A FTER DECADES of inspiring young musicians in the classroom, retired UVic instructor and local music legend Dave Dunnet is cultivating a

passion for music education through a new scholarship.

The Dave Ian Dunnet Music Education Scholarship was established in 2017 to support undergraduate students entering their third or fourth year at UVic, who show excellence and passion for teaching music. “While doing my undergrad, I was lucky enough to receive several scholarships,” Dave explains. “I am happy to do the same for others now.”

Dave’s music career took off when he was named Bandmaster of the Victoria Boys’ Band, at the age of 15. He went on to teach music at Oak Bay High school for 28 years, while also sharing his passion with UVic students for decades as an Adjunct Lecturer, Teacher in Residence

and Senior Instructor. Upon his retirement from UVic, he was honoured with the title of Emeritus.

Matt Fichter, the first recipient of this scholarship, recalls meeting Dave for the first time as something completely unexpected. “He came to one of our wind symphony concerts just to congratulate me.”

It was the beginnings of another musical relationship. “Having a mentor like Dave,” Matt says, “reassures me that I’m on the right career path. He is always there to give support and advice.”

“Music teaches students an array of life skills,” Dave says, “I hope this scholarship will ensure future music educators, like Matt, will positively impact the lives of students in our community for years to come.”

Investing in Achievement September 2018

CONTACT US Cory Rabourn · Donor Relations Manager · 250-853-3165 · crabourn@uvic.ca Development Office, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2 uvic.ca/givingtouvic · facebook.com/universityofvictoria · twitter.com/uvic

Affinity Law Group Financial Hardship Bursary

Alexander & Glenda Kirk Award

Bayview Place Vikes Tour Award

Bill & Lilian Herod Bursary

Canet Foundation Scholarship

Carmen Kirkness Award

Dr. Charlotte Loppie Award

CFUW Victoria Doreen Sutherland Indigenous Scholarship in the Faculty of Human & Social Development

CFUW Victoria Doreen Sutherland Scholarship in the School of Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education

Crocus Scholarship in Psychology

Dave Ian Dunnet Music Education Scholarship

Department of Computer Science Honours Graduation Medal

Didier Bergeret Scholarship

Doug Beardsley Scholarship

Edward “Teddy” Blenkinsop Scholarship

Dr. Elisabeth Dixon Scholarship in Chemistry

Elsa Groundwater Scholarship

Emergency Fund for Social Work Students

Empresa Properties Vikes Cross Country & Track Award

Eric & Gail Whitley Scholarship

Eric LeBlanc Memorial Scholarship

Eugene Dowling Scholarship

Faculty of Human & Social Development Indigenous Student Emergency Fund

Faculty of Social Sciences Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship

Frances Theron Spirit of the Phoenix Award

G. Robert Smith Memorial Scholarship

Gervin Metis Award for Distinguished Advocacy & Leadership

Haji Charania Family Bursary

Harris & Company Award in Legal Ethics

Harris & Company Bursary

Hart Will Graduate Fellowship in Indigenous Governance & Leadership

Heather J. Lindsted & Brian A. Pollick Fellowship

HighTechU Award

Holocaust Studies Graduate Travel Award

Dr. Ian Stuart MBA Scholarship in Service Management

Dr. Ian Stuart Memorial PhD Award

James H. C. Walker Memorial Award

Jean Foley International Business Scholarship

JFK Law Corporation Indigenous Legal Orders Scholarship

Jimmy Spencer Memorial Award

Kathleen G. Collis Art Therapy Scholarship

Kathleen Mary Oliver Nursing Scholarship

Kedar Shrikhande Memorial Scholarship for Students with a Disability

Knowledge First Foundation Scholarship

Leslie & Terry Farmer Nursing Scholarship

Lindsay Jennerich Scholarship

Lorene Kennedy Environmental Studies PhD Award

Lorene Kennedy Graduate Student “Writing-Up” Award

Lorne Loomer Rowing Award

Marlene Donaldson Vikes Women’s Rugby Award

Mary Aitken Legacy Scholarship in Writing

Mohamed & Prabha Ibrahim Graduate Scholarship in Chemistry

Mohamed & Prabha Ibrahim Undergraduate Scholarship in Chemistry

Murray Dawson Fellowship in Humanities

Nimrod Hungarian Mobility Award

Peter B. Gustavson Golf Award

Phoenix Theatre Graduate Student Travel Award

Physics & Astronomy Award

Robert & Audrey Harry Indigenous Scholarship in Nursing

Roderick MacIsaac Graduate Scholarship

Roger J. Bishop Writing Prize

She Shoots She Scores Award

Simon Ibell Vikes Inspiration Award

Sisters of St. Ann Living Expenses Award

Social Justice Award

Suntracker Technologies Scholarship

Tamara Vrooman Women’s Leadership Award

Thea Vakil Scholarship

UVic Undergraduate Bursary

UVic Undergraduate Scholarship

Vikes Cross Country & Track Alumni Award

VIPIRG Scholarship

Women in Economics Graduate Scholarship

YLaw’s Best Lawyering Award

BURSARIES are non-repayable awards based on financial need and reasonable academic standing. These awards are for students who are receiving the maximum student loans available for their period of study, are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada and have unmet financial need.

SCHOLARSHIPS, PRIZES and ATHLETIC AWARDS recognize outstanding students. They are non-repayable entrance or in-course awards granted to students on the basis of academic merit and excellence.

FELLOWSHIPS are merit-based awards granted to outstanding students enrolled in graduate studies. These awards enable students to concentrate on their specialty, pursue their research and maintain a high academic standing.

top left: Jesse Short-Gershman

top right: Hannah and Jesse’s mother, Erin, felt a strong connection when they met.

A love for music education

… to the generous individuals, organizations and businesses who established new

student awards with the University of Victoria this year. The following awards were ratified

by the UVic Senate and Board of Governors during the 2017/18 academic year.

A beautiful mind… gone too soon

AT JUST 16, Jesse Short-Gershman started his bachelor’s degree at UVic. By 19, he had an honours degree in math and computer science. Upon graduation, he won the Governor General’s Silver Medal for the

highest undergraduate GPA and a full scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in computer science. Jesse took a huge leap of faith and moved to California partway through the program to take an internship with Google. That led to a dream job offer of full-time employment with Google. But only a year later his life took an unexpected turn.

“Known for his gentle eyes and kind nature,” his obituary states, “Jesse’s only enemy on this earth was his complex syndrome of obsessive compulsive disorder and recent acute situational depression over the loss of his job. After unsuccessful treatment received months before he passed, Jesse channeled his strength and courage towards a definitive end to his suffering.”

Jesse’s tragic death left an enormous void in the lives of many, especially his parents, Erin Short and Stu Gershman. From the depths of their pain, they began to think about Jesse’s legacy. Since Jesse so loved studying math and computer science at UVic, they chose to memorialize that passion with the Jesse Short-Gershman Scholarship,

an award in those two departments to assist other gifted students dealing with health or mental health issues.

Hannah Swan, one of the first recipients of the award, displays a similar avid enthusiasm for math as Jesse did. The second-year student is excelling in a double major in math and physics, but financial and health challenges continually threaten her success. Hannah supports herself at university while dealing with a rare debilitating physical illness that generates anxiety and depression. It worsened towards the end of end of her first year, causing her to lose consciousness and suffer seizures up to 20 times a day.

She was close to quitting when she discovered she’d been awarded the Jesse Short-Gershman Scholarship. “It was an emotional moment,” Hannah says “I really appreciate that Erin and Stu chose to take Jesse’s struggle and turn it into something that is a very powerful aid for students.”

Jesse’s parents hope that keeping his story alive might save other young people — help them find the right supports so their struggle doesn’t end tragically, as Jesse’s did. Hannah wants to honour that by proudly adding the scholarship to her résumé, and ultimately, overcoming the challenges she faces to achieve her goals, “I feel so honoured to have been given this gift. To be given, what was for me, a second chance.”

Broadening understanding through gifts to UVic Libraries

THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY and foresight of donors who invest in UVic’s endowments, the University

of Victoria Libraries is a window into history, culture, and ideas from around the world. There are currently more than 20 library en-dowments and funds. Together, they have been used over the decades to expand UVic Libraries’ collection and scope of activities.

“Donor support is critical in allowing the library flexibility and discretion to acquire rare and unique books and archives,” says University Librarian Jonathan Bengtson.

“Many of these purchases would otherwise be out of reach.”

Making history tangible“IT WAS LIKE AN EPIPHANY,” says UVic donor and PhD student Brian Pollick, about a trip to Italy to study art. “I wanted to provide ways to give materiality to a bygone age.” Brian and his wife Heather Lindstedt worked closely with UVic Libraries and established the Medieval Manuscript Fund, which has helped build one of the most extensive collections of medieval manuscripts west of Toronto. “We encourage people to touch them and turn the pages,” says Brian.

One of the manuscripts they helped the library acquire is an Italian Book of Hours (Codex Pollick, at left) from the 15th century. The illuminated manuscript brings thoughts, beliefs, and rituals of Medieval Europe to life for students. “On every page, there are oily and dirty marks. When they hold it in their hands, students almost immediately see that the marks are where their thumbs settle naturally, so you suddenly feel like you can go through time,” says Dr. Adrienne Williams Boyarin, associate professor in the Department of English.

Dr. Williams Boyarin’s students spend each semester transcribing and translating manuscripts that UVic has purchased. “A textbook can’t offer you that type of learning,” says Williams Boyarin. Once a student project is complete, it is posted online for readers worldwide to access. “It creates this sense of community and cross-course collaboration when the donor gives to us,” says Williams Boyarin. “The library lets the students use it and access it, and in return, we give back to the library and community by making these texts more accessible.”

Brian’s donations to help enrich UVic Libraries’ collec-tion of medieval manuscripts has fueled his passion and enhanced his own studies. After retiring, Brian came to UVic to complete a master’s degree and is now pursuing his doctorate in Art History and Visual Studies, at the age of 72. “It gives me a sense of pur-pose,” says Brian. “Donations can be one tool to help you achieve a legacy that is very important to you.”

1994 Jim & Doreen Rainer Library Endowment Fund established.

1991 BC Hydro Library Renewal Trust established, the first major library fund of the current endowments.

2016 UVic Libraries purchased a rare copy of Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, once owned by her daughter Frieda Hughes. The cover has a large split running down the centre that carries through the first few pages. Hughes drew a zipper in the inside cover, and then stitched up the next page to hide the damage. “Hughes’ intention to repair the book is both whimsical and mythological,” says Grants and Awards Librarian and Plath scholar Christine Walde.

2010 Gwladys Downes Endowment established.

2006 John F. & Catherine Baker Endowment established, a fund which has purchased 50 sound recordings, 79 books and one journal.

2015 Dr. Mildred L.G. Shaw & Dr. Brian R. Gaines Libraries Endowment established.

1992 John & Irene Dorn Memorial Endowment Fund established, a fund which has now purchased 3,006 books.

2018 UVic Libraries purchased an extremely rare 15th century medieval manuscript, a historical miscellany in Latin and Middle English produced in Germany.

“What a great opportunity for our undergrad students and grad students to study such text up close,” says University Librarian Jonathan Bengtson.

2002 The Owen Padmore Memorial Fund was established in honour of UVic Art History and Visual Studies student Owen Padmore, who passed away in 2001. His father, Tim Padmore, recalls how Owen travelled through the Middle East and South Asia and admired Islam for its strong family values and generosity to strangers. “We wanted to turn something negative in our lives into something positive,” Owen’s mother, Jeanne Padmore, says. “I’m happy to know others can enjoy the art that Owen was passionate about.” The fund has purchased more than 275 books, which library users can borrow.