Western University

What do Survivor and Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry - Western University have in common?

Maryanne Oketch, Survivor 42 winner and first-year MD student, is using lessons of perseverance and resilience from the show to help on her new adventure of becoming a physician.

"I think the biggest thing about going on Survivor was showing myself that if I put my mind to something and I have a passion, I'll be able to do it. Being able to have that confidence is super important."

'Survivor' winner Maryanne Oketch starts medical school at Western After winning season 42 of 'Survivor' Maryanne Oketch is now training to be a doctor at Schulich Medicine, following her passion for healing people.

We are to welcome 10 Schulich Leaders to campus this fall, including Reuben DeBoer, a student in the Faculty of Engineering - Western University, who received one of 100 prestigious STEM scholarships funded by philanthropist Seymour Schulich. 👏

In high school, Reuben excelled as the school champion in both the Fermat and Hypatia math contests, ranking in the top 25%. A recognized leader, he organized intramural sports and led the musical praise group. He developed a role-playing game in his computer science class, taught himself 3-D modelling and started a small business creating custom parts for a snowblower and equipment for a local salon.

Schulich Leader Scholarships

Western welcomes 10 recipients of prestigious Schulich Leader Scholarships - Western News Western University welcomes 10 recipients of Schulich Leaders Scholarships coming to campus this fall to study science, technology, engineering and math.

As the Paralympic Games are underway after a two-week break from the Olympics, some may ask why they aren't combined into one Games. It goes beyond just logistics, says kinesiology professor and director Laura Misener.

Expert insight: Why the Olympics and Paralympics aren't blended into one Games - Western News Blending the Olympics and Paralympics would be a logistical nightmare but many also see the value in giving Para athletes their own spotlight.

Incoming first-year student Allan Gaikwad’s time at Western’s Overnight Experience calmed his nerves this summer, helping him create new friendships and learn about life at Western. He's now counting down the days until classes start.

The program is just one of many activities offered by Western Student Experience as part of Western Launch.

A feeling of belonging: Helping first-year students adjust to university life - Western News To help first-year students adjust to university life, Western University offers a full suite of transition programs and wraparound supports .

"The start of a new academic year is a special time – you can feel the enthusiasm and sense of anticipation for students wherever they are in their academic journey."

From sports to community volunteering to art and karaoke, Orientation Week kicks off back-to-school season at Western with events focused on building connection and belonging. 💜

‘A special time:’ Western kicks off Orientation Week 2024 - Western News Orientation Week kicks off the back-to-school season at Western, as more than 5,200 first-year students move into 12 residence buildings starting Aug. 31.

Meet Shagun Singh and Wajd Abuzaid, part of the team welcoming international students to Western. 🌍💜

Wajd and Shagun are master's students who know firsthand what it’s like to start fresh in a new country. Their shared passion for connecting with others has led them to take on summer roles as international orientation assistants, helping new students feel at home with a month-long orientation filled with events, from Mustangs football games to info clinics and workshops.

Starting at Western? Dive into Western International's extended orientation programs designed to help you adjust to life in London, starting with the International Student Welcome Centre. The Welcome Centre is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from August 26 to 31 and September 3 to 6. 🤝 More information: https://brnw.ch/21wM7qV

International Orientation welcomes Western students to new school, new country - Western News Programming supports international students and families during a two-week orientation and throughout September

Italy, Liberia, England, South Korea... Western students and researchers travelled all over the world this summer for international courses and field research.

See more of their adventures in this photo gallery:
https://news.westernu.ca/2024/08/western-international-trips-2024/

Western International

Students from 경희대학교 - Kyung Hee University in South Korea visited for a new summer learning program at Western International, with a focus on human rights.

From lectures to laser tag, the group explored the best of and London for two weeks in August. Read the story: https://news.westernu.ca/2024/08/south-korean-students-visit-western/

Perry Dellelce, a dedicated Western graduate, advocate and philanthropist, and his family have extended their long-standing commitment to Western through a major gift supporting students, research and aspiring entrepreneurs across campus.

We are to share the Dellelce Family Bookstore has been named in their honour. 💜 Western Alumni

Dellelce family makes major gift supporting students, entrepreneurship at Western - Western News Perry Dellelce and his family have extended their long-standing commitment to Western through a gift supporting students, research and entrepreneurship.

Alexandra Elmsie, a third-year Western student in developmental cognitive neuroscience, received the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award in recognition of her dedication to community service. 👏

In her first year, Alexandra created a wellness program that reached hundreds of students. She's volunteered with dementia patients and children with cancer. Now, she's gaining a deeper understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD through her work with a graduate student researcher at Western.

Western student wins Terry Fox Humanitarian Award - Western News Alexandra Elmslie used her ADHD diagnosis to drive change. The Western cognitive neuroscience student received the Terrry Fox Humanitarian Award in 2024.

Mapping TIFF is a new interactive platform created by Constanza Burucúa, a professor of languages and cultures in Arts and Humanities at Western. It highlights the history of North America’s biggest film festival since it began in 1976. 📽️

It's complete with maps, access to open data and unique textual analysis so visitors can learn about the movies of the world at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

Western prof analyzes decades of international film data Mapping TIFF is an interactive platform that explores the history of North America’s biggest film festival since its first edition in 1976.

Researchers from Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry - Western University set out to explore whether ChatGPT is capable of becoming a reliable resource in health care.

While the chatbot isn't quite ready to help with medical diagnoses, it can play a role in medical education and improving communication between physicians and patients.

Western researchers tested ChatGPT on medical diagnoses. How'd it do? Study found ChatGPT has potential to help instructors and health-care providers deliver medical information in an accessible, easy-to-understand manner.

“Ivey is like a home I can come back to, where I know all of the professors will be advocating for me."
- Shirley Zhong, Ivey Business School & Faculty of Engineering - Western University student

Shirley co-founded Xatoms, short for Exploration of Atoms, which uses quantum chemistry and artificial intelligence to clean water of contaminants like pesticides, herbicides, viruses and bacteria. The startup won $500,000 and will compete in the Hult Prize Foundation finals.

Xatoms, co-founded by Ivey student, wins $500,000 - Western News Xatoms, short for Exploration of Atoms, is a water purification startup co-founded by an Ivey student. The company recently won $500,000.

Congratulations to Western Alumni Andrew Busch and Matthew Boutda for making CBC Music's '30 under 30' list of 'Canada's hottest young classical musicians.' 🎵💜

Matthew, a choral conductor and tenor, is the only conductor among the 2024 inductees. Andrew made history earlier this year as the first percussionist to receive a Michael Measures Prize. They both counted their time at the Don Wright Faculty of Music - Western University as instrumental to their early success.

Two recent Western grads make CBC Music’s ‘30 under 30’ list - Western News Western University alumni Andrew Busch and Matthew Boutda have made the CBC Music '30 under 30' list of ‘Canada’s hottest young classical musicians.’

High school students from all over Canada came to in July for Shad2024, a STEAM and entrepreneurship program. Students worked in teams to build and pitch their green energy business ideas. 🌍🌱🧪

Read the story: https://news.westernu.ca/2024/08/shad-western-2024/

Shad Canada Morrissette Entrepreneurship

Western has launched a comprehensive digitized tornado archive, preserving Canada's tornado history with the Northern Tornadoes Project and Western Libraries.

Take a deep dive into events like the 1979 Woodstock tornado and explore data dating back to 1792. 🌪️

Western launches digitized tornado archive - Western News A new comprehensive digitized tornado archive at Western provides a deep dive into severe weather events of the past dating back to 1792.

As Faculty of Engineering - Western University grad and Western Mustangs track star Kate Current hits the start line at Paris 2024, she'll realize her ultimate dream to compete at the Olympics. 💜👏

Western Alumni

Western grad Kate Current competes in 2024 Olympics - Western News Western grad and wind engineer Kate Current, is competing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the women’s 1500-metre race.

🌱 Over the past decade, Western grad Carleigh Bodrug has gone from student reporter to social media sensation. As founder of PlantYou, she has gained more than 11 million followers by sharing her plant-based recipes. She's also a two-time New York Times best-selling cookbook author and a sought-after guest on podcasts and daytime talk shows.

Western Alumni
FIMS - Faculty of Information & Media Studies at Western University

Carleigh Bodrug: From 'Western U' to PlantYou - Western News Western University graduate, PlantYou founder and Scrappy Cooking author Carleigh Bodrug serves up solutions for a healthy plate and planet.

Turning residence halls into an athletes’ village. Cooking specially designed menus for peak athletic performance. Readying campus for competitions expected to draw thousands.

Western is ready to welcome the London 2024 Ontario Summer Games to campus from August 1 to 4.

Tourism London, Ontario

Western Ontario Summer Games - Western News Western helps host the 2024 Ontario Summer Games, held in London, Ont. from Aug. 1 to 4. About 10,000 athletes and spectators are expected.

Western Alumni and former Western Mustangs hope to help Team Canada / Équipe Canada row to victory at the Paris 2024 Olympics! 🇨🇦 🏅

Jill Moffatt is making her second Olympics appearance as part of the Canadian rowing team, alongside fellow Western grad Cassidy Deane.

Jill is competing in the lightweight women’s double sculls, and Cassidy is an alternate athlete for the women’s eight.

Read more: https://news.westernu.ca/2024/07/mustangs-rowing-alumni-olympics/

Team Canada photos by Kevin Light/Rowing Canada

"Sports can contribute to peace and bring people and nations together.”
- Angela Schneider, International Centre for Olympic Studies

The Paris 2024 Olympics are underway, and Olympians and a Paralympian share lessons they apply to their academic careers at Western. Learn about their journeys: https://news.westernu.ca/2024/07/western-olympians-faculty/

Wampum Learning Lodge - WesternU was a hub of excitement last week as 30 Indigenous youth participated in Western’s Mini-University program.

Overseen by the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and delivered through the Indigenous Student Centre at Western University, Mini-University summer camp helps Indigenous youth connect with mentors and experience campus life at Western.

Read the story: https://news.westernu.ca/2024/07/mini-university-indigenous-western/

Students in the Faculty of Social Science at Western University explored ecotourism and the impacts of climate change in a Madagascar field course this summer. Students from Western and the Université d’Antsiranana (UNA) in northern Madagascar gained important research skills and experience.

“We didn’t go to Madagascar to do our own thing. We went respecting the people who live there, their rules, their culture. We all benefited because we learned so much from each other.”
-Fourth-year anthropology student Hannah Lenon

Read more: https://news.westernu.ca/2024/07/madagascar-field-course-ecotourism/

UWO-Ud'A: Canada-Madagascar Research and Education Collaboration