One of our favourite activities of each year is reviewing the stories of the last 12 months to come up with an annual highlights package of the most impactful, colourful and just plain fun stories we had the opportunity to share with the community. From research breakthroughs to heartfelt donor gifts, quirky science to community connectedness, ULethbridge students, employees and alumni once again made a difference in society. We are southern Alberta's university and our people are making valuable contributions to bettering our communities, near and far, every day. Please enjoy these highlights of 2024 and then explore for yourself the many other impactful stories available on UNews and at ULethbridge stories.
University of Lethbridge well represented at Paris Olympics
The Pronghorn was draped in Canadian red and white at this summer's Paris Olympics, with seven athletes and coaches who had Pronghorn ties selected to represent Canada on the world stage. Kacie Bosch (BA '20) and Paige Crozon, assistant coaches with the Horns women's basketball team, were key members of the Canadian Women's 3x3 Baskteball Team that finished with a fourth-place showing. In addition, track coach Larry Steinke (BA '94) attended his sixth Olympics as a national throwing coach, former track star Ryan Sommer (BA '16) was on the mission staff, former Horns judoka Mike Tamura (BA) was the judo sport director, and former Horns swimmer Apollo Hess and cyclist Sarah Orban (BA '18) also competed in Paris.
University waives application fees for Indigenous students
Indigenous students applying to study at the ULethbridge no longer have to pay an application fee after the University introduced new changes to remove financial barriers to participation in university education. Graduate and undergraduate application fees for self-declared Canadian Indigenous students are now waived, and in a second policy update, self-identified members of Aamskapi Pikuni, the Blackfeet Nation in Montana, are now eligible to study at ULethbridge paying domestic tuition rates, rather than international tuition fee rates. The changes were made to remove financial barriers for Indigenous students and create more pathways for student success.
Dr. Joe Rasmussen earns a tribute through newly discovered parasite
A significant find by ULethbridge graduate student Molly Tilley led to a key paper in the International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, as well as a touching tribute to one of the most respected aquatic biologists in North America — Dr. Joe Rasmussen. Tilley, working with supervisor Dr. Cam Goater, discovered an emerging parasite in the University Pond, one that created large, white, disfiguring lesions surrounding the eyes of fathead minnows. Not only was it a significant find for its potential effects on the aquatic food chain, it gave the duo an opportunity to honour Rasmussen, one of the top aquatic biologists in the country. Now retired, Rasmussen was humbled by the honour and similarly thrilled aquatic research at ULethbridge continues to make such important discoveries.
Therapeutic Recreation graduate creates unique equine art program
Some stories just make you feel good and this is one of those. As a master's student, alumna Amanda Ervin (BTR ’20, MSc ’23) researched relationship outcomes of therapeutic riding classes and discovered the Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding Association (LTRA), eventually joining their board of directors. A year later, the organization was facing a gap in programming for clients when their therapeutic coach went on leave, and Ervin stepped up with ideas for an expressive arts program to fill the void. The result was a unique and innovative program that allowed LTRA clients to actually paint the horses they had come to know and love through their therapy sessions. Participants painted the horses using tempera paint mixed with soap for easy removal and the results were both meaningful and spectacular.
Toby and Bernadine Boulet champion Paving Roads to Success
Bernadine (Bernie) (BEd '88) and Toby Boulet (BEd ’89, MEd ’04) have pretty much seen it all through 60 combined years of teaching experience and when the ULethbridge Faculty of Education presented an opportunity to support student teachers, they knew exactly the challenges they were facing — and jumped on board. The initiative, Paving Roads to Success, is a transformative fundraising campaign that addresses the support needs of third-year student teachers pursuing rural placements. Bernie started her career in a rural setting and understood the financial challenges student teachers have when they earn such a placement, and also the amazing benefits of experiencing teaching in a rural setting. They quickly threw their support behind the initiative to help reduce these barriers and empower student teachers to bring quality education to underserved communities across Alberta. The result is a much-needed program backed by an amazing alumni couple.
Magical AuraWand a first-of-its-kind commercialization project out of the Faculty of Fine Arts
This story falls under thre category of innovative, unique and just plain cool. Faculty of Fine Arts music professor Dr. Arlan Schultz created the AuraWand, a device that can move sound in two or three dimensions with human gestures and, not surprisingly, it has garnered interest from some of the largest technology companies in the world. For use on stage or in the sound studio, the device allows individuals to seamlessly interact with spatial audio and puts the focus back on listening and physically engaging with the art of immersive sound design. ULethbridge research is truly on the cutting edge.
Sokkinakia’pi collaborative project to shape the future of health-care delivery for Kainai Nation
The first stage of a collaborative multi-phased approach to enhance health and well-being on the Kainai Nation is underway in a good way. In February, the Blood Tribe Department of Health Inc. (BTDH) and University of Lethbridge engaged in a naming ceremony for this important project, out of which Sokkinakia’pi was born. An all-encompassing term that includes everything that has do with health, Sokkinakia’pi picks up on the memorandum of understanding signed between ULethbridge and BTDH to honour the health-related Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, partnering to expand health services capacity and delivery on the Blood Reserve. An incredibly important partnership, it's possibilities are endless.
Shad ULethbridge inspires high schoolers in STEAM and entrepreneurship
At the beginning of July, ULethbridge welcomed high school students from across Canada for the first time through Shad Canada, a program designated for students in Grades 10 and 11. Upon their arrival, students were introduced to a real-world design challenge, which was shared across all Shad campuses in 2024. This year’s challenge posed the question: "How might we help people in Canada integrate affordable and reliable green energy sources into their everyday lives to create more sustainable communities?" Students were on campus for 27 days, getting a chance to experience everything ULethbridge has to offer.
Antarctica leaves impactful, lasting impression on Copeland
Dr. Jennifer Copeland, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science, was one of a select group of women to take part in a 19-night tour of Antarctica as part of the Homeward Bound global leadership initiative for women with a background in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM). She described the experience of interacting with the beauty and remoteness that is the world’s fifth-largest and least-populated continent as astonishing. She shared her experiences in a number of forums, complete with spectacular photography, stories about the many seals, whales and six varieties of penguins she saw, and a message about the future of our planet that is at times scary, but also hopeful that there are enough caring and committed people throughout the world eager to lead a culture of change.
Rural Medical Education Program Training Centre promises new hope for rural communities in need of doctors
This was one of three stories about the new Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP) that is currently being developed between the University of Lethbridge and University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine. Through this innovative partnership, aspiring medical professionals will have the opportunity to complete the entirety of their University of Calgary medical degree at the University of Lethbridge. It's a huge step forward and promises to create a system that would provide a sustainable and stable physician supply for southern Alberta and rural communities for years to come.