Brescia University College is encouraging young women to go boldly into the future and choose to lead.
Brescia University College Principal Collen Hanycz sees the launch of the new brand as more than a new look; the university is helping women find their voice and become future leaders.
As Canada’s only women’s university college celebrates its 90th anniversary, The University of Western Ontario affiliate is launching a new brand and tagline, Brescia Bold: Choose to Lead.
“It’s more than a new look and a new website … (it) is a promise that we at Brescia are making to our various audiences,” said Principal Colleen Hanycz at the brand launch on Monday, Sept. 14.
Since being established in 1919 by the Ursuline sisters, an order of the Roman Catholic church, Brescia has helped young women “become wise, articulate, self-confident, socially conscious individuals who are prepared to step up and seize leadership, each in her own way,” notes Hanycz.
The new brand was developed by Iowa-based marketing firm, Stamats, which focuses on higher education and has experience working with U.S. women’s colleges.
Brescia now holds a revised brand statement that encompasses a commitment to students and call to action: “Brescia University College is the transformative learning community for passionate, creative young women who seek to fulfill their personal aspirations and lead boldly in a rapidly changing world.”
The words invigorating, student-centred, compassionate and empowering will be guiding attributes of a Brescia education, influencing daily operations, planning and programs.
The new direction will be used to “attract donors, heighten awareness for what it is we do and what we stand for, and will entice new students to join us here on the hill in what is – without doubt – one of the warmest campus environments in the country,” says Hanycz.
As part of anniversary celebrations, Brescia honoured 12 alumnae who embody “choosing to lead”. The Alumnae Trailblazers represent the nine decades of Brescia’s history and were the first to achieve a particular distinction as a student or alumna.
The Alumnae Trailblazers are: Christine Dawson ’23, helped established the Alumnae Association; Rosalina Saez, BA’35, first female international student to graduate from a Canadian university; Geraldine Montag, BA’47, first graduate of the Home Economics program to earn a PhD; Carmelle Murphy ’50, first alumna to act as Director of the Alumnae Association; Marlene MacLeish, BA’68, team leader at NASA; Margaret Wickware, BA’76, Western’s first female students’ council president; Wilma de Rond, BA’81, first female director of the London and District Catholic School Board; Crona Airgid, Janet Denkers, Claudette Zijlstra and Michelle Burrell, BA’96, first student Residence Assistants at Brescia; Jaimie Hemsworth, BSc’07, MSc’09, first Brescia student to win a Morgan Medal from the Dietitians of Canada.