On March 14, the College of Rehabilitation Sciences (CoRS) held its annual Winter Awards Ceremony at the Canad Inns Destination Centre.
Kelly Codispodi, academic coordinator of clinical education, emceed the event. Elder Margaret Lavallee, Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing, offered an opening prayer, and greetings were given by Jacquie Ripat, vice-dean of academic affairs, on behalf of Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and Mark Garrett, physical therapy department head, on behalf of the college.
“Today’s winter awards ceremony truly is a celebration of excellence we have in our student body. The students who are receiving awards have worked very hard and are being celebrated for their leadership, community engagement, dedication and high academic standing,” Ripat said.
“A lot of hard work gets done here at the college by our students…but also by our staff and faculty. So our awards ceremonies are a lovely moment for us to pause, to reflect, to celebrate the amazing talents and achievements of our excellent CoRS students,” said Garrett.
Over $236,000 worth of awards were presented to students across the four programs in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences – occupational therapy, physical therapy, respiratory therapy and the master’s program in rehabilitation sciences.
The college also offers eight bursaries worth over $34,000 to students who have a demonstrated financial need. These are awarded separately from the ceremony.
This year’s award winners were:
Clarence Bogardus Sharpe Memorial Scholarship – Kiera Martin-Shimoji (OT), Braden Hildebrand (PT) (presented by Todd Duhamel, associate dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies)
University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships (UMGF) – Katia Wlasiuk (OT), Michael Laden (PT), Erin Schellenberg (MSc), Stefanie Wiens (MSc) (presented by Todd Duhamel, associate dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies)
Postl Scholarship – Bridget Constant (OT) (presented by Jacquie Ripat, vice-dean, academic RFHS)
Manitoba Medical College Foundation Entrance Scholarship – Serina Gill (OT), Savannah Pohl (PT), Paul Dubinski (RT), Lea Soliman (MSc) (presented by Mark Garrett, physical therapy department head)
The Jal Tata Award – Denise Dreikluft (MSc) (presented by Joanne Parsons, chair, MSc Rehabilitation Sciences program)
Mary Pflueger Award – Josée Rochon (OT) (presented by Juliette Cooper, Professor Emeritus, occupational therapy)
Dr. A.W. Hogg Scholarship – Rachel Donnelly (RT) (Linnea Taylor, awards establishment lead, Financial Aid & Awards)
Manitoba Public Insurance Occupational & Physical Therapy Tuition Scholarship – Morgan Lecuyer (OT), Josée Rochon (OT), Karlynne Sagert (OT), Shelly Lam (PT) (presented by Mark Garrett, physical therapy department head)
Manitoba Blue Cross Medical Rehabilitation Scholarship – Ally Crang (OT), Marissa Kaegi (PT), Hesham Mohamed (RT) (presented by Ed Giesbrecht, acting department head, occupational therapy)
MSOT-Manitoba Society of Occupational Therapists Student Research Award – Morgan Lecuyer (OT) (presented by Justin Monton, director of awards, MSOT)
E.J. Thomas Prize – Taylor Saltel (OT), Cora Tsang (PT), Catherine Campos (RT) (presented by Valentina Cornejo, executive director, Community Therapy Services)
Dr. Ron Bowie Scholarships – Karlynne Sagert (OT), Shelly Lam (PT) (presented by Valentina Cornejo, executive director, Community Therapy Services)
The Vesalius Prize in Anatomy – Devon Poiron (PT) (presented by Mike McMurray, department of physical therapy)
Helen Humphrey Ross Award of Excellence – Andrea Loraas (PT) (presented by Kelly Codispodi, academic coordinator of clinical education)
Marjorie Spence Physical Therapy Entry-Level Scholarship – Juanita Garcia (PT) (presented by Scott Greenlay, family member of Marjorie Spence)
Royal Canadian Legion (Manitoba & Northwestern Ontario Command) Provincial Council Ladies’ Auxiliary University Scholarship – Juanita Garcia (PT1), Ainsley Cameron (PT1), Keren Happuch Dayao (OT1), Emmanuel Gozum (OT1), Tanvir Kaur (OT1), Amber Reichardt (OT1), Tiana Vongnarj (OT1), Mieke Weijs (OT1) ((presented by Ed Giesbrecht, acting department head, occupational therapy))
Isbister Undergraduate Scholarship – Rachel Donnelly (RT) (presented by Ian Hay, department of respiratory therapy)
Front Row: Emmanuel Gozum, Keren Happuch Dayao, Juanita Garcia, Amber Reichardt,
