Field hockey star player named U of G’s top undergraduate
Alexis Wagner, both a President’s Scholar as a Biological Engineering student with a minor in Food Engineering and a star for the varsity Gryphons field hockey team, was awarded the W.C. Winegard Medal as the University of Guelph’s top undergraduate, recognizing academic achievements and efforts on campus and throughout the community.
On the field, Wagner has four consecutive national bronze medals as a Gryphon, was a carded Ontario High Performance athlete for five years, and is a dedicated youth coach. The recent Guelph-grad was also a two-term student senator and Vice-President of the Engineering Society, and has had research recognized by the American Society of Plastic Engineers, the Canadian Society for Bioengineering, and Project SOY. Her resume doesn’t stop there, as Wagner also founded the Guelph Golden Gears, a volunteer network of 150 engineering students.
Taking some time to reflect on her incredible university experience, Wagner covers everything from the beginning of it all, the unforgettable, the challenges, what it means to be a Gryphon, advice, and what’s next.
Stephanie Coratti: Entering University, most have the sole aspiration to “survive.” It’s very clear you did much more than that. When you first came to Guelph, did you know you would be walking out four years later with so many great achievements and experiences?
Alexis Wagner: Student life can be overwhelming if you don’t build a support network for yourself and learn how to prioritize. I have always been motivated to do things that bring both others and myself happiness. When you’re motivated by happiness your intentions are more honest, your actions more powerful, and your outlook more optimistic. I am a poor planner, so I find it easier to follow my passions rather than work towards specific goals and achievements.
S.C.: And a very busy woman, no doubt. What was the hardest, and most enjoyable, thing about being so involved with the University of Guelph and the Guelph community?
A.W.: I suffer from severe indecisiveness, and as a result I am involved with a lot of activities that attract very different demographics. The best part of being so involved is meeting new people across campus and throughout the city. I look forward to going to school every morning because I know that I will run into great friends over the course of the day. The hardest part is trying to decide between events and meetings that will inevitably conflict with each other, especially when I feel like I am letting my friends down by being somewhere else.
S.C.:What does the W.C. Winegard Medal mean to you? What was your initial reaction upon being honoured with it?
A.W.: When I found out that I was receiving the W.C. Winegard Medal, my jaw just dropped. To say I was shocked is a huge understatement. My classmates and professors help me and inspire me everyday, so it feels a bit uncomfortable to accept the medal on my own. I am thankful that the honour reminded me to give gratitude to my family, friends, and mentors. I hope that as I grow older I can look at the medal and remember all helping hands along the way.
S.C.: Let’s talk a little bit about the Guelph Golden Gears. What was the inspiration behind it?
A.W.:The School of Engineering is renowned for its community and we are working hard to preserve that spirit as the number of students continues to grow. Pursuing active involvement in our city helps to change the engineering stereotype and enables us to contemplate new perspectives. It’s all about building relationships, exploring opportunities and having fun. Each month I organize a few different volunteer events and get the Golden Gears to sign-up online for events they want to attend. We do things like playing games at a retirement residence, packing vegetable boxes, and cleaning the Speed River. Once they have volunteered three times, they earn a free Golden Gears t-shirt to wear to all our future volunteering gigs.
S.C.:Describe your experience as a member of the women’s Field Hockey team.
A.W.: So much of my character and so many of my friendships were built while I was wearing the Gryphon jersey. Guelph is a collection of communities within communities, and athletics is no exception. There is so much camaraderie between Gryphon athletes and such love between teammates – I think that sense of community is the most important part about being a Gryphon athlete. At the end of the day, of course I will remember our four CIS bronze medals, but it is the journey of each season and the trials along the way that we will cherish.
S.C.:What is your ultimate aspiration in life?
A.W.: My biggest dream is to do something that will positively affect global food systems. There are many logistic and nutritional issues with what people are eating in Canada and elsewhere that need to be reigned [in] to improve environmental sustainability and human health.
S.C.:What was your most memorable moment at the University of Guelph? What are you most sad to leave behind?
A.W.: It is incredibly hard to pick one memorable moment, but I would say our Iron Ring Ceremony day. I love my class and we worked so hard to earn our rings. I received mine from my brother – he inspired me to take engineering at Guelph. More than the ceremony, I will remember the feeling of unity our class formed that day. What I will miss most is not something that I am leaving behind, but something that once was. I will miss the feeling of walking through the halls of Thornborough and seeing so many friends – students, faculty, and staff.
S.C.:Any advice for future Gryphons?
A.W.: Trash your relationship with Facebook and Netflix and go do something. Explore every new situation with the curiosity of a 5 year old and you will be amazed at how much the quality of your experiences improves. Going to school in Canada is such a privilege. We have so many opportunities to make the world a better place, so why not take advantage of them and have some fun along the way! If you have trouble limiting your internet use, download the SelfControl App – it works wonders on procrastination.
S.C.:What’s next?
A.W.: Make up for some sleep debt and then travel for two months with my best friend! Starting in September, I will be working for Labatt on the East Coast and I’m excited to explore another part of Canada.