Windsor student awarded largest Canadian STEM scholarship

BY LISA DALLA VECCHIA COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Congratulations to Iliana Hodgins, one of 100 students who enrolled in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) undergraduate program at 20 partner universities in Canada to receive a $100,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship.

A Windsor Secondary graduate, and the first Windsor student to win a Schulich Leader Scholarship, Iliana entered the Biomedical Engineering program at the University of Calgary fall 2022.

Iliana was selected by Windsor’s scholarship committee for her outstanding academic, leadership, athletic, citizenship and service achievements and contributions to the school community.

she could help a group realize its potential.”

Students engaged in cross-curricular learning with math (shapes), science (rock cycle and balance), socials (inukshuk) and physical and health education (hiking in the forest).

Eugene Minn, nominator and teacher shared, “Iliana's greatest ability was how she helped everyone around her perform to their fullest potential. Whether as the supportive and caring student in the classroom who always helped others in need, or as the volleyball team's starting setter, she always enthusiastically took on any leadership role where

Identity Impressions – A Grade 3 art exhibition

BY GLENDA ROBERTSON PRINCIPAL

Grade 3 students at Norgate Xwemélch’stn presented their art exhibition, Identity Impressions, to their Grade 7 buddies and to their families.

Through their “How We Express Ourselves” unit of inquiry, students developed their understanding related to the central idea, “We can express aspects of our identity through a variety of art forms.”

During the unit of inquiry, they built and showed their understanding of the concept of identity by developing Pieces of Me visuals to represent the multiple facets of who they are.

By reading stories that included different personal features, cultural facts, ethnic characters and life stories, students were encouraged to theorize as to what aspect(s) of identity authors shared through their own stories.

Students also explored how visual artists share aspects of their personal identity through artwork, as well as the varied ways people express and share aspects of their identify.

To demonstrate their overall understanding of the lines of inquiry and central idea, students created a piece(s) to share a personal story of who they are with the broader school community.

Their gallery presentation was a huge success, and their artwork has now become a special installation in the school’s front entry display case.

Iliana acknowledged how fortunate she has been, since her years at Sherwood Park Elementary, to be guided by many community members, and thanked “my family, as well as each teacher, coach, and mentor for pushing me to my full potential.”

Iliana’s post-secondary goals include using her “post-secondary education to positively impact society through innovation and entrepreneurship, and specifically in the area of AI neural interface technology.” ■

This unit of inquiry helped students understand they are artists who can express themselves and share their identity with the broader community and world. ■