UNIVERSITY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
UPEI celebrates 13th annual MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing

Members of the MacLauchlan family and the UPEI campus community celebrated the achievements of students, faculty, and staff at the 13th annual MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing on Tuesday, January 21, in Schurman Market Square, Don and Marion McDougall Hall. The event recognizes writing excellence or leadership in the development of writing among UPEI students, staff, and faculty.

Award winners, Marie-Pier Thibault-Messier, Faculty of Nursing (left) and Rupinder Singh, Faculty of Science (right) with UPEI President Emeritus Wade MacLauchlan (centre).

This year, prize recipients included 34 students and one faculty member. Leading the celebrations was UPEI President Emeritus Wade MacLauchlan; President and Vice-Chancellor Wendy Rodgers; Vice-President Academic and Research Greg Naterer; and guest speaker Paul MacNeill, publisher of community newspapers, award-winning journalist, political panelist for CBC TV, and community advocate.

The prizes recognize of the importance of effective writing as a foundational skill for academic success and lifelong learning and were established in 2011 by the MacLauchlan family to honour MacLauchlan's contributions to the University and his 12 years of service as president and vice-chancellor from 1999-2011. Up to $30,000 are distributed annually in awards.

"Effective writing is foundational to success in our society," said Rodgers. "On behalf of the entire UPEI community, I thank the MacLauchlan family for their generosity and President Emeritus Wade MacLauchlan for his commitment to encouraging excellence in writing among our students, faculty, and staff at UPEI."

Naterer was the master of ceremonies for the event.

"Congratulations to all students who have received the MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing," he said. "These students have created exceptional written work or have shown substantial improvement in their writing skills. Special thanks to faculty and staff members who have contributed to the development of these writing skills."

Students Rachael Chigier, Faculty of Science, and Marie-Pier Thibault-Messier, Faculty of Nursing, read excerpts from their award-winning submissions.

MacNeill spoke about the importance of local news in Canada and, by extension, the imperative of effective writing.

In his address to the prize winners, MacNeill said they should be proud to have earned this significant honour.

"The skills displayed will hold you, and our community, in good stead for many, many years to come. Use your writing skills to promote organizations you are involved with, write a letter to the editor, or a note of support to someone under troll attack on social media," he said. "I'm not sure if the MacLauchlan family envisioned how important this prize would be in relation to the challenges we face today as a society. We are very fortunate it is here to challenge UPEI students because effective writing is a needed skill that will last your lifetime. Keep writing. Your words matter."

The MacLauchlan family has made previous contributions to the Harry W. MacLauchlan Scholarships in Entrepreneurial Leadership, MacLauchlan Arena, Robertson Library, athletic scholarships, and student prizes in mathematics and entrepreneurship.