It was a sense of care and curiosity that led Melanie Denomme (PhD \u201926) and Lucy Teminski (BSc \u201926) down their respective career paths.<\/p>\n
Though focused on different scientific fields, both recent Brock University graduates have harnessed those qualities with the goal of helping to make the world a better place.<\/p>\n
And their efforts haven\u2019t gone unnoticed.<\/p>\n
As they prepared to cross the stage at the University\u2019s 119th Convocation on Thursday, June 11, Denomme and Teminski were each recognized with the Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medal. The honour is bestowed upon students who best exemplify leadership, courage, innovation, inspiration and community involvement.<\/p>\n
Teminski, who graduated Thursday with her Bachelor of Science, discovered her passion in Brock\u2019s Neuroscience program.<\/p>\n
\u201cI found Neuroscience and it just clicked,\u201d she said, calling the field a perfect combination of biology and psychology.<\/p>\n
But it was a co-op placement at local long-term care facility that truly offered her a new perspective on care and well-being.<\/p>\n
There, Teminski worked with residents living with dementia and progressive illnesses and witnessed how small changes in their health could have dramatic impacts. It was an experience that left an indelible\u00a0impression, she said.<\/p>\n
Now beginning a research-based Master of Biological Sciences (Neurobiology and Physiology)\u00a0and working\u00a0in\u00a0the Learning and Memory Lab of Biological Sciences Professor Gaynor Spencer, Teminski is examining how vitamin A derivatives affect learning and memory at the cellular level.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s thankful for the hands-on learning and volunteer opportunities she had throughout her undergraduate studies that helped to shape her Brock experience.<\/p>\n
Teminski became involved across campus through open houses, intramural\u00a0sports\u00a0and five years of volunteering with Brock Niagara Penguins, a sport program for youth and young adults with physical disabilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt a great sense of belonging,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u201cYou really can surprise yourself, with what you become interested in. You just\u00a0have to\u00a0go try things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denomme, who graduated with her PhD in Biological Sciences, turned a lifelong fascination with\u00a0reptiles\u00a0into research aimed at improving animal welfare standards in captivity.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery single week I would check out the same book on reptiles,\u201d she said of her childhood visits to the library. \u201cI couldn\u2019t get enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
That early curiosity evolved into a passion for better understanding the behaviour, physiology and well-being of animals, which she pursued in her graduate studies.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were a lot of burning questions I needed to answer,\u201d Denomme said.<\/p>\n