Previous Bryon Paege Memorial Fund Recipients
2004
CUPE 3911 is very pleased to announce that the fourth recipient of the Bryon Paege Memorial Award is Dean Horvath, who was nominated by Dr. George Winter.
Dean has cerebral palsy and he has difficulty using a computer. He nevertheless works toward a degree at Athabasca University and maintains a first class average. Dean has done academic courses at the
University of Regina (Dean’s list) and the Saskatchewan Institute of Technology (first class average). He is working toward a designation in accounting.
2003
The recipient of the third Bryon Paege Memorial Award is Joy Yi Zhou-Krys. Joy’s self-nomination was very strongly supported by references from her tutor, Louise Fournet, and from Tamra Ross Low, Editor in Chief of the AUSU "The Voice".
Joy is originally from China, where she had a satisying job and many friends. However, as she says, she "suddenly became nobody since I stepped onto this new land - Canada. "I told myself" says Joy, that "I had to start over because I am going to spend the rest of my life in this country..." She determined to put her efforts into eliminating the gap between herself and those who were born here: "That is [she determined] to study."
But how to accomplish this?
Joy is married, with a 2-year old son and a new baby on the way. In May she and her family found a "cheap basement apartment", but for 8 months before that they lived in an abandoned farmhouse outside of Edmonton. Loaned free of charge by an in-law, the house had no running water or heat, but did have cracked floors and mice. These were, says Joy, "the darkest days yet proudest experience in my life."
Even with a strong will, Joy says she found herself feeling "so helpless" to make her dreams of studying come true. Time and money - the lack of these - appeared to present insurmountable obstacles. Then, one day, another young mother she met in in the playground while their children played together told her about Athabasca University.
"The good thing is" says Joy, "my studies went very well." Tutor Louise Fournet confirms that Joy "is, without a doubt, an excellent student...[in] this demanding course. Her quizzes and assignment results are outstanding and she knows the subject matter inside out."
As would be expected, Joy states that she puts a lot of time and effort into her academic work. Even so, just 9 days after she enrolled with AU, Joy formed the on-line Student Moms’ Club of the Athabasca University Students’ Union.
Tamra Ross Low worked with Joy to create the Club website. She says, "The Student Moms’ Club was entirely Joy’s idea...her intention was to provide an online community where young student mothers could gather for support, inspiration, and advice...At this time there are 17 young mothers registered as members of the SMC, but many more women visit the site and its popular discussion forums. The club members have embraced Joy’s vision, and there is much sharing of support and advice on how to succeed as both a student, and a mother..."
As well, Ms. Low writes that Joy has been very innovative in finding other new ways to foster a community spirit as a distance education student. "Joy was the first student to come up with the idea of meeting a Study Buddy...in the [AUSU] chat-room so that they could study online in real time together. Her idea is an excellent one, and it is something that AUSU is now actively promoting."
Ms. Low goes on: "While many people in this situation might have given up...Joy instead decided to make the very best of her new life and to help out other young mothers along the way...I’m a very impressed that Joy took such a proactive approach to her problems, and I admire her determination to help others in the process of helping herself. I think that she is an excellent example of how to best overcome adversity through self-motivation, generosity, and empathy for others."
2002
The recipient of the second Bryon Paege Memorial
Award is Mary McAuley,who was nominated by CUPE Blue Quills
First Nations tutor, Judi Malone.
Mary is a Metis student who has recently moved
to the St. Paul area, works to afford to continue her studies,
and volunteers with the local Victim’s Services Unit. She
actively demonstrates personal strength as she shares her
struggles in leaving an abusive past to face a future of promise.
She does not have financial sponsorship, travels over 150
kms (return) to attend classes, and she is a proud Metis woman.
Mary has very successfully (a 90%+ average) completed
many AU courses over the past year and is enrolled to continue
her AU Bachelor of Psychology degree at Blue Quills First
Nations College in the Fall. Judi, her nominator, says that
Mary has consistently been one of her top students, and that
she is an intelligent, industrious, and insightful student
who works well in group and individual study.In and out of
the classroom she is friendly, courteous, and an effective
communicator.
Mary herself has this advice for other students: "What
you put into your courses is what you get out of them. If
you want excellence in learning, then you the student have
to put excellence in."
Mary says that her experience as a mature student
has been a wonderful adventure. She has particularly enjoyed working
with instructors who are excited about what they are teaching.
2001
In July 2001, an award was made to one student
randomly selected by AUSU from among those in need of and
eligible for emergency funding.
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