Eight students win Blue and Gold Awards

by Jessica Gillies

Eight University of Victoria students have been honoured with 2005 Blue and Gold Awards for their on- and off-campus volunteer work and classroom achievements.

Fourth-year business student Stephen Albinati co-founded Carbon-Free Campus, a student-run group that promotes alternative energy systems. He's been involved with Habitat for Humanity in Mexico, and has made and advertised African AIDS Angels to raise money for AIDS- and HIV-affected communities in Africa.

Chris Darimont, who is conducting a pioneer study of the wolves of B.C.'s central coast for his PhD in biology, is considered one of North America's emerging conservation ecologists. An outspoken advocate for science-based wildlife conservation, he volunteers for the Raincoast Conservation Society and earlier this year won the Animal Action Award for Compassion in Science from the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Darimont is also featured in a new National Geographic documentary film called Last Stand of the Great Bear. He has volunteered with the Koeye Youth Camp and the Heiltsuk Science and Culture Camp, and has previously won the President's Scholarship, the David S. Strong Research Award, and the Edward Basset Family Scholarship.

Sarah Marsden, a master's student in law, has worked at home and abroad for human rights agencies. In Victoria she worked for Victoria Street Newz as a volunteer researcher and in community liaison, and for the Vancouver Island Human Rights Coalition as a volunteer legal advocate.

In India, Marsden volunteered for the Indian Missionaries of Charity as a childcare and hospital assistant. In Cambodia, she worked with the UN Inter-Agency Project as a volunteer legal and policy researcher on human trafficking issues, and in Thailand, she served with the Asia Pacific Forum on Women and Legal Development as a volunteer legal researcher and editor.

Shaun Doherty is a fourth-year political science and sociology student. He has volunteered with the B.C. Special Olympics, the Rock Solid program, the Victoria Youth Custody Centre, and Operation Track Shoes. He's been a member of the Vikes basketball team since 2001, and captain since 2003.

Sue Duffy, a master of education student, has volunteered for the Single Parent Resource Centre of Victoria for over 10 years. She's also volunteered with the William Head Institution and the Victoria Hospice Society.

Leanne Gutierrez is a fourth-year biochemistry student. She has coached Gordon Head girls' soccer teams and plays competitive soccer. She has conducted scientific research in the B.C. Cancer Agency's Terry Fox laboratory, and worked in a hospital in Vanuatu.

Chelsey Llewellyn, a fourth-year biochemistry student, is a member of the Vikes rugby team. She volunteers at Sandringham Care Centre and participates in the UVic student-senior work program. Llewellyn has also volunteered for the Rock Solid program.

Prasanna Ranganathan, a third-year law student, is president of the Law Students' Society. He is the founder and a co-ordinator of the UVic law peer counselling program, and a co-organizer of the UVic law volunteer book project, which is creating a resource book for students interested in volunteering in Victoria. In 2004, Ranganathan won the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) Edward K. Rowan-Legg Award, which is awarded to one law student nationally for service to the CBA.

The Blue and Gold awards receive financial support from CIBC.