Current Students

Danielle Alyward is a big fan of learning through play.

The fourth-year Child and Youth Care (CYC) student is a regular volunteer at Friday Night Lights, a free program for youth and their caregivers that operates out of Georgia Avenue Elementary School. A partnership between the City of Nanaimo’s Parks, Recreation and Culture department, School District 68 and Vancouver Island University, the program provides a space for local children and their caregivers to play sports, do crafts and socialize together.

The dynamic nature of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has captured Andrew Szilagyi’s interest.

“The recent boom in AI development with tools like ChatGPT became a large topic of discussion worldwide and particularly in my life as a student,” he says.

The fourth-year VIU Psychology Honours student is delving deeper into the subject, with a new research project looking at how different levels of exposure to AI in the workplace can influence how workers perceive their identities when working alongside AI systems.

Are you thinking about what you want to do this summer? If you're looking a work experience opportunity, VIU's Career Studio is hosting a couple career fairs. Details below.
 
In this issue:

Born and raised in the Okanagan, Sydney Solland describes herself as an avid outdoor adventurer. When she learned about VIU’s Master of Arts in Sustainable Leisure Management program, it felt like a perfect fit.

Paige Pierce’s first exposure to poetry came about in her last few years of high school. But it wasn’t a smooth introduction.

“A lot of the poetry I was interacting with did not feel relatable or accessible to youth, so I started my writing career as a bit of a poetry hater,” she says.

Still, Paige persevered.

For VIU students looking to expand their global horizons and study internationally while pursuing their undergraduate degree, there is a lot of funding available to help make this dream come true. VIU’s Education Abroad office is giving out more than $200,000 in scholarships and grants this year.

Grace Poirier has always thought a career in pastry arts is “the coolest job ever.”

Now, the second-year VIU Baking and Pastry Arts student has taken another step towards that goal.

It’s February, which means there’s a lot happening on campus, from Black History Month to Valentine’s Day events and Mariners games.
 
In this issue:

• Graduating this year? Don’t forget to sign up for convocation by February 29!
• Mariners men’s and women’s volleyball teams final home games
• Upcoming scholarship opportunities

Pictured: Chemistry Professor Dr. Kyle Duncan in the lab with Kiera Nguyen and Nicholas Woytowich.

Valentina Chichiniova remembers being fascinated by the concept of the human psyche when she was introduced to it for the first time in a high school philosophy class.

“I wanted to learn more about what makes us human and informs our behaviour and struggles,” she recalls.

Welcome back to a new semester! The transition from the warmth of the holidays, being surrounded by close friends and family, to the routine of school, surrounded by books and assignments, can be tough. The new year opens before us, presenting a fresh chapter to write new stories. In times like these, it is important to prioritize mental wellness to allow yourself to grow, both academically and personally.