COOLIE VERNER AWARD

With surprise and joy I have been communicated that UBC has granted me the CV award for my thesis proposal. This is an encouraging injection of energy that ads challenge and a bit of pressure to my project. I am excited! This is the note from UBC professor Shauna Butterwick:

Dear Antonio,
It gives me great pleasure to inform you that the Adult and Higher Education faculty in the Department of Educational Studies has determined that you are the recipient of the 2007-2008 Coolie Verner Research Prize which is accompanied with a $500 stipend. You should be receiving an announcement from the Financial Services and Awards office soon. This Prize honours the first Professor in the Department of Adult Education, Professor Coolie Verner, who was on faculty at UBC from 1961 to 1977. It is awarded annually to the student who best combines high academic standing and research potential. In the nomination materials, the timeliness and significance, as well as your creative methodological approach to your MA research were noted. We are excited about the topic--the ways in which the inukshuk and other Aboriginal symbols have been 'adopted' by the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, how visual and textual Aboriginal representations have been incorporated into the public education mandate of the Vancouver Games, and how this relates to the Aboriginal Participation Goals of the Vancouver Organizing Committee. We are also impressed with the use of visual research methods, such as content and semiotic analysis, as a way to examine material presented on the official Vancouver 2010 Olympic website and two related websites. It was also noted that you have presented a talk titled, "The Vancouver Olympics Emblem (Inukshuk): Opportunity or Opportunism?" at the Northern Communications Conference in Whitehorse, YT (March 4-5, 2008). This research will make a significant contribution to critical public pedagogy and community education. Your solid A and A+ academic standing was also considered. Your name will be added to the Coolie Verner Prize plaque situated in the entrance to Ponderosa G. Congratulations.

Dr. Shauna Butterwick, Associate Professor & Graduate Advisor
Department of Educational Studies, Room # 10, Ponderosa G building. University of British Columbia Share