Martin Ashwood-Smith (BA 鈥�92) likens his signature crossword puzzles to good magic tricks. Part alchemy, part craft, part art, the Victoria-based constructor who has published 1,000 crossword puzzles鈥攊ncluding 85 in the cruciverbalist鈥檚 holy grail, The New York Times鈥攕tarts with a grid. And very few black squares.
Indigenous Governance graduate Jarrett Martineau is a leading influencer within the Canadian media scene, having produced several high-profile projects in the last 15 years. His is a story of remarkable success for someone who has barely brushed his forties.
Indra Heed Hornsby (LLB '97), has been on a clear trajectory to space from the time she was a toddler growing up in Kamloops, BC. After completing an undergraduate degree with a focus on aerospace policy, Hornsby came to UVic's Faculty of Law to develop a skill she could bring to the space sector.
Astronomy professor Sara Ellison, who plays violin in her free time, says studying the night sky is like learning to appreciate the intricacies of music. When Sara Ellison looks up at the stars, she does so with the hallmark precision of a scientist鈥�
Four UVic engineering grads landed dream jobs for Rocket Lab, working out of their office in Auckland, New Zealand. The company has found its niche through the design, manufacture and launch of smaller rockets to deliver ever-smaller satellites to low Earth orbit鈥攔ather than ferrying big payloads.
Officially endorsed by Lucasfilm, UVic alumnus Charles Ross鈥檚 75-minute "One-Man Star Wars Trilogy" has been performed for over a million people worldwide, including extended runs off-Broadway, in London鈥檚 West End and at the Sydney Opera House, as well as appearances on the likes of "Late Night with Conan O鈥橞rien" and the popular "How Stuff Works" podcast.
UVic researcher Olav Krigolson is helping NASA study the mental stress of a long space mission to Mars. He'll use portable electroencephalography (EEG) systems in the form of MUSE headbands and PEER research software to monitor the brain activity of crew members.
Cambria Logan (BEng 鈥�08) might have never been to space, but her years of hard work helped send the Curiosity Rover on a successful mission to Mars. She led the team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory that was responsible for testing the sampling tools on the end of Curiosity's robotic arm, which landed on Mars in 2012.
Alumna Fern Perkins says her UVic education in the 1960s and 1970s saved her from a life of poverty and despair. Years later, she unlocked the secrets of her true Indigenous identity.
UVic grad Colton Hash is the recipient of a new Artist-in-Residence program announced by the Faculty of Fine Arts and Ocean Networks Canada, a UVic initiative. The residency will strengthen connections between art and science, and broaden perspectives on major issues ranging from technology and the environment to biodiversity and healthy communities.
When Alicia Kaiser arrived at UVic in 2007 to pursue her degree in English and professional writing, she didn鈥檛 have a clear plan for the future. Eleven years later, she has found her niche as a member of the university's core communications and marketing team, and UVic's first and only digital signage coordinator.
Through research conducted during a co-op work term, biochemistry undergraduate James Saville was able to help a Duncan brewery optimize the recipe for their IPA鈥攄etermining the best hop type and timing to maximize flavour, while spending less money on the expensive ingredient.
As a M茅tis woman, Brigitte Benning grew up in a tight-knit family with a strong maternal role model who taught her how to advocate for the rights and recognition of Indigenous people. Sociology caught her attention with its diversity of issues on gender, mental health, the environment, Indigenous methodologies, feminist studies and religion.
Chorong Kim and Chong Su Kim will cross the stage at convocation in November, marking the end of nine years together鈥攁nd two degrees each鈥攁t UVic. They have shared a few brown bag lunches along the way, as well as stressful moments as graduate students.
Tamika Rodney, BCom '18, was completing a hospitality management diploma at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology when a fateful need for caffeine and some eye-catching island photos conspired to redirect her toward UVic's Peter B. Gustavson School of Business, and a complete life change鈥攖hough she didn't realize it at the time.
Like many outstanding students, the term "overachiever" is a good fit for graduating international Visual Arts major Guochen Wang. Born and raised in Taiyuan, a mid-sized city in China's central Shanxi province, Chen went to a local international high school before looking for overseas post-secondary options. And his reasons for choosing UVic may not be surprising.
