{"id":81598,"date":"2022-11-01T10:22:09","date_gmt":"2022-11-01T14:22:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=81598"},"modified":"2022-11-01T17:29:38","modified_gmt":"2022-11-01T21:29:38","slug":"badgers-give-back-grad-students-get-boost-through-new-collaborative-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2022\/11\/badgers-give-back-grad-students-get-boost-through-new-collaborative-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Badgers Give Back: Grad students get boost through new collaborative award"},"content":{"rendered":"

Note: This story is <\/em>one in a series of articles<\/em><\/a> highlighting the culture of philanthropy that Brock was built upon and continues to grow among faculty, staff and the greater Brock community today. By showcasing the University community\u2019s commitment to the success of its students and the institution, Brock hopes to share the lasting impact of giving.<\/em><\/p>\n

Upon her arrival as Brock\u2019s Dean of Graduate Studies in 2020, Suzanne Curtin knew her relationship with then-President of the Graduate Students\u2019 Association (GSA), Christopher Yendt (BA \u201915, BEd \u201915, BEd \u201920, MEd \u201921), would be a special one.<\/p>\n

With a joint mission to create and promote partnerships and opportunities for Brock\u2019s graduate student body, Curtin and Yendt quickly teamed up in pursuit of providing the best graduate experience to Brock students. While her introduction to Yendt was a quick and obvious one, for Curtin \u2014 new to the University and Niagara, and amidst lockdowns \u2014 opportunities to meet and engage with other people and places across the community were limited.<\/p>\n

\u201cChris was great from the get-go,\u201d said Curtin. \u201cHe offered his time and expertise to show me around campus and our community, introduce me where he could and provide me with the valuable history of graduate education at Brock. It was evident what a great example of outstanding leadership he is, and the level of commitment he has for the student body at Brock was like nothing I had ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Yendt, Curtin\u2019s clear investment in understanding graduate student life drove the partnership. He fondly recalls the organic conversation and level of collaboration they had from the beginning.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, the pair\u2019s natural collaboration progressed into what they would call a \u201clightbulb moment.\u201d In one of the many conversations they\u2019ve shared about their independent desires to support graduate students, the idea arose to once again join forces and create a unique award for students that rewards collaboration and leadership in the graduate community and beyond.<\/p>\n

The Suzanne Curtin-Christopher Yendt Graduate Collaboration Award will provide $1,000 to one graduate student annually in the Winter Term.<\/p>\n

Speaking to his continuous desire to support Brock as a student, and now as a four-time graduate, Yendt references his life mission to \u201cplant seeds for trees he will never sit under and cultivate gardens he\u2019ll never enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a bit of a family ethos for me, we like to make change where we can and contribute to the success of others,\u201d said Yendt. \u201cAs a recipient of a few awards during my time, and as a peer of others who are lucky enough to say the same, I see the impact they can have on your educational journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Overseeing the holistic graduate experience at Brock, Curtin says she remains inspired by the \u201camazing students, their hard work and true passion for the institution.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fortunate enough to have this great job at this great University and be constantly surrounded by students and colleagues, like Chris, who believe in it as much as I do,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s proven that the only way to accomplish great things is together. I really want this award to embody that and recognize how wonderful a working relationship can be with all levels of this Faculty.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the long list of things the two agree on is a strong belief that the university experience of all students should be of many dimensions. Their hope in creating this unique award, which celebrates an individual\u2019s dedication to drive collaboration, leadership and partnership in the academic and broader community, is to shine a spotlight and encourage students to become their multi-dimensional and well-rounded selves.<\/p>\n

The partnership between Curtin and Yendt will remain a strong testament to the force that is created when members of the Brock community come together to support the next generation of students and a fulsome and involved Brock experience.<\/p>\n

To learn more about making a difference at Brock, visit brocku.ca\/development\/give\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Upon her arrival as Brock\u2019s Dean, Graduate Studies in 2020, Suzanne Curtin knew her relationship with the then-President of the Graduate Students\u2019 Association (GSA), Christopher Yendt (BA \u201915, BEd \u201915, BEd \u201920, MEd \u201921) would be a special one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":69,"featured_media":81612,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[119,7,55,1],"tags":[3333,12048,8543,1209,147,3330,12143,8712],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81598"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/69"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81598"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81598\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81613,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81598\/revisions\/81613"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/81612"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81598"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81598"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}