Awarding Outstanding Native Students

Candace Brunette and Alexandra Smith recently won the President’s Award for outstanding native students of the year. The award is based on academic achievement and contributions to the native community. Brunette (BA 2007 Woodsworth), this year’s undergraduate winner, is now pursuing an MA in education at OISE. She is also an emerging playwright and poet, and has presented her play Old Truck at Native Earth’s Weesageechak Festival in Toronto. Smith, a third-year medical student, is this year’s graduate recipient. She is creator and co-director of the Indigenous Peoples’ Health Initiative, and has been co-chair of the U of T student group Diversity in Medicine.

Professor Emeritus Joseph Schatzker of surgery has been named to the Order of Canada, this country’s highest honour for lifetime achievement. Schatzker, who has been named a member, is an expert in trauma and fracture management. Six professors have been named Order of Ontario recipients: Richard Bond, a University Professor in astronomy and astrophysics; Tak Mak, a University Professor in biomedical physics and immunology; Janice Gross Stein, a University Professor in political science and director of the Munk Centre for International Studies; Roderick McInnes of molecular genetics; Frances Shepherd of medicine; and Paul Walfish, a professor emeritus of medicine.

Two U of  T scientists have received Killam Research Fellowships, Canada’s most distinguished research award. Professors Elizabeth Edwards and Molly Shoichet, both in the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry, were two of 10 researchers chosen for the award. Edwards’ research has looked at how microbes break down solvents such as dry-cleaning and degreasing agents. Shoichet is breaking new ground in tissue engineering research.