<strong>UW appoints Tom Jenkins as 10th chancellor</strong>
Tom Jenkins, who is currently the chair of OpenText Corporation and has been a leader in the tech industry for many years, has been named the University of Waterloo’s 10th chancellor. OpenText, which began as a UW startup, became Canada’s first Internet IPO under Jenkins’ leadership. He served as president and chief executive officer for OpenText from 1994 to 2005. Jenkins will succeed Prem Watsa, chair of Fairfax Holdings and UW chancellor for six years, on May 1, 2015.
<strong>Renison installs new principal</strong>
Renison University College installed Rev. Wendy Fletcher as principal and chancellor last Saturday. The ceremony took place at the Church of the Holy Saviour in Waterloo.
Previously, Fletcher has served as professor, academic dean, dean vice-principal, and principal at the Vancouver School of Theology. Fletcher, who specializes in several areas, including the intersection of culture and Christianity in the 20th century, the history of colonization and its impact on Canadian First Nations, and the decline of Christianity in North American culture, will be serving both as principal to Renison and the director of international and inter-cultural development.
<strong>Incoming Waterloo students awarded scholarships</strong>
Two first-year students at the University of Waterloo have been awarded the Schulich Leader Scholarship. The winners are Amanda Rampertab, a mechatronic engineering student from Oakville, Ontario, and Emily Pass, a physics and astronomy student from Charlottetown, PEI.
Rampertab and Pass received $80,000 and $60,000 respectively. The Schulich Leadership Scholarship, which was created three years ago, was named for Seymour Schulich, a Canadian business leader and philanthropist. Applicants are evaluated on academic excellence; outstanding business, community, or entrepreneurial leadership; and financial need.
The program recognizes 40 outstanding university students in schools across the country each year.
<strong>New Velocity space opens</strong>
The University of Waterloo has launched its newest Velocity program: Velocity Foundry. Foundry is an 11,000 square foot open space which can be used by startups to create, test, modify, and commercialize their business. In addition to the physical space provided, Foundry, which is an extension of the Velocity Garage, provides mentorship for students who are bringing their startup ideas to life. Foundry is located just steps away from Velocity Garage in downtown Kitchener and the two spaces currently house more than 50 startups.
