With a very busy week that marks the halfway point of the semester I am pleased to present to you the fully inspired, fat free – lent addition of the confessions e-mail (I am giving up sarcasm).
Student Success x 3
I love to point out student success stories when I get them and I know that this was sent to all staff already but congratulations to Paul Morrison from the DMA program for winning the WordCamp Toronto Logo Design Contest. 167 students from Colleges and Universities across Toronto entered and the judges selected Paul’s submission. You can see his work and read more http://phug.ca/wordcamptoronto/index.php/updates/logo-design-contest-winner.
James Cullingham attended the Colleges Premier’s Awards as the guest of a JBC grad – Azra Rashid. Azra was a nominee and as such was acknowledged in a procession and received a plaque from Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.
Seneca grad and part-time professor Igal Hecht will have his film “Shield of Solomon” shown on CBC’s – DOCUMENTARY CHANNEL March 3rd at 10PM. Congratulations to Igal for a ever growing body of work that challenges, makes people talk and brings to light issues around the world the effects us all. You rock Igal!
Thursday was the busiest day ever at Seneca…
CAB
The fourth semester CAB students presented their campaigns to a large group of faculty, staff students and industry representatives like Myan Marcen-Gaudaur form Planet in Focus International Environmental Film & Video Festival who had this to say:
“I just wanted to convey my sincerest gratitude for the opportunity you granted Planet in Focus. I was bowled over by the sagacity, thoroughness and creative diversity demonstrated in each presentation. These kids have enormous professional potential and much of the maturity, talent and skills they embodied today are owed in part to the work, wisdom and leadership of the four of you.”
Congratulations to all CAB faculty especially John Adams, Tom Keane, Paul Curtin and Billy Sharma for setting this event up.
GRA
8 groups of 3 GRA students presented their TAVIS concepts to members of the Toronto Police services, including the deputy chief on Thursday and they did a great job. The deputy chief was very impressed with the work and effort to this point in the TAVIS project, right from the great research completed 3 months ago, to the creation of a new logo and tag line. They will now review the proposals and come up with a selection for the next aspect of the project.
JBC
The entire RTV470 – JBC documentary class attended a lecture on documentary filmmaking given to Public History M.A. students at the University of Western Ontario. The lecture was presided over by Sunny Yi (Seneca part time faculty member) and featured guest lecture – James Cullingham.
Weather Network
Representatives from the Weather Network dropped in to SCA this week to watch RTVT and JBC students put on their “weather” inspired news magazine show. They were very impressed with the students and the show, so much so they want to work out an agreement to work with Seneca more closely. This will add to our already good relationship with the Weather Network who have hired many of or grads.
Things you don’t know about me
After last week’s confessions e-mail, I received only a few “things you didn’t know about me” responses. I found it funny that two of our most loved and dedicated faculty members where each voted most likely to fail (Michael Smith and Peter Houston) so thanks for sharing guys! Thanks also to Ron Erwin for teasing me with a story about a picture he took in Temagami of his feet. I have nothing more of the story then that but look forward to buying him a couple of drinks at the upcoming SCA pub (March 18 in the Hive), and hopefully I will be able to coax more of it out.
In closing
4 years ago this week we lost a great Senecan, ambassador, professor, coordinator and a dear Friend, and I wanted to tell you how much Michael Monty meant to me. The first time I met Michael was as a student in a radio class at Seneca in 1990. An inspirational and motivating teacher, Michael held the classes’ attention like an orchestra conductor and was one of the first instructors to make me say to myself “wow, that teaching looks like fun”. He inspired me to always do my best and when I started to teach part-time he always had time for me and was willing to share and seemed to like motivating me to become a better teacher. It was Michael that got me involved in the BEAC and the OAB two organizations that he felt so strongly about and two organizations that have awards named in his honour.
I don’t often dream of work, but found myself this morning between snooze alarms. I was walking down a hall and passed by a room with some man sitting with Michael Monty. It was great to see him typing away at his computer and he looked up and smiled at me and was going to say something to me just as the alarm went off. I sure wish I was able to hear what he was going say… I do miss his voice.
For fear of ending on a little bit of a sad note, I will add this… My daughters are joining me today at work, thanks to a PA day at their school, and as they skip from Anna’s office to Karen’s and back again, I think to myself “wow remember when we where that excited about being anywhere?”
Well next week I am excited about being here all week! Safe reading everyone!
Thanks! 7 down and 7 to go.
Jim