Posted Thu, 05/19/2011 - 11:18 in Dalhousie-related

Homegrown Nova Scotians shine at Dalhousie convocation

From May 24 to June 1, Dalhousie University will celebrate the tremendous achievements of its graduates from a variety of faculties and departments. Over the course of the week, 2,929 graduates will walk across the stage earning their degrees in arts, science, engineering, law, medicine, management and dentistry taking with them the skills and knowledge needed join the workforce or continue in their studies. Dalhousie recognizes the outstanding achievements inside and outside the classroom and applaud those contributions made in the community and industry.

Key Points:

Kyra Wilson, a native of Halifax, is graduating with a Bachelor of Science, Nursing degree. She began her academic studies by completing the Transition Year Program (TYP), a one-year program that prepares First Nations and African Canadian students for post-secondary study. Ms. Wilson’s future plans include moving to Toronto after graduation to pursue her career in nursing.
Haligonian Meghan Hapgood is graduating from Dalhousie’s corporate residency MBA this spring. She is a standout member of the program’s first graduating class, having been named student of the year each of the past two years. Following graduating, she is going to work at the Atlantic Regional Office of the Canada Revenue Agency.
Melanie Trinacty, originally from the Annapolis Valley, is graduating from the College of Pharmacy this spring. As president of the Dalhousie Student Pharmacy Society and as an executive on the Health Science Students Association, she helped create a tight knit graduating class, connected to students in all the health professions. Last year, she won the Canadian Pharmacists’ Association’s Centennial Award and was named first author and third author on two academic papers with Dr. Tannis Jurgens and Dr. Anne Marie Whelan. Soon, she’ll start a coveted residency in the Ottawa General Hospital, which she competed against 70 students from across Canada to win.
Andrew Moeller, a native of Antigonish, is graduating from Dalhousie Medical School this spring. He's received international media attention—from CNN to the Globe and Mail—for his research study looking at how television medical dramas often demonstrate improper and even dangerous first-aid practices for treating seizure victims. He was also Tthe 2010 recipient of the James Clarke Award for outstanding contribution to student life at Dalhousie Medical School.
Lauren Longobardi, a native of Fall River, is graduating from the Department of Chemistry at Dalhousie University. She came to Dalhousie on a Chancellor’s entrance scholarship and has made the dean’s list every year. Her aptitude for chemistry has been recognized with the CRC Press Freshman Achievement Award in first year, the Knop Prize in Chemistry in second year and the Canadian Society for Chemistry Silver Medal in third year.

Pull Quotes:

“In my second year, I had the opportunity to observe open heart surgery in the OR. When I first walked into the room, I thought I was going to faint. After watching the nurses who were so fast and so skilled, I thought, ‘Wow — I want to do that. I can do that.’” - Kyra Wilson who is graduating with a Bachelor of Science, Nursing degree from Dalhousie University this spring.
“You have to have an idea of the basics of finance but, really, when someone’s looking to hire or promote you, it’s about what you bring in terms of ability to talk to people, your emotional intelligence, your ability to deal with conflict...those skills have really been emphasized in the program, and I’ve really seen a change in myself.” - Meghan Hapgood who is graduating from Dalhousie’s corporate residency MBA program at Dalhousie University this spring.
“The most important thing is: when you go out into practice, you’re not going to know everything, but you need to know how to find that information when you need it. That’s what we learn here.” -Melanie Trinacty who is graduating from the College of Pharmacy this spring at Dalhousie University.
“I think back to this one day, when I was sitting in the emergency room at 3 a.m. looking at some blood work on a patient. I was really starting to feel comfortable, like I had my feet under me. And then I noticed something strange in the blood work,that something was happening there. And as I studied it and started to work it out, I felt completely inspired, that this is what I was meant to do.” -Andrew Moeller who is graduating from Dalhousie Medical School this spring.
“I can’t believe it’s over. Those four years flew by.” -Lauren Longobardi who is graduating from the Department of Chemistry at Dalhousie University this spring.

Images:


Meghan Hapgood Corporate residency MBA Download Hi-Res	Melanie Trinacty College of Pharmacy Download Hi-Res	Lauren Longobardi Department of Chemistry Download Hi-Res	Kyra Wilson Bachlor of Science, Nursing Download Hi-Res	Andrew Moeller Dalhousie Medical School Download Hi-Res