Olivia Canavan

Transfer Student Award

Presented by Kyle Orton, Director of the Center for Student Conflict Management

Good morning, afternoon, evening and happy day of the week. I hope today is the best Montuewedthurfrisatsunday ever! That should just about cover it.

My name is Kyle Orton and I have the privilege of being the Director of the Center for Student Conflict Management. Today that privilege takes an even higher honor where I have the opportunity to recognize Olivia Canavan for the Transfer Student Award. This honor comes to me once a year through the Student Life award recognition platform but something sets this year apart and that is Olivia.

Olivia transferred in the Fall of 2017 as a Sophomore from Union College. Olivia highlights a specific reason for transferring but I imagine since her arrival at the University of Rochester. Olivia wanted to focus on the Audio and Music Engineering program and both Olivia and the program have benefited since.

Upon arriving here there was a clear need for adjustment as a new sophomore, in a new city, while Olivia’s peers were already a year ahead of the social adjustment. Olivia saw a need for a social connection surrounding her work in AME but saw that opportunity missing. Olivia became the driving force behind connecting U of R with the nationwide Audio Engineering Society by creating a local chapter at our University. She held the position of Secretary that first year but her work made it clear that she would lead the chapter as President in the near future. That time came last spring when her peers recognized her work and drive by electing her president. Olivia said “There were no social organizations for students interested in audio, so I started one. The existence of the group has benefited more than just myself: it has enabled transfer students, first years, and existing students, with interests in audio, to build meaningful relationships and get to know their peers better. Founding the AES chapter provided me with the grounds to interact with AME faculty, which, coupled with my academic performance, led to multiple opportunities to work as a Teaching Assistant. Both experiences have been integral to my Rochester experience.” It is through this work that Olivia has really grown and helped others as well.

The true sign of a successful transfer student is not just in their adjustment but in how they improve their new environment. Olivia could have succeeded at Union College but saw a greater impact for herself and the U of R community. She was able to help other students through AES but saw a great need in helping transfer students in the Hajim school. This led to her being selected as the first Transfer student peer advisor which allowed for her to connect one on one with new transfer students in Engineering and to help them through some of the issues that she experienced during her transfer experience. As she expressed in her letter, “Transferring to Rochester means that I have fewer semesters to accomplish what other students have 8 semesters to do. This has not lessened my spirit to ameliorate my surroundings, but has provided me with a sense of urgency, as evidenced by my involvement on campus and dedication to improve the experiences of other students.” In other words, a transfer student has every right to be selfish and to focus all of their attention in completing their work and finishing on time. Olivia doesn’t see this as fulfilling. Her work included helping others along the way and she would not have felt successful if she didn’t bring others along with her.

Olivia, thank you for the work you have done. Thank you for committing yourself to Rochester and showing that transfer students are integral pieces to a successful university. They bring new insight, passion and energy and are the best resources to each other’s success.

About the Award

The Transfer Student Award, recognizing the unique role of transfer students to the campus community, is given to a student who transferred with sophomore standing or above, and has completed two semesters of study at the University. The recipient will have demonstrated a quick and successful transition to the institution and will have taken full advantage of their time at the University.