When it comes to examples of departments that dig deep for student awards, you need look no further than Physics and the Registrar’s Office.

Edward Sternin

Faculty in the Physics department have created a graduate award – the Chancellor Chair’s Graduate Scholarship in Physics. And staff in the Registrar’s Office have created the Office of the Registrar Award for undergraduates. Both are examples of the work of the annual Family Campaign.

“Our financial contributions were made as a vote of confidence and a celebration of the opportunities presented by our new PhD program in Physics,” said Edward Sternin, Physics department chair. “The Department of Physics is proud of our graduate students’ success and we support their commitment to our discipline and to research excellence.”

The Family Campaign is designed to support students who will become future leaders. From Sept. 12 to Oct. 7, faculty and staff will be asked to contribute to a fundraising effort that raises money for undergraduate and graduate student awards, student support initiatives such as Mentorship Plus, and projects such as the Cairns Family Health and Bioscience Research Complex and the downtown Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts.

Campaign co-chair Marilyn Cottrell, an Economics lecturer, said the students are what motivated her to get involved.

“As a lecturer, Brock University students have been my inspiration through their cultural and geographic diversity,” she said. “My concern is that some of them require financial and emotional assistance. Housing, food, books, entertainment – all part of a university student’s life – are a challenge for some students. Through financial support, we encourage the struggling student who has a feeling of fear and isolation.”

Related stories:
• Volunteers needed for Family Campaign | The Brock News