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ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ is proud to host the second annual Mulligan Cup, an exhibition soccer tournament held August 30-September 2, at the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ. This is an opportunity for both ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Panther teams to finish training camp and prepare for the upcoming AUS season which begins at home on September 8.

Both Mount Allison University and Holland College teams are back to play in the tournament, in addition to the Cape Breton University men's team. The tournament kicks off with the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ women's Panthers taking on the Holland College Hurricanes on Thursday, August 30, at 4 pm.

The tournament is named in honour of former ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ soccer coach and Panther sport builder, Vince Mulligan, who was one of the first to recognize the global popularity of soccer and its potential for growth on PEI. Mulligan started the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ men's soccer program in 1969, coaching the team through to 1982, and including its first game in the AUAA in 1977. Under his guidance, the Panthers reached the 1981 AUAA finals, and in 1982, he led them to a fifth-place ranking in the country. For his efforts, he was named AUAA Coach of the Year.

In the fall of 1983, Mulligan switched his cleats for skates, taking over as bench boss for the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ men's hockey team. In five years, Mulligan won three AUAA championships, another AUAA Coach of the Year award, and a coaching record of 115 wins against 27 losses. He then turned his attention to women's hockey, starting the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ program in 1978, and in 1990, he did the same for women's soccer, reaching the playoffs three times in the program's first four years.

Admission to the games will be $5 per day, and 2012-13 soccer season passes include admission to the Mulligan Cup. ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ will continue to offer students free admission to all Panthers regular season home games. A full schedule of the Mulligan Cup is listed below.

The government of Prince Edward Island announced today that provincial student loans will have a zero per cent interest rate for loans issued after January 1, 2001, and held by PEI Student Financial Assistance Corporation. This program will be effective October 1, 2012.

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Student Union President Kate VanGerven acted as the event's master of ceremonies. Other ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ representatives, including ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz were in attendance to hear Premier Robert Ghiz make the important announcement.

There are approximately 2,600 provincial student loans that were issued after January 1, 2001, now in repayment status. The savings on the average student loan in the first year of repayment will be approximately $1,000.

The announcement is a part of the province's ongoing commitment to all levels of education, including other post-secondary investments such as the George Coles Bursary and Scholarships, and new infrastructure for ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ and Holland College.

Premier Ghiz said 'Education is the best investment for the future of Prince Edward Island. I hope that this program will encourage more Prince Edward Island students to attend post-secondary education and training.'

To be eligible for a PEI loan, students must:

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ is excited to host the 2012 Mickey Place Tournament October 12-14. This year will be exciting with eight basketball teams from across Canada coming to Prince Edward Island to play in the annual event.

On the men's side, Tim Kendrick, in his second year as head coach of the basketball team, will lead the Panthers against tough competitors such as the University of Regina, Ryerson University, and Saint Mary's University. Greg Gould, newly appointed women's head coach, will see his first action when the team faces the University of Guelph Gryphons and the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees. The team will then tip-off against the Memorial University Seahawks of Newfoundland.

The tournament is named after John Thomas 'Mickey' Place, a long-time friend of Panther Sport, a former ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ student union employee, and a ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ honorary degree recipient. He supported all teams and every player with a notion of competition that was quaint if not downright Victorian-he was a believer in 'fair play,' and that through respect for one's opponent, an athlete could gain the ultimate respect for self.

'We are very excited to kick off our 2012-13 season by hosting the Mickey Place Tournament. Regina, Ryerson, and Saint Mary's are all competitive CIS and AUS championship contenders, and we are looking forward to this early test,' said Kendrick. 'There is no doubt that this will be a wonderful weekend of basketball action!'

The cost of admission for the Mickey Place Tournament is $10/per day; ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ basketball season passes are on sale now, which include admission to the tournament. The full tournament schedule follows.

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's Advancing Interdisciplinary Research in Singing (AIRS) is partnering with Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada on a seven-year Major Collaborative Research Initiative. AIRS is conducting a research study on how singing abilities develop and change over lifetimes and is seeking assistance from the community.

This particular study is looking for approximately 150 participants, over the age of five, with no singing experience necessary. All are welcome to participate. Participants of this study will come away with a new perspective on singing and will contribute to a growing body of cutting-edge research-the advancement of knowledge in the area of human development and singing.

Participants will take part in a short singing interview called the 'AIRS Test Battery of Singing Skills.' To learn more about this area of research, it is crucial to study examples of people singing, and it is important that people of all ages and varying levels of singing experience and musical background be studied. The study will take approximately 30 minutes and participants will be entered into a draw for great prizes upon completion of the interview. This is a great opportunity for music lovers to support ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ research!

To participate in the study, contact the AIRS team at (902) 566-6023 or airstest@upei.ca. For more information on the study, visit .

For more information about AIRS contact Dr. Annabel Cohen (AIRS Project Director) at (902) 628-4325, or airscohen@upei.ca.

The ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ women's soccer team will add some familiar faces to the bench this season. With only Mike Redmond returning as head coach, the Panthers will add assistant coaches Graeme MacDonald and John O'Brien, as well as former Panthers Gini Lisi and Sara Stewart.

Both MacDonald and O'Brien will bring a wealth of experience to the team and are looking forward to the upcoming season. MacDonald brings over 10 years of extensive coaching experience gained through his soccer career in Scotland, where he coached two professional soccer clubs-the St Mirren Football Club of the Scottish Premier League, and the Greenock Morton Football Club of the Scottish Football League First Division. MacDonald has also worked for the Scottish Football Association.

O'Brien was first introduced to soccer back in Ireland and he continued playing the sport following his immigration to Canada at the age of 13. The highlight of his playing career came as a member of the University of New Brunswick's soccer team where he won two AUS championships in 1980 and 1982, as well as a CIS national championship in 1980. He continues to play and has been coaching various levels including club, school, provincial all-star, and Canada Games for the past 16 years. O'Brien has worked with Redmond in the past on a number of provincial all-star teams and with the 2009 Canada Games women's squad.

'I'm excited to be joining a ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ team that is a perennial contender in the AUS, and one that is regularly considered to be among the best in the country,' said O'Brien. 'I hope to bring some of my experience as a coach and a former AUS player to the team, and be able to contribute along with the rest of the coaching staff to another successful season.'

Former players Lisi and Stewart have both been solid players in ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ women's soccer history. Lisi is known as one of the most physical players to have ever worn the green and white jersey, and ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ captain Stewart, a former ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Athlete of the Year, and CIS All-Canadian, is known as a solid defender who improved season after season. They will bring their Panther pride to the field every day and push players to reach the AUS and CIS championships.

'I'm ecstatic to be a part of the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ women's soccer coaching staff this year. I knew I wasn't ready to let the team go, so when Mike asked me to coach I said ‘of course,'' said Stewart. 'I'm so excited for the upcoming season, and although it's going to be a very different squad this year, having lost four or five key players, there's a lot of great players returning, so I hope that they have worked extra hard this summer to step up and fill those empty spots. Hopefully this will be the year ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ takes home its second AUS championship.'

The Panthers will begin the season by hosting the Mulligan Cup August 30-September 2, with the regular season kicking off on September 8, as ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ hosts Mount Allison at 2:00 pm.

The ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ would like to welcome all participants and parents to the 2012 Legion Canadian Youth Track and Field Championships August 15-21 hosted on ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's campus.

The annual event welcomes approximately 800 of the best young athletes from across the country who will compete in the track and field meet organized by a group of 100 experienced volunteers. The national championships are divided into two sections-one section consisting of the two-day meet, and the second of the two days devoted to training clinics for the athletes. The rest of the time is spent on presentations, tours, and travel.

The championships are sanctioned by Athletics Canada and are the official Canadian championships for the midget and youth track and field categories. Athletics Canada conducts the training clinics and uses some of Canada's top coaches to instruct and inspire the young athletes.

Best of luck to all participants, enjoy yourselves, and welcome to Prince Edward Island!

For more information on the championships, visit

The ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ was recently awarded two national silver awards from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE): 'Best Print Ad or Poster' and 'Best Photograph.'

The CCAE Prix d'Excellence awards program recognizes outstanding achievements in alumni affairs, public affairs, communications, marketing, development, advancement services, stewardship, student recruitment, and overall institutional advancement.

'It's an honour to be nationally recognized by the CCAE for the creativity of our talented team at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ,' said Glenda Clements, Director of Integrated Communications. 'The creative thinking and production excellence recognized by these awards demonstrates that our promotional materials reflect the quality of ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's programs and the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ student experience that we are so privileged to support.'

The silver award-winning poster, designed by members of Integrated Communications and Research Services, was developed to promote 'The Debt of the Western Civilization to the United States of America' discussion which was part of the 'Research on Tap' series. The poster conveyed a stimulating message promoting the event's provocative speaker, Dr. Richard Kurial, a ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ professor of history, challenging participants to engage in dialogue on the topic. Judges appreciated the design rationale, one saying the poster 'did a terrific job of conveying the event's theme and engaging the viewer.'

'Knee Deep in Frogs' was the title of the winning photo, also at the silver level. Taken by ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ photography for the cover story of a nine-page tabloid-style publication, the photo featured researcher, Ashleigh Allen, a recipient of an Undergraduate Student Research Award, peering through an aquarium that contained her research subjects-a rare Nigerian frog species. The publication was distributed in Prince Edward Island to update the Island community on recent significant successes among ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ students, staff and faculty, researchers and alumni. Because of careful preparation prior to shooting, the photo required very little post-production editing and the image retained great realism. The judges commented that the photo had a nice attention to detail and that 'it was much stronger than an average research shot.'

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ has previously been recognized by CCAE, winning Prix d'Excellence gold awards in 2010 for 'Best Student Recruitment Viewbook' (for its 2009-10 edition), and for 'Best Community Outreach Program' for the Dr. Tim Ogilvie AVC Vet Camp. Last year, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ was awarded three silver CCAE awards for 'Best New Idea: Creativity on a Shoestring' for its 'Win with ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ' contest; 'Best Annual Fund Initiative' for the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Annual Fund Campaign; and 'Best Community Outreach' for the Atlantic Veterinary College's Community Workshop Series.

More about the CCAE:

Public-and-private sector leaders from across the country will gather at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ this week for a discussion about policy and practice with regards to immigration in Canada. The third annual Palmer Conference on Public Sector Leadership meets August 15 and 16.

The Palmer Conference is named in honour of public-policy advocate James S. Palmer, a prominent Calgary-based lawyer of the firm Burnet, Duckworth, and Palmer, and native Prince Edward Islander. The Palmer Conference gathers the finest minds in the country to discuss issues of high priority to the public sector and to Canada. This year's theme is 'Canada as a Leader in Immigration Policy and Practice.'

The conference's keynote speaker, Naheed Nenshi, mayor of Calgary, will address the conference on Wednesday evening. His talk, designed to engage conference participants and inspire the two-day dialogue, is entitled 'The Promise of Diversity in Canada' and will reflect his experience as both a child of immigrants and the mayor of an increasingly diverse city. He will discuss the value of smart immigration that considers the people our cities need, the programs that will help, and the policy that will reflect the best interest of all Canadians.

The conference continues on Thursday with three high-level panel discussions on different issues of immigration policy. Jane Taber, political journalist with The Globe and Mail, will moderate a discussion entitled 'Lessons Learned from Provincial/Regional/Municipal Programs.' Natasha Fatah, journalist with CBC and former host of the program, Promised Land, will moderate a discussion on 'Integration and Settlement, Economic and Social.' Monique Collette, former president of ACOA and senior advisor of the Privy Council Office, will moderate a discussion on 'Challenges and Rewards for Public Servants Working in Immigration.'

Conference Chair Wade MacLauchlan, former president of the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ, said the Palmer Conference is leading the discourse on issues of public sector leadership in Canada. 'The Palmer Conference is the home of big ideas, but it's also a forum for turning those ideas into big action,' said MacLauchlan. 'At the inaugural conference in 2010, we discussed public servants and their relationship with both politicians and the media; in 2011, the Palmer Conference theme was a Canadian energy strategy. This year, you see some of the brightest minds in the country coming together to discuss Canada's leadership in immigration policy and practice.'

The conference agenda is designed to encourage engaged dialogue and to reflect a diversity of opinion. For more information, visit palmerconference.ca.

About the Palmer Conference

The ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Sports Hall of Fame committee is pleased to announce that it will induct ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ basketball star Jennifer Moore (née Johnston), and ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's football defensive star Hubert 'Socky' MacDonald on Thursday, October 11, during the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Sport Legacy Dinner.

Johnston played basketball at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ for five years and is one of only three female basketball Panthers to be named an AUS MVP, others include Paula Edwards and Janet Nichols. Johnston was a three-time AUS all-star, and in 1998-99, was named a second-team CIS All-Canadian. She played a key role in the Panthers winning the AUS championship in 1997-98.

MacDonald was a football standout, playing five years for the Panthers and winning awards for each of those years. In 1975-76, he was named Rookie of the Year, followed by being named all-conference defensive back for the next three consecutive years. In 1979-80, he finished his football career at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ and was recognized as the University's Male Athlete of the Year.

The 2012 ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Sports Hall of Fame induction will form part of the annual Sports Legacy Dinner where Academic All-Canadians from the last varsity season and named award winners are also celebrated. The dinner takes place on Thursday, October 11, in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre's McMillan Hall. Tickets for this year's celebration are available for purchase by the general public for $75 each by contacting ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Athletics and Recreation at (902) 566-0432. A tax receipt will be issued for the non-meal portion, and all proceeds from the event will go towards the Panther Endowment Fund.

The ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 2001 to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the athletic programs at the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ, St. Dunstan's University, or Prince of Wales College. Each year, individual athletes, teams, and builders are inducted to honour their contributions towards the University's athletic success or community leadership. Those who have been inducted to date are:

Curtis Robinson, Glen Miller, Tracy McGee, Dick Tingley, Dr. William 'Bill' Stanish, Janet Rogers, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Men's Basketball 1985-1986, Dr. Frank Garrity, Dr. Kathie McNally, Richard Little, 1983 ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Men's Soccer Panthers, Brian Chandler, Dave Shellington, Libby O'Brien (Baldwin), Mike Lyriotokis, 1952 SDU Rugby Team, Debbie White-Lamont, Ed Hilton, Gil Collins, Wilfred MacDonald, 1943-46 Prince of Wales College Hockey Line, 1964-65 SDU Hockey Team, Dave 'Hermie' MacNeill, Glenn Smiley, Tracy MacEachern, 1988-89 Women's Basketball Team, A.J. MacAdam, Alan Spink, Dr. Vincent Grant, Jim Foley, Mike Kelly, 1946-47 Hockey Team (Maritime Champions), Jack Reardon, Mac Beck, Paula Edwards (Kovinksy), and Peter Gordon.

Anyone with an interest in ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ, SDU, or PWC athletics is invited to submit nominations. To do so, please contact ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Athletics & Recreation's website at gopanthersgo.ca.

The ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ men's basketball team is excited to announce that six-foot-six forward Sammy Opel has committed to the Panthers for the upcoming season. Opel joins the team from Nairobi, Kenya, where he was captain of his high school basketball team that won both the Kenyan Secondary Schools Championship and the East African Title.

Head Coach Tim Kendrick is very pleased with the new addition. 'We are thrilled to add a player of Sammy's potential to our roster. We have been in contact with him for several months, and think that he will be a great fit for our program,' said Kendrick. 'He appears to be a very good young man, and we are certainly looking forward to his arrival on campus.'

Opel is anxious to get to Prince Edward Island and to the University. 'I want to bring all of my hard work and talent to ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ. I am thrilled and grateful to the University, and to Coach Kendrick, for giving me the honour of playing for the Panthers,' he said. 'I will give my best to my studies and to my team.'

The Panthers begin the exhibition season by hosting the Mickey Place Basketball Tournament, October 12-14, with teams from across Canada competing in the event. Season passes are now on sale which include admission to the tournament, contact (902) 566-0432 or pantherpass@upei.ca.