WUSC at StFX: Celebrating 40 Years, Lasting Friendships, and X-Rings

StFX’s WUSC Society has a lot to celebrate this fall. Two of their Student Refugee Program students and three of their executive members all received their X-Rings this December 3rd. Angelique Uwamariya and Anyich Panchol are two Student Refugee Program (SRP) students in their fourth year here at X. These two received their X-Rings alongside WUSC Co-Presidents Sierra Banks and Chloe Oleksiuk as well as the society’s vice-president Kristen Marshall. Recently, I got to ask these students about receiving their X-Rings and their time with the WUSC society.

            The WUSC (World University Service of Canada) is a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to helping youth around the world gain access to education. So far, the program has empowered over 2000 young refugees from 37 countries and now supports over 150 students per year through their partnerships with over 100 Canadian post-secondary institutions.

            Another celebration for the WUSC is that the society is commemorating their 40th anniversary at StFX. StFX is currently home to eight students from different countries around the world who are financially supported by the society. The WUSC also runs social activities to help integrate the SRPs within our community, such as their recent ‘Paint and Sip’ night at Candid Brewery.

Angelique Uwamariya, an SRP student in the nursing program, is originally from Burundi. She came to StFX through the WUSC program in 2018. She says that she is extremely grateful for the program’s support in helping her move to Canada to pursue her university education. Specifically, Ms. Uwamariya is very appreciative for everyone who has helped fundraise and support her journey here at StFX. She credits the WUSC with helping her be “one step away” from achieving her “dream of becoming a nurse” and says the society not only supported her financially, but emotionally, too.

            Anyich Panchol, who is also an SRP student in the nursing program, is from South Sudan but was born in Kenya. She came to StFX through the WUSC program in 2019. Ms. Panchol tells me that when she first came here, she wasn’t exactly sure about Antigonish. However, with some help from the WUSC, she says that she has “learned to appreciate the small community and classroom sizes and how easy it has been to navigate through the town.” Ms. Panchol also conveys her extreme gratitude for the WUSC society and says that she has “met amazing people who played a significant role in her academic journey.”

            Both Ms. Uwamariya and Ms. Panchol express their excitement about having received their X-Rings. Ms. Uwamariya tells me that she has been looking forward to getting her X-Ring since first year and that it will be a reminder of “all the years, friends, and good memories [she has] had in her undergraduate studies.” Ms. Panchol says that her X-Ring will always serve as a reminder of where she had the opportunity to pursue her post-secondary education.

For the executive members involved, the WUSC is more than just something to add to their resume. Ms. Banks says that our school motto—Quaecumque sunt vera, meaning “whatsoever things are true”—is “a reminder to do the right thing, to do the right thing for the right reasons.” She says her work with the society has given her the opportunity to live this motto and see the true embodiment of Xaverian traits. Ms. Marshall explains that she has watched the society grow immensely over the last few years and that she is thankful for the opportunity to have contributed to such important work. Ms. Oleksiuk says that the society has been “one of the most fulfilling experiences” of her life and that it has been extremely rewarding to make a positive impact in the school, community, and in the lives of the international students.

            Both the executive members of the society and the SRPs say that they have come to see each other not just as peers or co-workers, but as friends. When I asked about one thing they have learnt from the SRPs, Ms. Banks expressed that “they have taught me to value my educational experience more than I ever did before. These women have worked so hard to get to where they are now and are still working so hard. They can move to a completely different country, start studying, working, engaging in the community, and still excel at all they do.” Pursuing a career in education, Ms. Banks says that learning about the SRPs’ value for education has contributed to her passion for teaching and will stay with her forever. Ms. Marshall similarly notes that “What I admire most about our students is their work ethic.” After graduation, Ms. Marshall—who is in the Human Kinetics program—will be pursuing a career in health care. Since some of the SRPs have similar aspirations, she says they have often leaned on each other for mutual support. Ms. Oleksiuk, who is in the Health program, says that some of the SRP students started in the same year as her, giving them the opportunity to “grow together over the last four years.” Ms. Oleksiuk added that she takes extreme pride in the SRPs’ journeys and that she is “enthusiastic about witnessing their future success and flourishing.”

            In my interactions with both the executive members and the SRPs, they all had nothing but positive things to say about their time with the society. The executive members all encouraged anyone who is interested to get involved and Ms. Oleksiuk hinted that they have some exciting events coming up next semester. If you’re looking for a way to get involved and make an impactful difference, the WUSC may be the right fit for you.