Left to right: Mary Jasinski, Master of Biological Sciences, studying Oenology and Viticulture; Sarah Reynolds, Master of Education; and Kathy Wlodarczyk, Master of Education.

They were a vision of Brock’s academic and research future — about 160 graduate students gathering in Pond Inlet for breakfast and a tour of the university’s services.

Every year, the Graduate Studies Breakfast is Brock’s big welcome to new graduate students. This year’s breakfast took place on Sept. 14 and was the biggest one to date.

The annual event includes an Information Marketplace for students featuring graduate program directors and Faculty of Graduate Studies staff. There were also 25 representatives from various departments and services available across campus.

“The Orientation breakfast is a wonderful way for us to meet our new students and for them to meet each other across disciplines and Faculties,” said Marilyn Rose, Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies. “In addition, they tell us that they really appreciate the opportunity to learn about the many support services in place to assist them as they begin to find their place within our growing community of graduate researchers.”

This year’s crop of students had nothing but good things to say about their graduate experience at Brock so far.

“I came to Brock because it had the type of program I wanted,” said Mary Jasinski, a Master of Biological Sciences student studying Oenology and Viticulture. “Guelph has something close, but this was the only program that was exactly what I was looking for.”

While at Brock, Jasinski will research winter hardiness in grapes compared to soil quality and wine quality as compared to crop yield. Originally from Brampton, she had friends from high school who went to Brock who recommended she take a look at what the school has to offer.

Sarah Reynolds, a Master of Education student originally from Waterloo, decided to continue her studies at Brock because of the strong sense of community and small class sizes. She was also attracted to the MEd program because of the opportunities to conduct research in the area of special education.

“For the last four years, I’ve liked the community and the people, so it seemed like a logical place to do my graduate studies,” said Reynolds.

For more info on Graduate Studies at Brock: http://brocku.ca/graduate-studies