businesses and organizations with a highly effective marketing and communication tool. They are equally important in the realm of post-secondary education and must be designed to accommodate a wide variety of users and purposes. From programs and courses to recruitment and registration, the demands of a college website are endless.
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CH Day 201 a Family 10 In 21 Albert Closed) 1 f e o g e r ll m o y (C a a D t a i o r n Eve tudent fo 14-16 S ent Study Break 16 Jo ning Sess b ion tud 25 C Fair 22-25 S onvo c Dead ation App line licatio n
APRIL 2011 08 Last Day of Classes 11-21 Exams for Credit Classes 22 Good Friday (College Closed)
The new site was designed based on user statistics and research sessions conducted with current MHC and high school students. While much of the information is still presented based on audience groups, web content has been reorganized to better represent the flow of college services instead of their administrative structure within the organization. It’s important to keep in mind that a website is never truly finished, says Mark Keller, director of College Advancement. “While we may have achieved our first milestone with the launch of the new site, the work is never done. We look forward to enhancing the site in the months ahead to offer new experiences to users on a regular basis.” Visit the new and improved MHC website at www.mhc.ab.ca.
MAY 2011
JUNE 2011
02 Credit Class es Begin for Spring Session 23 Victoria Day A (College Close d) 27 Credit Class es End for Spring Session 30 Credit Class A es Begin for Spring Session B
03 Spring Con voca 24 Credit Class tion es End for Spring Session B
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Higgins & Ith
(Article submitted by the Entrepreneur Development Centre)
Back in 2009, high school buddies Jonathan Higgins, 20, and Stapana Ith, 20, made an unusual New Year’s resolution: start a clothing company. “We’ve always been interested in business,” says Ith, a business administration student at Medicine Hat College. “We saw the beginning of a new year as the perfect time to take the next step and start something real.”
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Higgins & Ith, the brand they launched, is consistently adding new retailers and building recognition in an extremely competitive industry. In an attempt to differentiate the company, Higgins & Ith have embraced corporate social responsibility, supporting projects that contribute to positive social change in communities around the world. “Julie Hauck, a good friend of ours, inspired us when she went to Nairobi, Kenya to volunteer at an orphanage,” says Higgins. “In support of her generosity, we donated some of our clothes. Judging from the pictures we got back, the orphanage appreciated the initiative.” Marketing is one of the biggest challenges facing Higgins & Ith. Retailers are extremely price-conscious, and any sales gains are hard-fought and worth the effort.
MEDICINE HAT COLLEGE THEATRE
6:30 pm Cocktails and Silent Auction 7:30 pm Performance (Reception to follow)
(AVAILABLE AT THE CULTURAL CENTRE OR CALL 403.529.3880)
“We see complete strangers wearing our clothes,” says Ith. “That’s been one of our biggest rewards – seeing somebody we don’t know wearing our brand. It inspires us to keep going.” Higgins and Ith were recently recognized as Entrepreneurs of the Month by MHC’s Entrepreneur Development Centre (EDC). Find out how the EDC can help you start your business by calling 403.504.3585.
HOMECOMING
2010
SAVE THE DATE Homecoming 2011 Sept 16-17
ALUMNI pre-register for events by contacting alumni@mhc.ab.ca