Students

Alex Pysklywec, graduating Geography student and recipient of an Arts Undergraduate Research Award (AURA), currently works with Geography professor Dr. Juanita Sundberg to examine the implications of militarization along the U.S.-Mexico border. In addition to conducting internet based research, Pysklywec traveled to Brownsville, Texas three times to observe the border wall, to carry out archival research at local institutions, as well as to interview policymakers and local citizens.

“Graduating students – don’t forget you can still be involved,” says Montana Hunter, a fourth-year Honours History and International Relations student. “Just because you’re in fourth year doesn’t mean you can’t try to get into something. There’s always some time.”

Fourth-year Honours Sociology student Amanda Cheong is the 2012 recipient of the Dean’s Outstanding Leader in the Faculty of Arts Award. This week, we sat down with her and discussed her research on stateless Chinese-Bruneian immigrants and her time as the co-president of the Sociology Students’ Association.

UBC Arts Co-op student Sophia Kim has been recognized by the Canadian Association For Co-operative Education (CAFCE) for her outstanding work with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC). During her co-op work term, Sophia Kim conducted interviews with individuals from First Nations groups, the private sector, and government – culminating in preliminary conclusions on the relationship between treaties and economic development.

It’s tough for temporary aid workers in developing countries to know if they’ve made an impact in their short time of service. Ben Black can measure the difference he helped make over his three months in Swaziland: the NGO he worked for now has two new cars with which to conduct their work, and the people he helped now have a community garden to call their own.