Media Release

For Immediate Release

July 15, 2005

I am learning to juggle success

Ryan Whalen: “Life for me is like one big juggling act."

Ryan Whalen will receive $25,000.00 (New Taiwan Dollars) per month to study at the Chinese Culture and Language Centre at the National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) in Taipei - a major city-centre in the Republic of China.

Only three students from Canada are chosen to receive this major award from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.

"I am very honoured to receive this scholarship,”  Whalen says during an interview.

“To have my undergraduate education supported by a foreign government is both exciting and gratifying.”

Recipients of this scholarship are required to have stellar grades, and must prove they are active within their own community.

When one probes Whalen’s accomplishments to date, it’s certainly no surprise that he has been awarded this unique privilege to study abroad.

He’s on this year’s Dean’s List (Faculty of Arts) for earning a 4.15 Grade Point Average, and spent the 2004-05 academic year as a representative for the Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association (SMUSA) serving on a number of prominent committees, including the University’s Academic Senate, the Presidential Budget Advisory Committee, and was the Vice-Chair of the Academic Student Senators Caucus. During this time he even held a graphic designer position for SMUSA’s Marketing Department.

On top of all this, Whalen has spent the last number of years traveling the world as a professional entertainer, and he’s wowed many audiences with his talent to juggle fire rings, balls, clubs and manipulate devil sticks. He’s spent most of his time performing at formal ceremonies and world renowned festivals, but has also worked at circuses, cabarets, and comedy clubs.

Many prominent people and organizations have applauded Whalen for being able to put on a top-notch show.

The President of Singapore, Mr. S.R Nathan, calls Whalen’s skills simply “amazing,” while other groups, like Bourne Leisure Resorts in the United Kingdom, say his performances are purely “hilarious.”

Many also contend that Whalen is one of the best in the world with the devil sticks.

“I really enjoy juggling and making people laugh,” says Whalen. “Juggling is a passion of mine, and having the chance to travel the world and perform in front of audiences is a very rewarding experience.”

Whalen says that he uses his juggling skills to balance his academics and extra-curricular activities on our campus.

“Life for me is like one big juggling act,” he laughs.

“At times I juggle my hectic schedule, and, at times, I juggle flaming torches,” he adds smiling.

He enjoys studying at Saint Mary’s and admires the tireless efforts of professors in the Asian Studies program.

“I really enjoy the diverse faculty and program offerings in the Asian Studies program,” he says. “I have always felt comfortable asking my professors - like Drs Charles Beaupre, James Morrison and Bill Sewell - for their help and insight, and I credit them for helping me in getting this scholarship to study in Taipei. The attitude of these faculty members from various disciplines who fall under the Asian Studies aegis is open-minded and helpful, yet academically challenging.”

A number of faculty in turn credit Whalen for his hard work and talents in life.

"Ryan is an intelligent and talented young man who is making the best of the various opportunities offered at Saint Mary's University through the Asian Studies program,” says Dr. Morrison.

“I am very pleased that he will be traveling to Taiwan and thus able to immerse himself in Chinese language and culture. As with many of our other Asian Studies students who have had the opportunity to study in Taiwan as well as in China, Japan and India, Ryan will benefit greatly and return to Canada tremendously enriched by the experience," he adds.

Whalen says he will only continue performing shows while studying in Taipei, and now has his sights set on someday going to graduate school so that he can continue studying Asian culture and Mandarin.

Those who want to see a sample of Whalen’s juggling talents visit www.sillyman.ca.

Saint Mary's University is known for its community outreach projects, both in Canada and around the world. Saint Mary's, founded in 1802, is home to one of Canada's leading business schools, a Science Faculty widely known for its cutting-edge research, a comprehensive and innovative Arts Faculty and a new Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.

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For More Information:

Paul Fitzgerald
Public Affairs Officer
Saint Mary's University, Public Affairs
(902) 420.5514
E-mail: paul.fitzgerald@smu.ca
www.smu.ca