The University of Winnipeg Graduate Student Scholarship
The University of Winnipeg Graduate Student Scholarship is based on academic excellence as well as community service. The award is valued at $15,000 and is open to All full-time graduate students in thesis, course-based, practicum-based, or project-based programs are eligible to apply, with the exception of students in the Theology, and Joint Masters Programs.
Apurva Bhardwaj – Bioscience, Technology, and Public Policy Alumna
2021-22 Award Recipients
Anouska Agarwal – Bioscience, Technology, and Public Policy
Reading about infectious diseases as an undergraduate, I came across the White Nose Syndrome (WNS) that was caused by the fungus P. destructans and was moved by the dramatic decline in the population of little brown bat caused by this fungus. My dream to work under the supervision of Dr Anuraag Shrivastav and Dr Craig Willis to work towards saving the bat population was made possible by the University of Winnipeg Graduate Studies Scholarship. It made it possible for me to come from India to come to Canada and sustain myself as an international student over here. This scholarship also ensures that I can continue doing my research without any distractions and focus completely on my academics and pursue my dream of saving these ecologically important mammals from WNS in various parts of North America. Not a lot is known about the genetic mechanism leading White Nose Syndrome in bats. My research is going to focus on finding alterations in the genetic expression that lead to various metabolic changes in bats making it hard to fight fungal infection. I have already done preliminary research under my supervisors using various bioinformatic tools available and the results got me excited to explore this further. I am thankful to both for their constant guidance and motivation.
At the time of pandemic when everyone blames bats for millions of deaths across the world, it is interesting to work on a disease that has killed millions of bats just in the North America. I am very thrilled about testing my findings from bioinformatics in actual samples from the bats in wet lab. I am very hopeful of finding new leads into molecular basis of pathogenesis of WNS and develop potential targets for its prevention and treatment.
Habib Ben Abdallah – Applied Computer Science & Society
Colleen Robertson – Bioscience, Technology, and Public Policy
My research focuses on the climate change resilience of historically grazed grassland ecosystems in Riding Mountain National Park. Grasslands are one of the most threatened ecosystems in North America, and over 90% of remaining grasslands are impacted by grazing. With the changing climate, it is important to understand the long-term impacts that management activities, like cattle grazing, have on grassland ecosystems. Receiving The University of Winnipeg Graduate Student Scholarship acknowledges the importance of grassland conservation and research and allows me the financial security to dedicate myself to this work and produce the best research that I can. The results of my research will help define the management and restoration of grasslands that have been impacted by grazing and keep grasslands ecosystems intact and sustainable. This project would not be possible without the support and dedication of my supervisor, Dr. Rafael Otfinowski, and the Prairie Lab, and the encouragement of the Resource Conservation team at Riding Mountain National Park. I would like to thank the University of Winnipeg Faculty of Graduate Studies for awarding me with this scholarship.
Tricia Dyck – Cultural Studies: Curatorial Practices
I am thankful and thrilled to receive this generous award! This scholarship grants me the time and resources to focus on the Master of Arts Cultural Studies: Curatorial Practice program. Past and present experiences of community service, professional relationship development, mentorship of women, and an active role as the Program, Outreach & Exhibition Coordinator for a rural arts council, have increased my confidence and aided my direction to follow continued education.
As I pursue my studies this year, I aspire to become proficient at implementing contemporary exhibition strategies and refining my curatorial praxis. As a museum professional and board director for the Corn & Apple Festival, I look forward to an increase in knowledge about museum spaces and how to foster broader audiences where inclusivity is prioritized. Upholding culture and artistic endeavors will lead as I acquire the skills to conduct research that offers promise to individuals and strengthens the health of communities.
My heartfelt appreciation goes out to both Dr. Serena Keshavjee and Dr. Doris Wolf who provided encouragement and advice through the entire process. I am also indebted to the many undergraduate professors who taught with passion and cultivated a desire to reach towards my aspirations! I am most thankful to my four sons who have cheered me on along the way, and who I hope to inspire.
Sofia Martignoni – Cultural Studies
Bilguundari Enkhtugs – Criminal Justice
I would like to thank the Faculty of Graduate Studies Scholarship Committee and the donors for their generosity. Although I just started grad school in September 2021, my experience has been intellectually engaging and fulfilling! This distinction wouldn’t be possible without the support of my academic supervisor, Dr. Walby, Criminal Justice department, work supervisor, Dr. Kornelsen, Global College, and Dylan Jones, Awards and Communications Officer, Graduate Studies, UWinnipeg.
This distinction makes my thesis project possible, and I see this funding as a way of contributing back to the community. My experience working in inner-city NGOs shaped my research topic that aims to engage with and empower our community members with direct and indirect lived experiences with the justice system. My experience working in university settings has also 'opened doors' for me to take a step forward in my academic career, at the same time, it has enticed me to explore different ways of making positive changes in our community. And thus, this award has enabled me to fulfill the requirements of MA studies and is preparing me to carry out a research project under the supervision of Dr. Walby and Dr. Maier, Criminal Justice, UWinnipeg. As a grad student, I devote significant time to carefully plan my research project design, methodology, and steps involved in conceptualizing the collected data (financial stress-free). The outcomes of my research project will help to inform better policies and restorative justice practices in support of alternative sentencing and accessible community resources.
My graduate school experience has been fantastic so far, and I enjoy being back in classes and having meaningful discussions, despite their method of offering through Zoom. This award has enabled me to fully focus on my studies and the classes I am enrolled in: Conceptualizing Criminal Justice, Qualitative and Visual Methods, as well as Criminal Law. The UWinnipeg community, as well as the MA in Criminal Justice program at UWinnipeg have become a happy place I belong to! The UWGSS is one of the reasons I am here today, and again, I am thankful for the enormous support of my supervisors, scholarship committee, and the Faculty of Graduate studies staff members. I am looking forward to the rest of the school year!
Amanda Mcleod – Cultural Studies
Ani! My name is Amanda McLeod and I’m from the Sagkeeng First Nation here in Manitoba. I’m honoured and thankful to be a recipient of a 2021 University of Winnipeg Graduate Studies Scholarship, which allows me to fully focus my time and energy on my studies without the added stress of financial worries.
I previously trained in art conservation and restoration, obtaining an honours degree from the City & Guilds of London Art School in the United Kingdom, and have participated in placements at the National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian Institution), Canadian Museum of History, and Westminster Abbey. As an Anishinaabe woman, I have strong commitment to the retention of heritage, cultural integrity, and preservation of all aspects of Indigenous tradition. I recently completed a curatorial project with the City of Winnipeg on the inclusion of the Rooster Town Métis history in the new Bill & Helen Norrie Library, which officially opened March 2021. I was also employed at the Manitoba Museum (TMM) from 2016 to 2020 where, working closely with the Curator of Cultural Anthropology, I was responsible for the development and delivery of the Indigenous content for TMM’s massive multi-year gallery renewal. Both projects involved considerable engagement and collaboration with the Indigenous community. I was committed to ensuring that the Indigenous voice was the primary narrator—not the institution—of the stories and histories being shared. Through mutual respect, protocol, and collaboration, I endeavoured to provide a platform for community members to share their stories, in their own way.
In the museum field, the notion of “decolonization” is becoming increasingly critical. It’s not just about inviting Indigenous people into the museum to help the institution improve its exhibitions; rather, it’s overhauling the entire system and way of thinking. It involves institutions re-evaluating their relationship to objects and changing the attitude of “owners of objects” to “custodians of collections” with an obligation to the original creators of the objects and stories, and their descendants. Ultimately, it’s working in respectful collaboration with source communities. This is my intersectionality and position between the fields of curating and collection. As a student in the Master of Arts in Cultural Studies: Curatorial Practices program, my studies will be premised on community collaboration, consultation, and mutually respectful relationships.
I would like to thank Dr. Doris Wolf for her encouragement to apply for this award and help in the application process. I also owe many thanks to my family and friends for their endless patience and continued support throughout my educational journeys.
Dunja Kovačević – Master in Marriage and Family Therapy