{"id":39429,"date":"2016-06-08T12:59:52","date_gmt":"2016-06-08T16:59:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=39429"},"modified":"2016-06-09T14:14:42","modified_gmt":"2016-06-09T18:14:42","slug":"international-student-honoured-with-spirit-of-brock-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2016\/06\/international-student-honoured-with-spirit-of-brock-award\/","title":{"rendered":"International student honoured with Spirit of Brock award"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chimaobi Amadi came to Canada from Nigeria to study math at Brock University.\u00a0Alone in a foreign land, he says he found a family here \u2013 the Brock community.<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019s made friends, volunteered extensively, connected with professors and become a mentor as a teaching assistant.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love being engaged, meeting people and also helping people, because I consider these as great avenues to learn and improve oneself,\u201d he said. \u201cI look out for opportunities, I grab them when I see them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many of Amadi\u2019s volunteer activities were focused on making life easier for new students to Brock, such as mentoring new students, helping out on Residence Move-in Day, welcoming many international students and helping out with their orientation.<\/p>\n

\"Chimaobi

Chimaobi Amadi<\/p><\/div>\n

While completing his MSc in Mathematics and Statistics, Amadi spent countless hours giving back.<\/p>\n

The Faculty of Mathematics and Science graduate student was awarded the Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock award during the morning convocation Wednesday.<\/p>\n

The award is given to students who demonstrate leadership, innovation, courage, inspiration and community involvement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a great accomplishment, and I least expected it,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is a thing of joy, and most importantly a challenge to me because they say the reward for hard work is more work.\u201d<\/p>\n

His nominators note his exceptional \u201centhusiasm, generosity and devotion to helping others\u201d and \u201cstrong leadership skills.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amadi also recently received Brock\u2019s International Teaching Assistant Award.<\/p>\n

\"David

David Nguyen<\/p><\/div>\n

Faculty of Mathematics and Science undergraduate student\u00a0David Nguyen, who graduated from the Biomedical Sciences program, also received the Spirit of Brock award recognizing his numerous volunteer positions and academic achievements.<\/p>\n

During his time at Brock, Nguyen was a member of the Brock University Students\u2019 Administrative Council, President of the Brock Leaders Citizenship Society and a tutor to fellow students.<\/p>\n

Dean\u2019s medals were handed out to Stacey Van Herk and Beau Atkinson.<\/p>\n

Department of Physics Associate Professor Thad Harroun received the Excellence in Teaching award.<\/p>\n

He is the author of numerous Biophysics courses at Brock that form the backbone of the undergraduate program.<\/p>\n

A pedagogical innovator, Harroun is heavily involved in the internal departmental undergraduate program review and represents the department in the recruitment and retention efforts at the Faculty level. A fantastic colleague, he generously shares his expertise with others and is always ready to offer help in technical matters.<\/p>\n

\"Math

Math and Science Dean Ejaz Ahmed presents Associate Professor of Physics Thad Harroun with the faculty’s award for Excellence in Teaching.<\/p><\/div>\n

As a researcher, Harroun renewed his NSERC in 2015 on the strength of his 18 publications since 2010 and an overall publication citation rate of 200 per year.<\/p>\n

His outreach for Brock includes co-ordinating projects for both Scientifically Yours and Bridging Our Worlds Through Science.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Justin Maltese, a MSc student in Computer Science, received the prestigious Governor General\u2019s Gold Medal for achieving the highest academic standing at the graduate level. Maltese, of Hamilton, attained a 98.5 average.<\/p>\n

An honorary doctorate was presented to Satish Tripathi, an internationally recognized educator who is the president of the University at Buffalo.<\/a><\/p>\n

Brock\u2019s Spring Convocation continues Thursday\u00a0with the Goodman School of Business\u00a0and then wraps up with the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences\u00a0Friday.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\t