{"id":39050,"date":"2016-05-17T16:13:45","date_gmt":"2016-05-17T20:13:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=39050"},"modified":"2016-05-17T16:15:39","modified_gmt":"2016-05-17T20:15:39","slug":"grad-students-and-donors-recognized-at-annual-reception","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2016\/05\/grad-students-and-donors-recognized-at-annual-reception\/","title":{"rendered":"Grad students and donors recognized at annual reception"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chemistry PhD candidate Terry Chu gave a bittersweet speech Tuesday during Brock University\u2019s annual Graduate Student Awards and Donor Recognition Reception.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the recipient of one of the prestigious Jack M. Miller Excellence in Research Awards, Chu talked about how much it will help his research, but also reflected on the loss of Miller, who passed away in April.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am grateful to Prof. Miller, who unfortunately isn\u2019t with us anymore, for his remarkable generosity and support of graduate students,\u201d Chu said. \u201cBeyond the award, I would also like to express gratitude towards Prof. Miller for his integral role in bringing the Cairns Family Health and Bioscience Research Complex to fruition.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said he\u2019s been fortunate to conduct his research using the cutting-edge resources in Cairns.<\/p>\n

Under the supervision of Prof. Georgii Nikonov, Chu is working to develop new catalysts relevant to the chemical industry that are less toxic and based on more abundant metals.<\/p>\n

Chu is one of four doctoral students getting the award along with five master\u2019s students.<\/p>\n

More than 100 students, faculty and donors turned out for the event held at Pond Inlet. Dozens of graduate students who stand out in their research and studies were honoured along with donors, many of whom were in attendance.<\/p>\n

Brock alumnus and donor Roelof Makken said he gives back to Brock because of the mentorship he received as an undergraduate student.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis place has been a very special place for me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He said his experience of mentorship many years ago led him to establish the Professor Mohammed Dore Graduate Research Scholarship in Economics.<\/p>\n

He named it for a professor who encouraged him to pursue graduate studies and even went so far as to research schools for him, as Brock wasn\u2019t yet a comprehensive university.<\/p>\n

He said Brock has evolved tremendously from his days as an undergrad.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is fantastic to see the intensity and the enthusiasm in research here at Brock,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Dean of Graduate Studies Mike Plyley said the financial support of donors helps students at Brock succeed.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach year we have more and more reason to celebrate,\u201d he said of the groundbreaking research grad students are working on. \u201cToday would not have happened without the generosity of a growing contingent of donors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Plyley said the graduate studies community was saddened this year with the loss of two former Deans of Graduate Studies, Miller and Marilyn Rose.<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir contributions to the University are incalculable,\u201d he said, noting both had established awards for students.<\/p>\n\n\t